House budget of $450k. Looking for good schools. Where to buy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RE: Kingstowne, everything I've seen there seems to be HOA. Is the HOA good?

When I said "come on over to Kingstowne" -- I was using it as a general location and not specifying the actual Ktown HOA. There are others like Landsdowne, Island Creek, Autumn Chase, etc. I have lived in 3 HOAs in this area and one house that was not in an HOA. I prefer living in an HOA. The Ktown HOA is very good -- excellent facilities and activities. Very well managed. The same can be said for the others that I've lived in in this area. HOAs are nothing to fear.... they provide a sense of community as well as convenience (in arranging for trash pick up, enforcing community standards for maintenance, and taking care of common areas).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE -- thanks for all of your feedback!

I think we're going to go for a starter home in northern Southern Alexandria -- Belle Haven/Groveton/Hybla Valley east of Route 1, get our foot in the real estate market, and hope that in a few years we can afford to move to McLean or Bethesda. There seem to be some good options in our price range in that area and, from what I can gather, relatively crime-free as long as you're off Rt. 1. Would love to hear any options about those neighborhoods!

If you want a nice upper middle class area with good schools, you are going to have to choose very carefully in this area.

Is it really even possible in that area? I've always thought the entire route 1 corridor and the schools in the West Potomac and Mount Vernon pyramids were basically garbage. I'd even be cautious about Kingstowne and the Edison and Hayfield pyramids - a few too many free lunches for my taste. Really, you almost have to get over to the West Springfield pyramid before the schools are much good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE -- thanks for all of your feedback!

I think we're going to go for a starter home in northern Southern Alexandria -- Belle Haven/Groveton/Hybla Valley east of Route 1, get our foot in the real estate market, and hope that in a few years we can afford to move to McLean or Bethesda. There seem to be some good options in our price range in that area and, from what I can gather, relatively crime-free as long as you're off Rt. 1. Would love to hear any options about those neighborhoods!

If you want a nice upper middle class area with good schools, you are going to have to choose very carefully in this area.

Is it really even possible in that area? I've always thought the entire route 1 corridor and the schools in the West Potomac and Mount Vernon pyramids were basically garbage. I'd even be cautious about Kingstowne and the Edison and Hayfield pyramids - a few too many free lunches for my taste. Really, you almost have to get over to the West Springfield pyramid before the schools are much good.

Even if this is tongue-in-cheek, it still comes across as patently obnoxious. Meta-snobs are still snobs.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in Od Town (off of S.. Wash. St). I love Belle Haven. They have some very nice/affordable TH communities. We live in Vienna (Oakton side) and love it, but I LOVE Alexandria, and would move there, but our kids are well-adjusted in our schools, and would hate to uproot them for no reason. GL in your house search

[Anonymous]

Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

Looks like 60% FARMS and 50% Hispanic. So, if you're preparing your child to live a life of Spanish speaking poverty, you should be good. Maybe they can work in the kitchen at the local taco stand.

[Anonymous]

It's an area on the upswing...but those always take time. Probably a good investment, how it will serve your family, I don't know. I do know 3 very bright kids who went to Cameron ES, if that's the one in the Burgundy Village area. Parks and metro near by, Old Town close, 495 close...lots of advantages. Little tiny older houses... and some huge lot-eaters going up.

[Anonymous]

OP - I don't know if you've already bought, but you should probably look at West Springfield. Great houses, good schools, you can find some for 450k. I live there, and commute to Old Town everyday, and it's about 25 minutes door to door. On a weekend, I could get there in way less. Wonderful middle class community. I don't know why you would want to move to McLean or Bethesda when you are commuting to Old Town. West Springfield and Burke are really the places to go with a reasonable commute and good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

Looks like 60% FARMS and 50% Hispanic. So, if you're preparing your child to live a life of Spanish speaking poverty, you should be good. Maybe they can work in the kitchen at the local taco stand.

You are out of line.

[Anonymous]

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2215-N-Culpeper-St-22207/home/11236042

Highview Park in N Arlington. Excellent schools. Neighborhood is mix of older, cheaper housing and new builds.
I know it's a bit above your budget, but it wouldn't hurt to look there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

Looks like 60% FARMS and 50% Hispanic. So, if you're preparing your child to live a life of Spanish speaking poverty, you should be good. Maybe they can work in the kitchen at the local taco stand.

You are out of line.

Very.

Troll?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

Looks like 60% FARMS and 50% Hispanic. So, if you're preparing your child to live a life of Spanish speaking poverty, you should be good. Maybe they can work in the kitchen at the local taco stand.

You are out of line.

Would you send your child to an elementary school with those statistics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

Looks like 60% FARMS and 50% Hispanic. So, if you're preparing your child to live a life of Spanish speaking poverty, you should be good. Maybe they can work in the kitchen at the local taco stand.

You are out of line.

Would you send your child to an elementary school with those statistics?

My two youngest children attend a school that is 60% Hispanic and 75% FARMS. We have found the teachers to be fantastic, the differentiation to be strong, and have found their classmates to be wonderful kids. The parents I have met, though they may have some financial challenges I don't, want the best for their kids, just like I do. I really hope the above poster is a troll. Otherwise I am eternally grateful my children will never have to set foot in the same school as yours.

[Anonymous]

Evil! How dare you, many immigrants will excel in school and progress just like Im sure your grandparents or greatgs did.

quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on Cameron ES or living in 22303?

Looks like 60% FARMS and 50% Hispanic. So, if you're preparing your child to live a life of Spanish speaking poverty, you should be good. Maybe they can work in the kitchen at the local taco stand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE -- thanks for all of your feedback!

I think we're going to go for a starter home in northern Southern Alexandria -- Belle Haven/Groveton/Hybla Valley east of Route 1, get our foot in the real estate market, and hope that in a few years we can afford to move to McLean or Bethesda. There seem to be some good options in our price range in that area and, from what I can gather, relatively crime-free as long as you're off Rt. 1. Would love to hear any options about those neighborhoods!

OP, we just bought in Hybla Valley east of Route 1..for less than 525, .75 of an acre lot. 5 bedroom, 3 bath house, totally renovated. So far so good! Just figuring out what to do with such a gigantic yard..