Fairfax vs Loudoun County

[Anonymous]

Currently we live in Fairfax county and will be moving further out to be closer to our jobs in Reston. We've been looking at houses in Reston/Herndon/Sterling and we were wondering if there was any different between Fairfax and Loudon counties that we should be thinking about (taxes, schools, etc?).

I've heard that Loudoun only has 1/2 day Kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Loudon has larger taxes on real estate.

[Anonymous]

There will be more school redistricting in Loudoun than Fairfax, although there will be redistricting in western Fairfax when the new high school gets built in the next 5-10 years.

Loudoun has higher taxes than Fairfax (fewer employers, so residents pay higher taxes). Except for pockets of Sterling and Leesburg, it's going to be more uniformly prosperous than Herndon or Reston.

There's more variety among the schools in Fairfax (good and bad) than in Loudoun. More programs to choose from, more differentiated instruction, more variation in student demographics and the like. If you like smaller schools, Loudoun seems to be making a conscious effort to keep the total enrollment at individual schools down. A big HS in Loudoun has 1800 or 1900 students. In Western Fairfax, you could be at a HS with 2600 students.

Not sure about the 1/2 day K in Loudoun. Loudoun has earlier start times for the ES, and later start times for the HS, than Fairfax, which matters to those who believe the high schools start too early in Fairfax.

http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/page/15

[Anonymous]

Will you be taking the Greenway? Because it's expensive enough that you have to take it into consideration.

[Anonymous]

Are the car taxes the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be more school redistricting in Loudoun than Fairfax, although there will be redistricting in western Fairfax when the new high school gets built in the next 5-10 years.

Loudoun has higher taxes than Fairfax (fewer employers, so residents pay higher taxes). Except for pockets of Sterling and Leesburg, it's going to be more uniformly prosperous than Herndon or Reston.

There's more variety among the schools in Fairfax (good and bad) than in Loudoun. More programs to choose from, more differentiated instruction, more variation in student demographics and the like. If you like smaller schools, Loudoun seems to be making a conscious effort to keep the total enrollment at individual schools down. A big HS in Loudoun has 1800 or 1900 students. In Western Fairfax, you could be at a HS with 2600 students.

Not sure about the 1/2 day K in Loudoun. Loudoun has earlier start times for the ES, and later start times for the HS, than Fairfax, which matters to those who believe the high schools start too early in Fairfax.

http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/page/15

Which new HS? Where?

[Anonymous]

FCPS capital plans provide for a new HS in western Fairfax with construction to start in about six years - will probably lead to boundary changes for most of Herndon, Oakton, South Lakes, Chantilly, Centreville and Westfield. I don't think the site has been identified.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Fairfax in the 80s/90s and I don't want to go through all those growth issues as a parent!

I like my roads built and I like my schools built.

although, the families are younger in Loudon. They do average more kids per household and more SAHMs.

I always like were people say look at voting records and move with your own kind.

[Anonymous]

Do you all think there's any chance of a full day Kindergarten coming to Loudoun county any time soon? Both DH and I work and would like to avoid daycare as much as possible. Where I'm from, public Pre-K was the norm, so I'm shocked there's not even full day Kindergarten standard here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you all think there's any chance of a full day Kindergarten coming to Loudoun county any time soon? Both DH and I work and would like to avoid daycare as much as possible. Where I'm from, public Pre-K was the norm, so I'm shocked there's not even full day Kindergarten standard here.

It's not on the drawing board right now, sorry.

From the Loudoun school's web site:

"Do you have full-day kindergarten?

With the exception of 6 classrooms, all kindergarten sessions are 3 hours in length. The 6 full-day classrooms are for students who are currently enrolled in one of our preschool programs and live in a georaphical area we serve. Two of the programs are low income-based (Head Start and STEP) and one program is for children with minimal special needs. The plan to expand full day kindergarten in the county would be made by the School Board."

[Anonymous]

I'd live as close to work as you can. As Loudoun continues to develop, traffic in Loudoun and Fairfax will increase. Loudoun roads are not ready for extra traffic.

We chose Fairfax to be close to work. But honestly, Loudoun was never on the table because I used to teach at a LC school and was underwhelmed. Fairfax has AP and IB, Loudoun has only AP.

As far as before/aftercare, I've heard Loudoun makes space for all kids. In Fairfax, not all schools have SACC and not all kids get in.

[Anonymous]

The housing stock and neighborhoods are much better than closer in but the location is far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you all think there's any chance of a full day Kindergarten coming to Loudoun county any time soon? Both DH and I work and would like to avoid daycare as much as possible. Where I'm from, public Pre-K was the norm, so I'm shocked there's not even full day Kindergarten standard here.

It's not on the drawing board right now, sorry.

From the Loudoun school's web site:

"Do you have full-day kindergarten?

With the exception of 6 classrooms, all kindergarten sessions are 3 hours in length. The 6 full-day classrooms are for students who are currently enrolled in one of our preschool programs and live in a georaphical area we serve. Two of the programs are low income-based (Head Start and STEP) and one program is for children with minimal special needs. The plan to expand full day kindergarten in the county would be made by the School Board."

Wow, I didn't know Virginia law allowed school systems to do half-day kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

fcps just switched over to full day two years ago. Loudoun has serious facilities issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The housing stock and neighborhoods are much better than closer in but the location is far.

OP here. We will be working in Reston, so anywhere within 5 miles of work is very convenient. I feel like a sell out because I always worked/lived in DC, but such is life.