Alexandria vs Arlington, McLean or Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Doesn't old town flood a lot? Personally I live the feel of Del Ray but chose Arlington for schools and shorter commute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the Arlington hype either but it appeals to many. I love living near old town and we take part in traditions like the Scottish walk, st. Pattys parade and first night every year. Or did in months covid times I mean. It’s a wonderful place. I do think it’s the schools. Many don’t want their kids to be in schools with kids who have lower income or who aren’t white.

There are some very white schools in Arlington, but other countries around here have plenty non whites in all schools.

Quality of schools is not positively correlated to whiteness. That’s a dumb thing to say.

it's correlated to farms rates. This holds true across most districts around here.

Farm is not an antonym to whiteness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the Arlington hype either but it appeals to many. I love living near old town and we take part in traditions like the Scottish walk, st. Pattys parade and first night every year. Or did in months covid times I mean. It’s a wonderful place. I do think it’s the schools. Many don’t want their kids to be in schools with kids who have lower income or who aren’t white.

I live in South Arlington and agree with this. We love our schools! And we love our commutes. Our neighbors are all down to earth professionals and are diverse in a lot of ways. The feeling of community is one I didn't expect and is awesome. I really like a lot of parts in Alexandria too.

Hi neighbor! I feel exactly the same way. Almost everybody here is so chill.

[Anonymous]

Old Town does not flood at all.

One block of King occasionally gets some puddles. There's one deranged poster here that posts that constantly for some reason. Truly bizarre.

- signed, someone that has lived in Old Town since 1977

[Anonymous]

Flooding/back up sewage has been a problem in Alexandria. I believe there are efforts to try and mitigate the problem, but it is an issue for some neighborhoods https://www.alxnow.com/2020/07/27/city-advises-residents-to-file-flood-damage-claim-after-thursday-storm/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love old town and del ray. As an Arlington dweller I totally agree they are way more charming and lovely. But I really wanted a neighborhood where most of the kids in the neighborhood go to the public schools vs many going to private and that wasn't the impression I got. I would be fine with my kids in ACPS - I have a few friends who went there (now adults). But just wanted a community where people would buy and stay and was worried that wasn't the case (or that they stay but many go to private). I could be wrong though! But it was what I had heard.

Alexandria/old town does have a huge traffic problem right now though in non-pandemic times. But metro should be fine! and agreed, it is close and lovely. without my other consideration we would have chosen it.

+1 plus my very sweet commute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the Arlington hype either but it appeals to many. I love living near old town and we take part in traditions like the Scottish walk, st. Pattys parade and first night every year. Or did in months covid times I mean. It’s a wonderful place. I do think it’s the schools. Many don’t want their kids to be in schools with kids who have lower income or who aren’t white.

There are some very white schools in Arlington, but other countries around here have plenty non whites in all schools.

Quality of schools is not positively correlated to whiteness. That’s a dumb thing to say.

it's correlated to farms rates. This holds true across most districts around here.

Farm is not an antonym to whiteness.

PP said lower income and lower income and FARMs are definitely synonyms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the Arlington hype either but it appeals to many. I love living near old town and we take part in traditions like the Scottish walk, st. Pattys parade and first night every year. Or did in months covid times I mean. It’s a wonderful place. I do think it’s the schools. Many don’t want their kids to be in schools with kids who have lower income or who aren’t white.

There are some very white schools in Arlington, but other countries around here have plenty non whites in all schools.

Quality of schools is not positively correlated to whiteness. That’s a dumb thing to say.

it's correlated to farms rates. This holds true across most districts around here.

Farm is not an antonym to whiteness.

PP said lower income and lower income and FARMs are definitely synonyms

There's a widespread desire by media and politicos to make everything about race and to never, ever mention class. Lots of people refuse to see that this is deliberate obfuscate that makes discussions (and policy responses to serious problems) destined to fail.

[Anonymous]

There’s not a ton of poor white people living in Alexandria. So if you’re going to a mostly white school it is going to be a low farms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It all comes down to DCUM's hatred of ACPS. No doubt, ACPS deserves some criticism (I can't think of a school system that doesn't), but many of us who actually live in Alexandria and have kids who attend ACPS schools are happy with the schools. But again, the answer to your question is the perception of ACPS. Your observations of the areas are spot on.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Old Town does not flood at all.

One block of King occasionally gets some puddles. There's one deranged poster here that posts that constantly for some reason. Truly bizarre.

- signed, someone that has lived in Old Town since 1977

Um, really? You don't get down to Union Street and the base of King Street much, do you? There are pictures 2 or 3 times a year of someone paddling a canoe in the flood waters. If you're gonna lie then at least choose to lie about something that isn't so easily disproved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flooding/back up sewage has been a problem in Alexandria. I believe there are efforts to try and mitigate the problem, but it is an issue for some neighborhoods https://www.alxnow.com/2020/07/27/city-advises-residents-to-file-flood-damage-claim-after-thursday-storm/

+1 They say that they have been working on the problem for years. The bigger problems in my mind are traffic flow (not as much during the pandemic) that makes it virtually impossible to get around town. The city "leaders" such as they are want everyone to ride their bikes. Guess what? That doesn't work so well when I'm trying to get my 81 year old FIL to the dentist on the other side of town and I have a couple of elementary school kids with me. So if you like to ride your bike and you don't care if you're riding in sewage then you should be as happy as a clam here.

[Anonymous]

Flooding. I also like old town but the nearby neighborhoods seem to have major water issues during big storms. As sea levels rise it will only get worse. Initially I though flooding was isolated to old town but I have learned how wrong I was. Also, I like to live in an area with good public schools as a backup even though my kids don’t go to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flooding. I also like old town but the nearby neighborhoods seem to have major water issues during big storms. As sea levels rise it will only get worse. Initially I though flooding was isolated to old town but I have learned how wrong I was. Also, I like to live in an area with good public schools as a backup even though my kids don’t go to them.

OP here. This is good to know, I thought the problem was confined to old town. But it seems like places like Rosemont and Beverly Hills don’t have those issues, do they? And those neighborhoods seem really lovely and a short drive to old town (as I said I want a suburban feel but a quick drive to a downtown).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the Arlington hype either but it appeals to many. I love living near old town and we take part in traditions like the Scottish walk, st. Pattys parade and first night every year. Or did in months covid times I mean. It’s a wonderful place. I do think it’s the schools. Many don’t want their kids to be in schools with kids who have lower income or who aren’t white.

There are some very white schools in Arlington, but other countries around here have plenty non whites in all schools.

Quality of schools is not positively correlated to whiteness. That’s a dumb thing to say.

it's correlated to farms rates. This holds true across most districts around here.

Farm is not an antonym to whiteness.

PP said lower income and lower income and FARMs are definitely synonyms

There's a widespread desire by media and politicos to make everything about race and to never, ever mention class. Lots of people refuse to see that this is deliberate obfuscate that makes discussions (and policy responses to serious problems) destined to fail.

I am not making anything about race. “ who aren’t white” is what the original post quoted claims - also bolded inside the quote.

If you go to Haycock or Colvin Run or Churchill Road Elementary, most students aren’t white, but the schools are some of the best in the country.