Looking for good schools in Alexandria

[Anonymous]

We're likely moving to VA in a few months. We've seen some properties (townhouses) that we like in a community called Cameron Station in Alexandria. Is anyone familiar with that community? What are the schools like? Zipcode is 22304

[Anonymous]

I would probably not choose Cameron Station if you are planning on using public school long term. It is a cute community, and I have heard Samuel Tucker is an ok elementary school - it is not thought of as one of the stronger schools in ACPS, but not a bad either. However, it is zoned for Hammond for middle, as opposed to George Washington.

[Anonymous]

I have friend who love in cameron station. They send their kids to public school. It's a poor school and it goes year round, but they seem ok with it. They LOVE the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

We live in Cameron Station. The houses are HORRIBLY built. Most (not some, most) of our neighbors have experienced exceptional storm damage because of the bad trim, finishing, roofing, and related issues. Please do a THOROUGH inspection and include a discretionary inspection contingency.

Tucker is a good school, although not a spectacular one. Our neighbors are very active in the PTA and are sophisticated enough to see that, while the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses, there are indeed weaknesses. We sent our DC to a different Alexandria public for elementary, when that was permitted, and loved it. Now, ACPS is really run for the sole benefit of East-side City residents, which is where all the really solid elementary schools are. If you can afford Cam Sta, you can afford a townhouse on the East-side, and I'd do that if I had it to do all over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Cameron Station. The houses are HORRIBLY built. Most (not some, most) of our neighbors have experienced exceptional storm damage because of the bad trim, finishing, roofing, and related issues. Please do a THOROUGH inspection and include a discretionary inspection contingency.

Tucker is a good school, although not a spectacular one. Our neighbors are very active in the PTA and are sophisticated enough to see that, while the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses, there are indeed weaknesses. We sent our DC to a different Alexandria public for elementary, when that was permitted, and loved it. Now, ACPS is really run for the sole benefit of East-side City residents, which is where all the really solid elementary schools are. If you can afford Cam Sta, you can afford a townhouse on the East-side, and I'd do that if I had it to do all over again.

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. What is the zipcode for the East-side?

[Anonymous]

Lived in Cameron Station 11 years. Bought a home built in 1999 in 2004. To date, have had to replace the AC units and did have some roof trim work done. Only repairs/replacements we have needed. We loved Tucker, we liked Hammond (yes it is diverse) and we look forward to TC Williams. Just wanted to throw out another CS experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Cameron Station. The houses are HORRIBLY built. Most (not some, most) of our neighbors have experienced exceptional storm damage because of the bad trim, finishing, roofing, and related issues. Please do a THOROUGH inspection and include a discretionary inspection contingency.

Tucker is a good school, although not a spectacular one. Our neighbors are very active in the PTA and are sophisticated enough to see that, while the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses, there are indeed weaknesses. We sent our DC to a different Alexandria public for elementary, when that was permitted, and loved it. Now, ACPS is really run for the sole benefit of East-side City residents, which is where all the really solid elementary schools are. If you can afford Cam Sta, you can afford a townhouse on the East-side, and I'd do that if I had it to do all over again.

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. What is the zipcode for the East-side?

Look at the catchments for Barrett, Mason, MacArthur, Maury, and Lyles-Crouch (costly).

20:46 here. You will probably hear horror stories about the public middle schools. As to Hammond (the West-side middle), the stories are a bit overblown; as to GW (East-side), the stories are grossly overblown. And pls do consider the comments from 15:41. Tucker does have strengths (on the West-side, many parents seem to like Polk as well, which is regular-calendar). Our DC is now at TC and it really is spectacular, at least for those that are not at the bottom of the class. Every possible type of academic program, and the academic programs have genuinely good college placement. The look-and-feel aspects of TC are really impressive. You'll hear some nasty tales about TC, but we're there now, and it is impressive -- don't believe the nonsense. Alexandria is politically contentious, but much of the whining about ACPS is meritless.

However, whining about the Cameron Station construction, community association, etc. is far from meritless ...