The challenge of buying for schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a trade-off, but a good one. It’s hyper focus on your kids as it should be. Get in the Whitman district or equivalent, and stay there until your youngest reaches 18.

from the perspective of kids, I’d much rather be in a 1970s house in the Whitman or Churchill districts than let’s say a brand new build stunner in the WJ/BCC or lower clusters for example.

You should look closely at the actual college apps vs acceptances. Sort of blows a hole in the whole "Whitman is unmatched" philosophy people have.

Agent X here.

You've gotten some very good advice on this thread. Schools don't matter as much as being happy where you live and making sure it suits your lifestyle. School boundaries are redrawn all the time and you can find yourself drawn right out of a district you purchased for. Scores are BS since they favor those with English as a first language, and it's very international here. Also, I could go on for hours about what BS the tests actually are.

All middle schools suck. The core of my client base is families buying between $600K - $1.5M. I literally help navigate schools for clients by digging in way past just the score.

Finally, you're like most parents in the early years, everyone worries about high school. Try to focus on the next 5 years. That's all you can plan for. None of us expected a pandemic. Who knows what's around the corner. Find the place where you and your family will be happiest and live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools don't prepare your kid. A "good school" just means smart or hardworking kids live in the area.

But that’s a huge benefit. The best thing you can give your kid is a good peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me you are looking at homes that fall within Fall Church City school boundaries without telling me you are looking at houses that fall between Falls Church City school’s boundaries

Falls Church City is so small it’s one set of schools the whole way through. This issue would not be an issue.