Fairfax? Other? For average athlete/good student?

[Anonymous]

We are military in Arlington and love it, but you can't quite do it at $3k. $3500 is more possible but still iffy. There are tons of military kids here and we have not found the large high school model to be an issue. Agree on west springfield although you're pushing the 30 minute mark there. You're still probably slightly above 3k there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're moving to the NOVA area. My SO will be at the Pentagon and doesn't want to drive an hour each way, every day. She'll probably be very unhappy if it is much more than 30 minutes each way. Our kids are bright, but not all of them are hard workers. They have moved a lot. I'm not sure the massive high schools are the best fit. Any recommendations for smaller high schools where the environment is not too stressful, yet still challenging enough to get into a decent university? One kid in particular gets anxious when the work piles on, despite usually making all As. It's also important that it's a school where the average hard working athlete can make the basketball and baseball teams? Does this place exist? Budget is about 3000/month for rent, give or take.

For 3k/month rent, you can rent a home in either Mclean or Langley district and send your kids to either Langley or Mclean HS. The environment is only as stressful as you want it to be. Most kids from Langley and Mclean (I am a Langley alum) end up from excellence to decent universities. Langley/Mclean is less than 30 minutes from the Pentagon if you use GW parkway.

If your kids are average hard working athletes, they will make the varsity in both basketball and baseball team at either of these schools because the basketball and baseball teams are just outright BAD. Mclean boys was winless last year in boys basketball and Langley didn't much better either. The baseball team in both of these schools are below average.

If you kids want to join crew, tennis or soccer team at these schools, that's different story. They are so competitive because people in the mclean/langley have resources to send their kids to tennis soccer training outside of what the schools provide.

As for McLean boys basketball, they were 24-4 six years ago and won the district, and then competitive for the next two years. The three years after that were pretty bad. But they are 7-11 so far this year with a team that only has two seniors and has had some quality wins over schools like Mt. Vernon, Woodbridge, Forest Park, and Langley. Last year's freshmen team was 15-1, and this year's freshmen team is 10-2 so far with four games left. An "average" newcomer probably wouldn't make varsity for at least the next two years. The baseball team, on the other hand, is usually pretty good, often making the regional playoffs. Last year was a down year, but they were 16-9 in 2016, and 14-7 in 2015.

Not sure about Langley. I think of lacrosse and soccer as their strongest sports now, but they've had stretches with good basketball teams in the past.

Honestly, given what OP has described, I'd be looking at schools like Falls Church or Stuart instead. Less academic pressure than Langley or McLean, and easier to make both the basketball and baseball teams (they play in a lower division and have fewer kids trying out).

[Anonymous]

^ Falls Church (an AP school) will also put OP closer to the Pentagon than Langley or McLean.

[Anonymous]

OK Langley and McLean are really bad choices for what you described so you probably want to disregard those suggestions entirely.

I have a military teenager who moved a lot. We live around a ton of military teenagers who move a lot.

Burke and West Springfield should be at the top of your list. There are a ton of military kids around and the schools really get their needs because they have so many, not just academic needs like finding ways to make their classes fit VA requirements but also their social needs.

Your kids are beyond elementary age, but an example would be Sangster Elementary having a military families association that sponsors events throughout the year geared towards military families, or Hunt Valley having a principal who was a military brat who does an exceptional job helping military kids transition and adapt. They do veterans day recognitions all the way up to the high school where the kids do a small poster recognizing their military parents, and there are dozens to hundreds of kids with military parents at each of the schools in this area.

There are streets where 1/3 or more of the families have military roots in WS and Burke. There is a lot to be said for moving teenagers to an area where they immediately have a peer group of kids with similar experiences, to schools that understand their needs.

I would say that Hayfield Pyramid, parts of Alexandria and Arlington, South County/Lorton and Robinson pyramid are probably the most similar in that regard and are places where you will find that type of community and support for your kids.

I do not think that a lot of those other areas mentioned are. One, places like McLean are really out of the budget for most military families so they just do not move there. Two, commute to the Pentagon is really easy from places like WS or Burke and there is an established community plus good schools so those areas are just a smarter choice for those military with kids who want to live in VA.

[Anonymous]

It's lower-ranking for Fairfax, but Falls Church High School is not as big as some of the surrounding schools, and not as much of a pressure-cooker. The parents I know who had kids there said it was a little easier for their kids to get onto teams and do well there. The commute would be good, too.

The 9:42 poster had some great suggestions too.

