Any Information on West Springfield or Lake Braddock and Other Options in Eastern FFX County

[Anonymous]

My DS is in a good elementary school in the eastern portion of Fairfax County. The high school he is zoned for, however, is middling. We knew this when we bought the house, but it made a lot of sense for commute, etc. It makes sense honestly in pretty much every way except the high school. We have started to think more about options for DS's high school. It does not make sense for use to move to the western portion of the county, so it looks like the only two highly rated high schools in eastern portion (besides Thomas Jefferson) are West Springfield and Lake Braddock.

Has anyone moved for these two schools and did they find it to be worthwhile? Also, we have just one child so we are considering if it might make more sense to think about private, possibly Bishop Ireton or St. Stephen's and Agnes. We could probably cover a year or more of tuition just in what it would cost us to have a realtor sell our house. If anyone has worked through the options for high school in this area of the county and has some insight I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Are you in the Lee HS district? We have the same concerns. We love our house, neighborhood, commute, proximity to shopping and entertainment, everything - except the high school.

We don't plan to move, and will likely take our chances with Lee HS, but are doing our research on private schools and even homeschool options.

Many parents in our neighborhood are doing the same - or moving when the kids near HS age.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We are in Hayfield pyramid, and I understand there is the option to go to Edison for IB. Edison seems roughly comparable though. This part of the county is so uneven. My DS plays lacrosse in Fort Hunt, and there are some nice elementaries there, but I believe West Potomac is only a 3 on great schools. I think a lot of people in that area look for other options for high school too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We are in Hayfield pyramid, and I understand there is the option to go to Edison for IB. Edison seems roughly comparable though. This part of the county is so uneven. My DS plays lacrosse in Fort Hunt, and there are some nice elementaries there, but I believe West Potomac is only a 3 on great schools. I think a lot of people in that area look for other options for high school too.

Not going to say Hayfield doesn't have warts... but I will say that the living in that area is soooo good. We moved to a more highly regarded pyramid and we often talk about moving back b/c we miss all the conveniences and the calmer pace and lower congestion. LBSS and WSHS are also very good and have a calmer pace too (in the neighborhoods)... WSHS is a very good value for the money. But, be careful what you would give up ... or, maybe I should say ... go ahead and move (we might want to buy your house!).

[Anonymous]

Many neighborhoods in eastern Fairfax are great places to live and raise a family - Fort Hunt, Stratford Landing, Hayfield, Kingstowne, Saratoga. Great locations, good housing stock, etc. Why are some of the schools in those areas performing poorly? Good neighborhood schools are suddenly not so good. What's going on FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Langley, McLean and Marshall are all in the eastern part of the county as well. I'm assuming you are priced out?

I don't really think of Lake Braddock as in the eastern part of the county, but if you think so you could also add Woodson to your list.

I'd be fine with either Hayfield or Edison. "Middling" is a label for the school average, but there seem to be significant cohorts of typical, high-achieving NoVa kids at both schools. I'd be more concerned with Lee or Mount Vernon, where it seems like the ESOL/FARMS populations likely suck up most of the attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many neighborhoods in eastern Fairfax are great places to live and raise a family - Fort Hunt, Stratford Landing, Hayfield, Kingstowne, Saratoga. Great locations, good housing stock, etc. Why are some of the schools in those areas performing poorly? Good neighborhood schools are suddenly not so good. What's going on FCPS?

Huh? These areas look very good compared to, say, South Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley, McLean and Marshall are all in the eastern part of the county as well. I'm assuming you are priced out?

I don't really think of Lake Braddock as in the eastern part of the county, but if you think so you could also add Woodson to your list.

I'd be fine with either Hayfield or Edison. "Middling" is a label for the school average, but there seem to be significant cohorts of typical, high-achieving NoVa kids at both schools. I'd be more concerned with Lee or Mount Vernon, where it seems like the ESOL/FARMS populations likely suck up most of the attention.

