Looking to move, please recommend a school pyramid
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Anonymous
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We are looking into buying our first SF house, so please recommend what you think is the best school pyramid for our situation! We both commute, one to Tysons and other to DC. Our kids are still pre-AAP age, so not sure if they will be considered gifted or not for AAP purpose. But I would prefer a school with both good GenEd and IV options (i.e., IV center or LLIV preferred). Budget is $700K. We are open to anywhere in FCPS area, although obviously shorter commute is always better. Preferred HS are: Woodson, Oakton, Madison, McLean, and maybe...Chantilly. I know this will be a tough search given our budget and wish list, which is why I am asking for help here! |
Anonymous
| What about Marshall if you are closest to McLean for your AP school option? |
Anonymous
| I agree with the Marshall recommendation (although AP is so far away for the kids), primarily due to commute and price reasons. There are still SFHs out there that feed to Marshall (and not all of them are in Pimmit Hills). I do not think there is another FCPS pyramid that gives both parents as good of a commute with multiple SFH choices under $700K. McLean also wins on the commute option, but it's hard to find a SFH at that price point that doesn't need a ton of work. |
Anonymous
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OP here -
I am open to Marshall but I was not sure of IB vs. AP (although my kids are so far away from that age). I understand that I get much more for the same $$ there. How is Mantua area? That is another area of our interest. How about Navy/Waples mill and commuting via toll rd/Silver line? |
Anonymous
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You can find a house at the price in the McLean pyramid if you choose the 22046 zip code (Timber Lane Elem/Longfellow MS). Timber Lane is Title I with LLIV, smaller class sizes and Haycock is nearby if your kids are in AAP and you want a center. We had a good experience with Timber Lane (both kids at McLean now). We can walk to downtown Falls Church & West Falls Church metro. You're not going to get a gigantic, new house, but there are decent options in that price range.
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Anonymous
| Commuting is only going to get worse. I'd live in the Shrevewood Area inside the beltway. |
Anonymous
I'm the Marshall person above, and also agree with this. For your searching efforts, I would look at 22046 (recognizing that also captures the City of Falls Church) and 22043. Maybe 22180 (Vienna) and 22027 (Dunn Loring) as well. |
Anonymous
| We live in the Wakefield Forest/Frost/Woodson pyramid and like it. DH and I both commute to DC, and it isn't too bad (he takes the metro when I work from home and 66 when we both drive in). If DCs go to level IV, then they'd probably go to Canterbury Woods Elementary School or Mantua, which is close. Mantua homes are significantly more expensive (though not better) than the homes in my area. With 700K, you should find something decent! |
Anonymous
| Look at neighborhood pools as well as schools. |
Anonymous
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PP - what is the significance of neighborhood pools? Just curious!
So anywhere that feeds to Oakton HS would not be a good choice for commute? |
Anonymous
OP said only one works in DC, and other one works at Tysons. The commute from/to this location to Tysons will be killer. I would not recommend it. |
Anonymous
NP. The only significance is if you or your children are swimmers or want to join a pool for the community. Oakton would be good for Tysons but not a good commute into DC. I really like the Oakton area but traffic would be bad during rush hour. |
Anonymous
It doesn't seem to me like the commute to Tysons from that area would be too bad. And it's more affordable than some other places mentioned. |
Anonymous
| Vienna -22181. |
Anonymous
+1 There's an express bus to Tysons from Braddock and Wakefield Chapel Rd. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/braddock/newsletter/2013/february/connectorbus.htm |