Help Evaluating Schools from Afar...GreatSchools?

[Anonymous]

Parents of an almost-three year old here. We're moving to the DC area in a few weeks and totally flabbergasted about trying to select a neighborhood with good schools. GreatSchools rates all of the Arlington schools tremendously lower than Fairfax county, but we've heard good things about Arlington!

How do you evaluate schools? Any websites or resources that have been helpful to you? We'd really like to narrow things down before we get there.
Or, sell me on your neighborhood and schools!

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

If you are in Arlington, just type in Yorktown High School in http://www.Redfin.com that is where all the comparable schools in arlington are zoned

Also check out http://www.schooldigger.com

[Anonymous]

No smart home buyer consults Great Schools -- it's not a reliable arbiter of school quality at all. None of those sites really are. No one takes Great Schools seriously.

[Anonymous]

What is your budget and where are your job locations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No smart home buyer consults Great Schools -- it's not a reliable arbiter of school quality at all. None of those sites really are. No one takes Great Schools seriously.

Most home buyers start with Greatschools and go on from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your budget and where are your job locations?

This is really the most important thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are in Arlington, just type in Yorktown High School in http://www.Redfin.com that is where all the comparable schools in arlington are zoned

Also check out http://www.schooldigger.com

Still not as good as Fairfax...

[Anonymous]

There was something recently that basically had the top 10 elem schools in VA. Maybe 8 out of 10 were in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your budget and where are your job locations?

This is really the most important thing.

+1

And there are very few schools that aren't "good" - some might offer special gifted/talented programs, others might have small class sizes, some have easier access to aftercare, etc. But almost everyone I've met in FCPS and APS loves their school.

I'd focus on commute and budget first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was something recently that basically had the top 10 elem schools in VA. Maybe 8 out of 10 were in Arlington.

But MS & HS-- forget it.

[Anonymous]

This thread had information on SAT performance by different groups in both FCPS and APS.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/522506.page#8097056

The thread that touted 8 of the top 10 elementary schools in VA as being in Arlington was based on data from a publication that allowed anyone to say good things about their schools, kind of like Yelp. Many parents had never heard of it. It didn't seem particularly useful.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for mostly white kids, then Arlington is where it's at. For more Asian kids, Fairfax. This is in the upper brackets. Lower income areas will be mainly Latino.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No smart home buyer consults Great Schools -- it's not a reliable arbiter of school quality at all. None of those sites really are. No one takes Great Schools seriously.

Most home buyers start with Greatschools and go on from there.

+1. That's what we did. Looked into areas with schools 8 or above in GS and a convenient commute

[Anonymous]

Budget is $350k. Where can we get a sfh with great school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Budget is $350k. Where can we get a sfh with great school?

You might find a fixer upper in West Springfield or Burke at that price. Very good schools. What is your commute, where are your jobs?