Tell me why I should pay extra for Arlington High Schools

[Anonymous]

I am looking to move next year, and was led to believe that North Arlington High Schools are great - Yorktown and Washington Lee. And that no one who is interested in education would send their kid to Wakefield.

Then I look at GS ratings for the schools and scratch my head a bit.

Washington Lee is a 4 and Yorktown is a 5.

Wakefield is a 3.

I see there has been some talk that GS has "changed the way they rank," but won't the bad rating lead people away regardless creating a downward spiral?

If commute is not a concern (and other areas of NOVA would work for us), why bet on North Arlington and pay the premium on a house?

[Anonymous]

If commute (or proximity to DC) is not a concern, why would you want to buy in Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If commute (or proximity to DC) is not a concern, why would you want to buy in Arlington?

Exactly this. I live in Arlington because my husband and I both commute to DC. You don't move to Arlington for the schools, you move to Arlington because you need to commute and the schools are good. You can get equally good (or better) schools AND a nicer house for the same price further out.

[Anonymous]

You mustn't.

[Anonymous]

Just move to Vienna or Oakton if you don't care about the commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If commute (or proximity to DC) is not a concern, why would you want to buy in Arlington?

Exactly this. I live in Arlington because my husband and I both commute to DC. You don't move to Arlington for the schools, you move to Arlington because you need to commute and the schools are good. You can get equally good (or better) schools AND a nicer house for the same price further out.

Yup. We both commute to DC and don't want to move farther out. If we didn't both work in DC we'd move further out!

[Anonymous]

Ugh didn't mean to use farther and further, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking to move next year, and was led to believe that North Arlington High Schools are great - Yorktown and Washington Lee. And that no one who is interested in education would send their kid to Wakefield.

Then I look at GS ratings for the schools and scratch my head a bit.

Washington Lee is a 4 and Yorktown is a 5.

Wakefield is a 3.

I see there has been some talk that GS has "changed the way they rank," but won't the bad rating lead people away regardless creating a downward spiral?

If commute is not a concern (and other areas of NOVA would work for us), why bet on North Arlington and pay the premium on a house?

Agreed. Stay away. Stay far away please.

[Anonymous]

This is such a cliched post that I almost want to say troll. We get it. You don’t like Wakefield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If commute (or proximity to DC) is not a concern, why would you want to buy in Arlington?

Exactly this. I live in Arlington because my husband and I both commute to DC. You don't move to Arlington for the schools, you move to Arlington because you need to commute and the schools are good. You can get equally good (or better) schools AND a nicer house for the same price further out.

Ditto. And, W-L and Yorktown are fine. Great Schools changed their scoring system, nothing about the schools changed over the last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking to move next year, and was led to believe that North Arlington High Schools are great - Yorktown and Washington Lee. And that no one who is interested in education would send their kid to Wakefield.

Then I look at GS ratings for the schools and scratch my head a bit.

Washington Lee is a 4 and Yorktown is a 5.

Wakefield is a 3.

I see there has been some talk that GS has "changed the way they rank," but won't the bad rating lead people away regardless creating a downward spiral?

If commute is not a concern (and other areas of NOVA would work for us), why bet on North Arlington and pay the premium on a house?

Troll post, but please do not move here. We're full. N and S. No room for you or your kids. KTHXBAI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking to move next year, and was led to believe that North Arlington High Schools are great - Yorktown and Washington Lee. And that no one who is interested in education would send their kid to Wakefield.

Then I look at GS ratings for the schools and scratch my head a bit.

Washington Lee is a 4 and Yorktown is a 5.

Wakefield is a 3.

I see there has been some talk that GS has "changed the way they rank," but won't the bad rating lead people away regardless creating a downward spiral?

If commute is not a concern (and other areas of NOVA would work for us), why bet on North Arlington and pay the premium on a house?

GS did change the methodology for its primary ratings. I don't think this will have much impact on people focusing on Arlington and other close-in suburbs for the commute (and, in some parts of Arlington, the walkability).

The bigger issue with APS isn't GS ratings. It's the crazy "planning" that frequently leaves people on edge as to whether their neighborhood school will get converted to a choice school, whether their kids' high school will be ridiculously overcrowded, etc.

[Anonymous]

GS changed their ratings. Now we see there is little difference between the schools.
Not a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking to move next year, and was led to believe that North Arlington High Schools are great - Yorktown and Washington Lee. And that no one who is interested in education would send their kid to Wakefield.

Then I look at GS ratings for the schools and scratch my head a bit.

Washington Lee is a 4 and Yorktown is a 5.

Wakefield is a 3.

I see there has been some talk that GS has "changed the way they rank," but won't the bad rating lead people away regardless creating a downward spiral?

If commute is not a concern (and other areas of NOVA would work for us), why bet on North Arlington and pay the premium on a house?

At this point, leading people away would be a good thing. The capacity crisis is real.

[Anonymous]

NP. Also considering Arlington for better schools. Currently zoned for a 5 high school in FCPS Alexandria. Kid is in AAP. Feel like we should just stay put if the schools aren't even better.