Great School Pyramid/Family Friendly Neighborhood within 20 minute commute of Reston

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, in response to your ? my DC attends Horizon ES with FUTURA located at Countryside ES. I am happier with much smaller class sizes than our Fairfax public schools experience. I believe that there is a strong connection between small class sizes and academic success.
As for half-day K, I don't believe that is going to change anytime soon with the high number of students enrolling and lack of classroom space. That is why the local private schools LOVE half-day K so they can make more money with after-K enrichment programs.
Perhaps Loudoun County Schools will pilot an AAP-style center program at some point in the future. Until they stop needing money to build new schools out in Western Loudoun in response to student population growth, gifted education will not be a top priority.

Thanks. Happy to hear this. We are actually currently zoned for Horizon. We love the neighborhood and commute. We are not sure if we are moving, just considering.

[Anonymous]

The Franklin Farm neighborhood in Oak Hill/Herndon is great and family friendly with a pool, bike trails, etc. Buy in the part of Franklin Farm that is zoned for Oakton High.

[Anonymous]

Franklin Farm is great. Check out areas zoned for Oak Hill/Carson/Chantilly or Navy/Franklin/Oakton

[Anonymous]

How is the Oak Hill area zoned for Floris/Carson/South Lakes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. We'd love to move to Reston but don't hear good things about South Lakes HS or Herndon HS.

South Lakes is underrated and ignorantly trashed by the McLean snobs on this board.

Nobody in McLean gives a crap whether those in Vienna are in the South Lakes or Madison district.

[Anonymous]

I live and work in Reston and it can take 20 mins to get to work. It all depends on the time you need to get in and the route you take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live and work in Reston and it can take 20 mins to get to work. It all depends on the time you need to get in and the route you take.

This is certainly true. I timed my commute. I left my Vienna house at 6:44 AM. I was at the SE side of Reston (Twin Branches and Lawyers) at 6:48, which is typical. I arived at my office at 7:00, which is near the USGS building -- Sunrise Valley Dr.

So Vienna to Reston is fast. The issue is where in Reston.

Bear in mind, you can not just look at distance; some routes have much more traffic. For example, FFX Parkway from the south (Fair Oaks) is often congested. Or, try going from Vienna to Tysons at rush hour: 1 mile, 1/2 hour.

[Anonymous]

Huh, what about the area of the Floris school district that is zoned to Westfield? We offered on a short sale in that neighborhood right behind the elementary school, and the HS was Westfield. Our price range was much lower, but there were homes right next door in the price range you are looking at.

Of course, your best bet is to buy a house in the neighborhood right next to the HS of your choice to have the highest likelihood of staying in that district. Between now and 10 years from now, there are likely to be more shifts in boundary lines as most schools in FCPS near Reston are above capacity.

As for SLHS and HHS, I think people need to stop spreading old rumors. I know many families at both schools that are quite happy. They serve somewhat more diverse populations than some of the other schools in the county, and that is why certain scores are lower.

We now live in west fairfax/chantilly (after living in North Reston for 8 years), right around the corner from the HS. There are neighborhoods near us in your price range (Oak Hill ES, Lees Corner ES and Navy ES areas) that might work for you. I'd tell you about my neighborhood, but the houses are in the high $300s-mid $400s, so probably not what you are looking for. We love it, though.