[Anonymous]

You should ignore the suggestions for West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock. They are huge schools and there is a big focus on sports. An average athlete is not making varsity basketball or baseball teams there, particularly if they haven't grown up in the area, shelled out money for the coaches' summer camps, etc.

Falls Church and Hayfield are better suggestions - you just don't hear about them as often because there are some people in Burke and West Springfield who think the special "niche" for their schools are military families commuting to the Pentagon or Fort Belvoir. But West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock aren't the only schools in the area, and they don't meet your specs at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should ignore the suggestions for West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock. They are huge schools and there is a big focus on sports. An average athlete is not making varsity basketball or baseball teams there, particularly if they haven't grown up in the area, shelled out money for the coaches' summer camps, etc.

Falls Church and Hayfield are better suggestions - you just don't hear about them as often because there are some people in Burke and West Springfield who think the special "niche" for their schools are military families commuting to the Pentagon or Fort Belvoir. But West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock aren't the only schools in the area, and they don't meet your specs at all.

OP, there is a poster who is VERY anti WS and LB for some reason. She posts on other threads and has probably found your thread too. Take her post with a grain of salt.

Those two pyramids are very popular with military families and have a very strong military community. Ask around your base and you will get good suggestions from people who were stationed here before. They might be a good fit for your kids. They might not be. But if you are looking for a community that is skilled at welcoming military kids and helping them adapt, those two pyramids can't be beat. Lake Braddock and Robinson are huge, but there seems to be lots of groups for all kinds of kids to find their niche. WS is one of the smaller high schools in Fairfax County. They are not small, but by fcps standards they are definitely smaller.

We have been stationed in the area several times. The first time we were childless and lives inside the beltway along the Orange line. When we came back with kids, there was no question that the WS/Burke area was at the top of our list. It is really one of the best areas in northern VA for families with kids who want good schools and do not want a pressure cooker environment.

Also, as I posted above, do not leave off those other areas (Hayfield, South County, Robinson, Arlington if you can afford it) The Fort Hunt area of Alexandria is iffy with high school kids as many do private to avoid the high school.

Don't listen to this poster. She is steering you wrong.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK Langley and McLean are really bad choices for what you described so you probably want to disregard those suggestions entirely.

I have a military teenager who moved a lot. We live around a ton of military teenagers who move a lot.

Burke and West Springfield should be at the top of your list. There are a ton of military kids around and the schools really get their needs because they have so many, not just academic needs like finding ways to make their classes fit VA requirements but also their social needs.

Your kids are beyond elementary age, but an example would be Sangster Elementary having a military families association that sponsors events throughout the year geared towards military families, or Hunt Valley having a principal who was a military brat who does an exceptional job helping military kids transition and adapt. They do veterans day recognitions all the way up to the high school where the kids do a small poster recognizing their military parents, and there are dozens to hundreds of kids with military parents at each of the schools in this area.

There are streets where 1/3 or more of the families have military roots in WS and Burke. There is a lot to be said for moving teenagers to an area where they immediately have a peer group of kids with similar experiences, to schools that understand their needs.

I would say that Hayfield Pyramid, parts of Alexandria and Arlington, South County/Lorton and Robinson pyramid are probably the most similar in that regard and are places where you will find that type of community and support for your kids.

I do not think that a lot of those other areas mentioned are. One, places like McLean are really out of the budget for most military families so they just do not move there. Two, commute to the Pentagon is really easy from places like WS or Burke and there is an established community plus good schools so those areas are just a smarter choice for those military with kids who want to live in VA.

OP again. Do you have any idea what type of initial supports might be in place at those high schools (WS, Burke, Robinson)? My kids are coming from a K-12 with 400 kids so this is a huge change. I've been checking school websites, but of course there is nothing like orientation on there yet.

As far as making varsity, I think they'll be happy to make any team! I will have a a sophomore son( basketball and baseball) and freshman daughter(basketball and volleyball)...If they could just make a team, I think they'd be happy...at least until they were juniors when I think they'd really want to make varsity. Is it unlikely to make JV for average players?

Slowly upping what we're willing to pay and how far a commute is doable.

[Anonymous]

Schools like Robinson or Lake Braddock are really big -- which means more competition for only so many spots. You'd have a better chance of making the team at a slightly smaller (not "small") school like West Springfield or Hayfield.

I've heard this in the past -- with fewer kids overall, the competition is not as stiff to be part of a team.

