Happiest Elementary Schools in Arlington/N. Fairfax Co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mantua Elem is good but that is prob longer than 30 min unless you are in carpool on 66 or leaving at 6AM. Strong neighborhood, convenient location otherwise.

Mantua is no way a 30 commute except at 6am on Sundays. Ok Add 5am on weekdays. I live east of Msntua and I'm lucky to make it in 45 min after 7:45am. usually 55 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure Long Branch is the APS that buses kids from the Ft Myer CDC...so if you need before or after school care you can get it on post at a VERY reasonable price. A bonus to using Ft Myer SAS for before and after school is priority in their summer camp program.

There is a great mix of military/non-military in Fairfax county down along the GW Parkway toward Mt Vernon. The schools down that way -- Belle View, Waynewood, Stratford Landing, Fort Hunt -- are good and there are many community activities inside the school and within the communities themselves. Commute to the Pentagon is 25ish minutes if you go in early.

The best advice in this area is to minimize your commute. Sure you can get a big, new home on lots of land farther south, but the trade off is a horrendous commute.

Many of us commute to Reston, Herndon, Dulles, McLean, etc. and so getting a big home on lots of land in the suburbs makes perfect sense. It seems like so many DCUM-ers assume everyone's commuting to DC, and that's certainly not the reality in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure Long Branch is the APS that buses kids from the Ft Myer CDC...so if you need before or after school care you can get it on post at a VERY reasonable price. A bonus to using Ft Myer SAS for before and after school is priority in their summer camp program.

There is a great mix of military/non-military in Fairfax county down along the GW Parkway toward Mt Vernon. The schools down that way -- Belle View, Waynewood, Stratford Landing, Fort Hunt -- are good and there are many community activities inside the school and within the communities themselves. Commute to the Pentagon is 25ish minutes if you go in early.

The best advice in this area is to minimize your commute. Sure you can get a big, new home on lots of land farther south, but the trade off is a horrendous commute.

Many of us commute to Reston, Herndon, Dulles, McLean, etc. and so getting a big home on lots of land in the suburbs makes perfect sense. It seems like so many DCUM-ers assume everyone's commuting to DC, and that's certainly not the reality in our neighborhood.

Why the heck are you even in the DC metro then, if you are working at some nameless tech corridor company? just move to austin or research triangle already, and have an even nicer house and neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure Long Branch is the APS that buses kids from the Ft Myer CDC...so if you need before or after school care you can get it on post at a VERY reasonable price. A bonus to using Ft Myer SAS for before and after school is priority in their summer camp program.

There is a great mix of military/non-military in Fairfax county down along the GW Parkway toward Mt Vernon. The schools down that way -- Belle View, Waynewood, Stratford Landing, Fort Hunt -- are good and there are many community activities inside the school and within the communities themselves. Commute to the Pentagon is 25ish minutes if you go in early.

The best advice in this area is to minimize your commute. Sure you can get a big, new home on lots of land farther south, but the trade off is a horrendous commute.

Many of us commute to Reston, Herndon, Dulles, McLean, etc. and so getting a big home on lots of land in the suburbs makes perfect sense. It seems like so many DCUM-ers assume everyone's commuting to DC, and that's certainly not the reality in our neighborhood.

I'm the PP who wrote what you quoted. I don't assume everyone commutes to DC. However, the OP said her husband will commute to the Pentagon. We are a military family with one commuting to the Pentagon and I can say, from experience, that the commute from the Mt Vernon area of Fairfax County is not bad. Commuting to the Pentagon from much farther south (Woodbridge, Dale City, Aquia) and from the western part of Fairfax County takes longer than the OP indicated they were interested in. If I worked in Reston, Herndon, Dulles, or McLean then, sure, I'd live out that way. Just trying to answer the OP's inquiry.

[Anonymous]

Most people will tell you that their commute--to wherever--is a lot less than it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move to the Rosemont n-hood in Alexandria (city) and send your daughter to Maury. Wonderful school, happy kids and happy staff.

(And ignore the haters on DCUM).

It isn't hateful to point out that Alexandria City Public Schools are really bad. Maury's OK, but it's not a particularly good school. It helps that demographically, Rosemont could be Country Club Hills in North Arlington.

The problem with Alexandria is middle school and high schools. People are actively trying to get OUT of ACPS because of them. No one moves in.

Those are just facts. I'm sorry if you find facts hateful. But it doesn't change the truth.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you lived on base before and do you like the kid friendly/family/neighborly vibe you get living on base?

If so, and if you want a reasonable commute, then you really want to keep the West Springfield/Burke neighborhoods that feed into West Springfield HS and Lake Braddock secondary very high on your list.

We have been stationed here several times and lived in several different areas, including inside the beltway, and the WS/Burke neighborhoods are the best combination of reasonable commute, excellent schools, warm and friendly neighborhoods and family freindly living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you lived on base before and do you like the kid friendly/family/neighborly vibe you get living on base?

If so, and if you want a reasonable commute, then you really want to keep the West Springfield/Burke neighborhoods that feed into West Springfield HS and Lake Braddock secondary very high on your list.

We have been stationed here several times and lived in several different areas, including inside the beltway, and the WS/Burke neighborhoods are the best combination of reasonable commute, excellent schools, warm and friendly neighborhoods and family freindly living.

This area feels the closest to living on base in terms of the overall vibe and neighborly interactions.

[Anonymous]

Burke- lots of kids and nearby activities

Or

Arlington- oakridge elementary - DH can ride his bike or walk to work, look for rentals in Arlington Ridge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are happy people in Arlington? If you want happy, try Ashburn.

Husbands all bus into DC. Wives all relive HS drama. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are happy people in Arlington? If you want happy, try Ashburn.

Husbands all bus into DC. Wives all relive HS drama. No thanks!

??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are happy people in Arlington? If you want happy, try Ashburn.

Husbands all bus into DC. Wives all relive HS drama. No thanks!

But everyone I meet from Ashburn tells me they have a 35 minute commute to their jobs in DC....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are happy people in Arlington? If you want happy, try Ashburn.

Husbands all bus into DC. Wives all relive HS drama. No thanks!

But everyone I meet from Ashburn tells me they have a 35 minute commute to their jobs in DC....

Maybe they are awake on the bus for 35 min. Sleep the rest.

[Anonymous]

Patrick Henry is a lovely school and closer to the pentagon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure Long Branch is the APS that buses kids from the Ft Myer CDC...so if you need before or after school care you can get it on post at a VERY reasonable price. A bonus to using Ft Myer SAS for before and after school is priority in their summer camp program.

There is a great mix of military/non-military in Fairfax county down along the GW Parkway toward Mt Vernon. The schools down that way -- Belle View, Waynewood, Stratford Landing, Fort Hunt -- are good and there are many community activities inside the school and within the communities themselves. Commute to the Pentagon is 25ish minutes if you go in early.

The best advice in this area is to minimize your commute. Sure you can get a big, new home on lots of land farther south, but the trade off is a horrendous commute.

Yes, Long Branch is the school that cooperates with Ft Myer Daycare.