We could move to McLean, but it would make commutes a lot worse. We've been established for almost 20 years, love our neighborhood and don't want to move. The schools were highly rated back then, but have since declined.

If we move anywhere, it will be outside of Fairfax Co. I'm so disappointed in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley, McLean and Marshall are all in the eastern part of the county as well. I'm assuming you are priced out?

I don't really think of Lake Braddock as in the eastern part of the county, but if you think so you could also add Woodson to your list.

I'd be fine with either Hayfield or Edison. "Middling" is a label for the school average, but there seem to be significant cohorts of typical, high-achieving NoVa kids at both schools. I'd be more concerned with Lee or Mount Vernon, where it seems like the ESOL/FARMS populations likely suck up most of the attention.

We could move to McLean, but it would make commutes a lot worse. We've been established for almost 20 years, love our neighborhood and don't want to move. The schools were highly rated back then, but have since declined.

If we move anywhere, it will be outside of Fairfax Co. I'm so disappointed in FCPS.

I'm sorry that you're disappointed in FCPS. But I'm a bit confused, first you say that you're thinking of relocating for a different high school and now you say that you would only move outside of FCPS. The APS high schools are good but there are problems with overcrowding there. Where else are you considering moving?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I did not make the comment about moving outside FCPS. I don't think Arlington would be workable, and we would probably be priced out in Langley, McLean, etc. Also, it would make our commutes worse as I work in Alexandria City and DH works in Chinatown.

I don't think Hayfield SS is terrible, but it seems that it would be very easy for get lost in the system there. We already supplement a lot at the elementary level because I think the classes are too large.

With the one child too I do not know if it would be worth it to move even if we had to go private. Our house has a lot of long term potential for us, so I am thinking of looking into private options more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley, McLean and Marshall are all in the eastern part of the county as well. I'm assuming you are priced out?

I don't really think of Lake Braddock as in the eastern part of the county, but if you think so you could also add Woodson to your list.

I'd be fine with either Hayfield or Edison. "Middling" is a label for the school average, but there seem to be significant cohorts of typical, high-achieving NoVa kids at both schools. I'd be more concerned with Lee or Mount Vernon, where it seems like the ESOL/FARMS populations likely suck up most of the attention.

You must not be from around here. Langley, McLean and Marshall, are way west of LBSS. You know...like the direction of the beltway from Springfield to Tysons...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many neighborhoods in eastern Fairfax are great places to live and raise a family - Fort Hunt, Stratford Landing, Hayfield, Kingstowne, Saratoga. Great locations, good housing stock, etc. Why are some of the schools in those areas performing poorly? Good neighborhood schools are suddenly not so good. What's going on FCPS?

I agree. I live in one of those neighborhoods and I think it is a great place to live and raise a family. But, some of those school ratings have gotten pretty low, even at the ES level. In my neighborhood, I know families that are still using the public ES but others are starting to opt for private. I know one family where their son actually really liked the ES and seemed to be doing well, but they just got so concerned that test scores were going in the wrong direction, they were concerned and felt forced to go private. Hopefully, FCPS can do something to turn things around in these schools. I think the neighborhoods themselves will remain desirable places to live, but they may become places where people start to say, it's a great neighborhood, but you have to do private school.

[Anonymous]

To the OP - I live in LBSS area and like it. Can you afford private school? If you can afford it and otherwise like your area and don't want to move, I might consider that. I don't know anything about the FCPS schools in your area though. GL.

[Anonymous]

I would not move for four years of high school, especially if you like your neighborhood, your home, and probably most importantly your commute. I would opt for private. I have heard great things about Bishop Ireton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the OP - I live in LBSS area and like it. Can you afford private school? If you can afford it and otherwise like your area and don't want to move, I might consider that. I don't know anything about the FCPS schools in your area though. GL.

This. If you can afford to live in the McLean/Langley pyramids, then you can afford private. I'd go that route before entertaining the hassle of uprooting my family.