Alexandria (Fairfax County) School Ratings and Resale

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Considering moving to Alexandria and wondering about school ratings and resale. We're basically empty-nesters so don't need the schools but want good resale and want to stay in a home vs an apartment or townhouse and close proximity to DC for commuting.

We've seen homes in Clermont/Twain/Edison area Wilton Woods: Franconia, VA, Groveton, VA, Rose Hill, VA
I've heard Franconia Schools are good but don't like the overall area there or Hayfield area
North Ridge/Rosemont Charles Barrett/TC Williams area
Waynewood
Fort Hunt

I'm not loving the school ratings. Waynewood is an 8 but the middle school and high school seem low.

I know some schools have international baccalaureate and AP, which is great, but overall the scores are 4's or lower on GreatSchools.

Do you live in these areas? What has your experience been with the schools if your child(ren) are not in advanced placement?
How has resale been in your areas?
Anything else I should consider?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

For someone with no school-aged kids, you are really obsessed with GS.

Anything in close-in NOVA will hold its value just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For someone with no school-aged kids, you are really obsessed with GS.

Anything in close-in NOVA will hold its value just fine.

Obsessed is a strong word. I believe that school scores, amenities and commute are huge factors in choosing a home, as it’s one’s biggest financial investment.

[Anonymous]

What do you not like about the Kingstowne area?

[Anonymous]

My impression from living in both is that families zoned for WP (22308) frequently send their kids to the public schools. This area is more expensive than houses zoned for MV (22309). You are more likely to find people there who send kids to private, although MV’s reputation seems to be improving. There are people who want to move to both areas.

[Anonymous]

22308 is a very desirable area in which to live, despite some of the mediocre schools. High achieving kids still go to the public schools and go on to good, solid colleges. The lower SES areas around 22308 tend to bring down the scores of the local schools. But scores aren’t everything, and people here realize that kids can still get a good education at the local schools. Resale values are high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you not like about the Kingstowne area?

+1.

[Anonymous]

The Wilton Woods, Waynewood and Fort Hunt areas are the nicest ones you mentioned. I’d avoid the Groveton area or anything zoned for Mount Vernon HS.

[Anonymous]

Op, don't you understand that the schools' reputations are already baked into the price? You will get more home for the dollar in a less desirable school zone...that benefits you as a buyer. When you sell, you will get less for the home than a house in a more desirable zone, but you paid less when you bought.

If your kids aren't using the schools, then buy in the neighborhood you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, don't you understand that the schools' reputations are already baked into the price? You will get more home for the dollar in a less desirable school zone...that benefits you as a buyer. When you sell, you will get less for the home than a house in a more desirable zone, but you paid less when you bought.

If your kids aren't using the schools, then buy in the neighborhood you like.

Don't you understand that some pyramids in that part of the county are viewed as improving (Edison), others are viewed as stable (Hayfield, West Potomac, South County), and some are viewed as likely to decline further (Lee, Mount Vernon)?

The market is not always 100% efficient, so people look for input about areas that may have more upside and downside potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Wilton Woods, Waynewood and Fort Hunt areas are the nicest ones you mentioned. I’d avoid the Groveton area or anything zoned for Mount Vernon HS.

I disagree. Mount Vernon has some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the county - especially the ones that border the Potomac River. Because of the reputation of the schools, the homes in Mt Vernon are very reasonably priced. Many of the neighborhoods are not "cut throughs." No, the homes don't appreciate as fast as other homes in the 22308 zip code. But in 22308, if you want something in Waynewood, you're buying a 1950's or 1960's split level, with a carport (if you're lucky) and paying upwards of $700,000. In 22309, you can get a 3000 square foot home with two or three garages that is less than 30 years old for under $800,000. If you want a 1960's split, you'll pay $500,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For someone with no school-aged kids, you are really obsessed with GS.

Anything in close-in NOVA will hold its value just fine.

Obsessed is a strong word. I believe that school scores, amenities and commute are huge factors in choosing a home, as it’s one’s biggest financial investment.

This is like the fifth thread OP has started on this topic: she wants to live in Alexandria or Alexandria Ffx Co, doesn’t have school-aged kids but wants top schools for resale. She also wants walkability to metro and shopping, and a quick commute to Old Town. Her budget is $750k.

We have been through the neighborhoods and their pyramids repeatedly.

One thread is not obsessive. Five is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don't you understand that the schools' reputations are already baked into the price? You will get more home for the dollar in a less desirable school zone...that benefits you as a buyer. When you sell, you will get less for the home than a house in a more desirable zone, but you paid less when you bought.

If your kids aren't using the schools, then buy in the neighborhood you like.

Don't you understand that some pyramids in that part of the county are viewed as improving (Edison), others are viewed as stable (Hayfield, West Potomac, South County), and some are viewed as likely to decline further (Lee, Mount Vernon)?

The market is not always 100% efficient, so people look for input about areas that may have more upside and downside potential.

No. The reputations are not changing. They are also baked in based on the type of housing (and pricepoints) in the schoolzone. Lee and Mt Vernon are bottom of the barrell....decreasing further will have no impact. Edison and Hayfield are different but pretty equivalent...and they aren't changing from what they've bern fir the past 10 yrs. Etc. Etc. Same goes for the others. They are what they have been. It's baked in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My impression from living in both is that families zoned for WP (22308) frequently send their kids to the public schools. This area is more expensive than houses zoned for MV (22309). You are more likely to find people there who send kids to private, although MV’s reputation seems to be improving. There are people who want to move to both areas.

Thank you, that's good to know and helps a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:22308 is a very desirable area in which to live, despite some of the mediocre schools. High achieving kids still go to the public schools and go on to good, solid colleges. The lower SES areas around 22308 tend to bring down the scores of the local schools. But scores aren’t everything, and people here realize that kids can still get a good education at the local schools. Resale values are high.

I'm glad to know that 22308 is a desirable area in which to live and resale values are high. Thank you very much!