Here's an option:
6402 Gregory Ct https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/house,condo,apartment_duplex,mobile,townhouse_type/51936964_zpid/38.812092,-77.155523,38.736076,-77.275343_rect/12_zm/

This would put you at Edison (which is similar sized, but has the IB program -- which is harder to get credit for if you transfer out in a few years, but great area) https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/house,condo,apartment_duplex,mobile,townhouse_type/51919434_zpid/38.799417,-77.099948,38.761412,-77.159858_rect/13_zm/

Or this in Hayfield zone (there will be more as it gets closer to end of the school year and the military folks are moving out) 6629 hunter creek in Island Creek (has a pool), or 6927 Rolling Creek Way in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK Langley and McLean are really bad choices for what you described so you probably want to disregard those suggestions entirely.

I have a military teenager who moved a lot. We live around a ton of military teenagers who move a lot.

Burke and West Springfield should be at the top of your list. There are a ton of military kids around and the schools really get their needs because they have so many, not just academic needs like finding ways to make their classes fit VA requirements but also their social needs.

Your kids are beyond elementary age, but an example would be Sangster Elementary having a military families association that sponsors events throughout the year geared towards military families, or Hunt Valley having a principal who was a military brat who does an exceptional job helping military kids transition and adapt. They do veterans day recognitions all the way up to the high school where the kids do a small poster recognizing their military parents, and there are dozens to hundreds of kids with military parents at each of the schools in this area.

There are streets where 1/3 or more of the families have military roots in WS and Burke. There is a lot to be said for moving teenagers to an area where they immediately have a peer group of kids with similar experiences, to schools that understand their needs.

I would say that Hayfield Pyramid, parts of Alexandria and Arlington, South County/Lorton and Robinson pyramid are probably the most similar in that regard and are places where you will find that type of community and support for your kids.

I do not think that a lot of those other areas mentioned are. One, places like McLean are really out of the budget for most military families so they just do not move there. Two, commute to the Pentagon is really easy from places like WS or Burke and there is an established community plus good schools so those areas are just a smarter choice for those military with kids who want to live in VA.

OP again. Do you have any idea what type of initial supports might be in place at those high schools (WS, Burke, Robinson)? My kids are coming from a K-12 with 400 kids so this is a huge change. I've been checking school websites, but of course there is nothing like orientation on there yet.

As far as making varsity, I think they'll be happy to make any team! I will have a a sophomore son( basketball and baseball) and freshman daughter(basketball and volleyball)...If they could just make a team, I think they'd be happy...at least until they were juniors when I think they'd really want to make varsity. Is it unlikely to make JV for average players?

Slowly upping what we're willing to pay and how far a commute is doable.

Have you said where you're coming from? An "average" athlete in some parts of Florida, for example, might be an above-average athlete in NoVa. But if your kids are, objectively, average athletes, they are not guaranteed to make the teams at schools as large as Lake Braddock or Robinson, or even West Springfield, which still has well over 2000 kids. There are cuts, and kids who make freshmen and JV teams often don't make varsity, especially in sports like basketball and baseball. Volleyball is probably a bit easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should ignore the suggestions for West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock. They are huge schools and there is a big focus on sports. An average athlete is not making varsity basketball or baseball teams there, particularly if they haven't grown up in the area, shelled out money for the coaches' summer camps, etc.

Falls Church and Hayfield are better suggestions - you just don't hear about them as often because there are some people in Burke and West Springfield who think the special "niche" for their schools are military families commuting to the Pentagon or Fort Belvoir. But West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock aren't the only schools in the area, and they don't meet your specs at all.

OP, there is a poster who is VERY anti WS and LB for some reason. She posts on other threads and has probably found your thread too. Take her post with a grain of salt.

Those two pyramids are very popular with military families and have a very strong military community. Ask around your base and you will get good suggestions from people who were stationed here before. They might be a good fit for your kids. They might not be. But if you are looking for a community that is skilled at welcoming military kids and helping them adapt, those two pyramids can't be beat. Lake Braddock and Robinson are huge, but there seems to be lots of groups for all kinds of kids to find their niche. WS is one of the smaller high schools in Fairfax County. They are not small, but by fcps standards they are definitely smaller.

We have been stationed in the area several times. The first time we were childless and lives inside the beltway along the Orange line. When we came back with kids, there was no question that the WS/Burke area was at the top of our list. It is really one of the best areas in northern VA for families with kids who want good schools and do not want a pressure cooker environment.

Also, as I posted above, do not leave off those other areas (Hayfield, South County, Robinson, Arlington if you can afford it) The Fort Hunt area of Alexandria is iffy with high school kids as many do private to avoid the high school.

Don't listen to this poster. She is steering you wrong.

Good luck!

There are 25 high or secondary schools in FCPS. West Springfield has over 2200 students this year. 13 schools have more kids in grades 9-12, and 11 have fewer.

