JKLM equivalent for Arlington and Fairfax Counties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any neighborhood along the orange line that you like will have good schools. If your DH's office is near the VRE station in DC (Union Station?) than you have even more options.

Best schools along Orange Line are in East Falls Church (Yorktown), West Falls Church (McLean and Marshall) or Vienna (Madison).

Since when in Yorktown in EFC?

Yorktown is not physically in EFC, but the EFC area feeds to Yorktown. Generally people are more concerned with what schools their kids will GO to rather than what schools are technically in their neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:fyi, the best elementary schools in Northern Virginia tend to be much more diverse than the all white public elementary schools in Upper NW DC. For example, Arlington Science Focus, one of the highest performing schools in Northern Va, is close to 40 percent minority, and has 20% free/red lunch. Some of the schools in nearby Mclean and Falls Church are nearly 30% Asian.

If you're looking for close-in schools that closely mirror the demographics of those in upper NW, then Jamestown or Taylor in Arlington are the most similar. If you're open to some ethnic and socio-economic diversity, there are many more options.

You seem to be assigning virtue to diversity. Why? Is there something wrong with an all-white public elementary school? Not understanding you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:fyi, the best elementary schools in Northern Virginia tend to be much more diverse than the all white public elementary schools in Upper NW DC. For example, Arlington Science Focus, one of the highest performing schools in Northern Va, is close to 40 percent minority, and has 20% free/red lunch. Some of the schools in nearby Mclean and Falls Church are nearly 30% Asian.

If you're looking for close-in schools that closely mirror the demographics of those in upper NW, then Jamestown or Taylor in Arlington are the most similar. If you're open to some ethnic and socio-economic diversity, there are many more options.

You seem to be assigning virtue to diversity. Why? Is there something wrong with an all-white public elementary school? Not understanding you.

I don't think that post is making a judgement at all. Some parents seek out diversity and others prefer more homogenous schools. Nothing wrong with either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any neighborhood along the orange line that you like will have good schools. If your DH's office is near the VRE station in DC (Union Station?) than you have even more options.

Best schools along Orange Line are in East Falls Church (Yorktown), West Falls Church (McLean and Marshall) or Vienna (Madison).

Since when in Yorktown in EFC?

Yorktown is not physically in EFC, but the EFC area feeds to Yorktown. Generally people are more concerned with what schools their kids will GO to rather than what schools are technically in their neighborhood.

EFC refers to Metro stop. Much of the immediate area is in Arlington County and not Falls Church City.

[Anonymous]

The actual EFC Metro stop is in Arlington and is walkable from much of 22205 and 22213.

OP, depending on where your husband works downtown, you might want to consider 22207; during rush hour, the 3Y bus runs from George Mason Dr. along Lee Highway to MacPherson Sq.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to be assigning virtue to diversity. Why? Is there something wrong with an all-white public elementary school? Not understanding you.

I really cannot wrap my brain around THIS statement. You do understand we live in the twenty-first century, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to be assigning virtue to diversity. Why? Is there something wrong with an all-white public elementary school? Not understanding you.

I really cannot wrap my brain around THIS statement. You do understand we live in the twenty-first century, right?

Try to explain. You're not making any sense. You seem to suggest that a diverse school is preferable or superior to a homogenous one... So, defend that.

In my experience, diversity rarely ends well and the kids self-segregate by HS anyway. And, generally, speaking, people keep this self segregation going into adulthood.

[Anonymous]

Reston? Being poor sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reston? Being poor sucks.

Jesus - someone with $800K to spend on a house is poor? Really? People need to get out more...

I loved living in Reston, but wouldn't suggest it to someone coming from downtown DC. There are plenty of closer in options for the budget listed. They won't be mansions, but perfectly respectable houses in highly desirable neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to be assigning virtue to diversity. Why? Is there something wrong with an all-white public elementary school? Not understanding you.

I really cannot wrap my brain around THIS statement. You do understand we live in the twenty-first century, right?

Try to explain. You're not making any sense. You seem to suggest that a diverse school is preferable or superior to a homogenous one... So, defend that.

In my experience, diversity rarely ends well and the kids self-segregate by HS anyway. And, generally, speaking, people keep this self segregation going into adulthood.

Appalling to read something like this in this day and age. In an area that is well on its way to majority minority (as is the country as a whole), I personally find such uber-homogeneity problematic for equipping kids to cope in a diverse society. We happen to live in such a district in Arlington but DC goes to one of the countywide schools. No, diversity doesn't solve everything and doesn't make a school superior on its own but kids do learn to see the world differently and navigate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to be assigning virtue to diversity. Why? Is there something wrong with an all-white public elementary school? Not understanding you.

I really cannot wrap my brain around THIS statement. You do understand we live in the twenty-first century, right?

Try to explain. You're not making any sense. You seem to suggest that a diverse school is preferable or superior to a homogenous one... So, defend that.

In my experience, diversity rarely ends well and the kids self-segregate by HS anyway. And, generally, speaking, people keep this self segregation going into adulthood.

Appalling to read something like this in this day and age. In an area that is well on its way to majority minority (as is the country as a whole), I personally find such uber-homogeneity problematic for equipping kids to cope in a diverse society. We happen to live in such a district in Arlington but DC goes to one of the countywide schools. No, diversity doesn't solve everything and doesn't make a school superior on its own but kids do learn to see the world differently and navigate it.

See, that's just your opinion. You value diversity in your school. But that doesn't in any way, shape or form make it a better option. I focus on a school's performance and am colorblind about it. If you're counting races, that's wrong.

[Anonymous]

^^^^+1

[Anonymous]

Yet, again, I feel we have come down to the haves and have-nots. You can claim to be colorblind all you want, but for the most part, "high test scores" comes down to "rich/privileged"

You can buy your way into the neighborhoods with little to no poverty - good for you...or something. Your kids will be surrounded by others as well-off as you. And the idea of meritocracy withers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet, again, I feel we have come down to the haves and have-nots. You can claim to be colorblind all you want, but for the most part, "high test scores" comes down to "rich/privileged"

You can buy your way into the neighborhoods with little to no poverty - good for you...or something. Your kids will be surrounded by others as well-off as you. And the idea of meritocracy withers.

Ok, so what are you suggesting? That those with the economic means should choose less-well-off neighborhoods so that they can have their children participate is a little social experiment? Also, I'm not sure meritocracy is the word you're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any neighborhood along the orange line that you like will have good schools. If your DH's office is near the VRE station in DC (Union Station?) than you have even more options.

Best schools along Orange Line are in East Falls Church (Yorktown), West Falls Church (McLean and Marshall) or Vienna (Madison).

Since when in Yorktown in EFC?

Yorktown is not physically in EFC, but the EFC area feeds to Yorktown. Generally people are more concerned with what schools their kids will GO to rather than what schools are technically in their neighborhood.

EFC refers to Metro stop. Much of the immediate area is in Arlington County and not Falls Church City.

Actually, East Falls Church is also the name of the Arlington neighborhood near the metro stop. It is zoned for Yorktown High School. The school is in a different neighborhood but not more than a couple of miles away. Arlington has a population of around 200,000 and there are only 4 high schools, so most kids are by definition going to go to a high school that is not right in their neighborhood. It's not an issue.

I actually think the EFC area is great. It's largely walkable to metro and your money goes a bit further than in the rest of north Arlington. Yorktown is widely considered the most desirable high schools in the area. I'm not looking to debate whether it really is better than some others, but suffice it to say your kids won't get a bad education there and your property will hold its value.