The Fort Hunt area of Alexandria feeds into West Potomac HS, which is bigger than West Springfield, but similar in grades 9-12 enrollment to Lake Braddock and Robinson. It's not an "iffy" area; in fact, the residential neighborhoods off Fort Hunt Road near the Potomac River are more expensive than most Burke or West Springfield neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should ignore the suggestions for West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock. They are huge schools and there is a big focus on sports. An average athlete is not making varsity basketball or baseball teams there, particularly if they haven't grown up in the area, shelled out money for the coaches' summer camps, etc.

Falls Church and Hayfield are better suggestions - you just don't hear about them as often because there are some people in Burke and West Springfield who think the special "niche" for their schools are military families commuting to the Pentagon or Fort Belvoir. But West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock aren't the only schools in the area, and they don't meet your specs at all.

OP, there is a poster who is VERY anti WS and LB for some reason. She posts on other threads and has probably found your thread too. Take her post with a grain of salt.

Those two pyramids are very popular with military families and have a very strong military community. Ask around your base and you will get good suggestions from people who were stationed here before. They might be a good fit for your kids. They might not be. But if you are looking for a community that is skilled at welcoming military kids and helping them adapt, those two pyramids can't be beat. Lake Braddock and Robinson are huge, but there seems to be lots of groups for all kinds of kids to find their niche. WS is one of the smaller high schools in Fairfax County. They are not small, but by fcps standards they are definitely smaller.

We have been stationed in the area several times. The first time we were childless and lives inside the beltway along the Orange line. When we came back with kids, there was no question that the WS/Burke area was at the top of our list. It is really one of the best areas in northern VA for families with kids who want good schools and do not want a pressure cooker environment.

Also, as I posted above, do not leave off those other areas (Hayfield, South County, Robinson, Arlington if you can afford it) The Fort Hunt area of Alexandria is iffy with high school kids as many do private to avoid the high school.

Don't listen to this poster. She is steering you wrong.

Good luck!

I have to say every time I hear about a school that is very pro military I think "very conservative" and "highly mobile". It's a turn off to people who want to stay in the area for a long time.

[Anonymous]

If you are able to visit the area in advance, perhaps a visit the to the school administration and if the schedule works, take in a PTA meeting. This time of year is the beginning of the district and regional tournaments in athletics...also the winter performances for the performing arts folks.

Each one of these schools has a culture or cultures, that people this forum will debate endlessly. Our DDs go to James Madison...too far/likely too expensive for your consideration...but (overall) have been very happy with the administration, instruction and coaching. At the end of the day the curriculum and opportunity at Fairfax County schools is pretty amazing considering it is one of the 10 largest school districts in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should ignore the suggestions for West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock. They are huge schools and there is a big focus on sports. An average athlete is not making varsity basketball or baseball teams there, particularly if they haven't grown up in the area, shelled out money for the coaches' summer camps, etc.

Falls Church and Hayfield are better suggestions - you just don't hear about them as often because there are some people in Burke and West Springfield who think the special "niche" for their schools are military families commuting to the Pentagon or Fort Belvoir. But West Springfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock aren't the only schools in the area, and they don't meet your specs at all.

OP, there is a poster who is VERY anti WS and LB for some reason. She posts on other threads and has probably found your thread too. Take her post with a grain of salt.

Those two pyramids are very popular with military families and have a very strong military community. Ask around your base and you will get good suggestions from people who were stationed here before. They might be a good fit for your kids. They might not be. But if you are looking for a community that is skilled at welcoming military kids and helping them adapt, those two pyramids can't be beat. Lake Braddock and Robinson are huge, but there seems to be lots of groups for all kinds of kids to find their niche. WS is one of the smaller high schools in Fairfax County. They are not small, but by fcps standards they are definitely smaller.

We have been stationed in the area several times. The first time we were childless and lives inside the beltway along the Orange line. When we came back with kids, there was no question that the WS/Burke area was at the top of our list. It is really one of the best areas in northern VA for families with kids who want good schools and do not want a pressure cooker environment.

Also, as I posted above, do not leave off those other areas (Hayfield, South County, Robinson, Arlington if you can afford it) The Fort Hunt area of Alexandria is iffy with high school kids as many do private to avoid the high school.

Don't listen to this poster. She is steering you wrong.

Good luck!

I have to say every time I hear about a school that is very pro military I think "very conservative" and "highly mobile". It's a turn off to people who want to stay in the area for a long time.

+1

[Anonymous]

Again, what you’re looking for ain’t out there.