Moving to Arlington or Fairfax Country - Question re being near metro in good high school district
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whatshername
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We are from out of the area, considering buying a home in either Arlington or Fairfax County. Husband works in DC, and would prefer to ride metro or (perhaps) a "fast bus" if there is such a thing.
I have done some research on schools and it seems that in Arlington Yorktown High is the highest rated high school. I notice the boundaries for the high school are a bit odd and can't help but wonder if they will change at some point ... It also seems that the high schools in Fairfax County receive higher ratings (on schooldigger dot com), especially Chantilly High, Langley High, Madison High, McLean High, West Springfield High, and Woodson High. My question is - is it possible to live in Fairfax County within any of the above school districts, and also live within half a mile or so of a metro stop? I understand the silver line is being extended and would consider something on that upcoming extension as well. However, since I'm not familiar with the area, I'm not sure the silver line is/will be in Fairfax County? Or if not that, is it possible to live in Fairfax County within any of the above school districts and ride a "fast" commuter bus into DC? I guess another option might be to drive to a metro stop (if there is a parking lot) and then commute by metro to DC, though that would be a second choice for sure. As for housing prices, we'd prefer not to spend more than a million (which is crazy), but we realize we might have to go higher (which is also crazy). A small three bedroom 1.75 bath million dollar house on a small lot is quite sufficient. (Did I mention prices are crazy lol?) |
Anonymous
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What general area or metro stop in DC are you commuting to?
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Anonymous
| Will be getting off at the metro center station. |
whatshername
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| I apparently answered above as "anonymous" but yes, will be ending up at metro center station. |
Anonymous
| I only know the streets of the South Lake Pyramid well enough to answer and I can can say that the Dulles expansion of the Silver Line will allow you to be within a mile of the Metro and a very good school with some great elementary and middle schools. South Lakes isn’t as sexy but there are a good number of kids who are doing well on the IB tests. It has solid academics, art programs and sports programs. The houses are not insanely expensive and the community feel tot he neighborhoods is pretty great. |
Anonymous
| Look at the area around West Falls Church metro that is zoned for Haycock. In that price range, you will have to move quickly and expect an older house built in the mid 1960’s. There is a bus that runs down Old Dominion to Balston Metro - so you could expand your search along that route. Again, look to see houses that are selling that have little updates and are 50 years old. On DCUM, people call them tear downs, but I live in one and it is more than fine. |
Anonymous
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In Arlington, most of the houses that are close to metro are zoned to W-L. There is a fast bus that goes down Lee Highway to McPherson Square in DC. Or the Rosslyn metro. A million is doable, but you’d have to act very fast.
Here’s one that actually feeds into Yorktown. Close to Lee Highway for the bus. https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2226-N-Columbus-St-22207/home/11236039?utm_source=ios_share&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_nooverride=1&utm_content=link |
Anonymous
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Yorktown is overrated. I know, because we purposefully left that school zone. Arlington schools are overcrowded and have a lot of problems one finds with overcrowded schools. The governance is also in disarray. The boundaries you see for Yorktown are a legacy effort to shoehorn some racial and economic diversity into what is otherwise would be a homogenously while, rich school. Understand, I'm not saying Yorktown is a BAD school -- on the contrary. But it's not the end-all, be-all.
Anything on the silver line will be a long, expensive Metro commute. But lifestyle out near Loudoun is better in general. |
Anonymous
WL is the same as YHS academically, it has a more diverse population. It has an IB program. I know many zoned for YHS that transferred to WL for IB. If you have the $$ (home next to orange line are very pricey), it’s an incredibly convenient location and great to walk to everything. Amazon has brought another bump in home values. $1.75 should get you something and, yes, it’s crazg!! |
Anonymous
| I prefer the areas in Fairfax along near Metro stations on the Orange Line with parking lots - they feed into McLean, Marshall and Madison HS - all of which I’d take in a heartbeat over APS. I don’t think APS is bad, but the top pyramids are just a cut above when it comes to the range of academic programs at every level from elementary to high school. If your DH will be working in DC, Loudoun wouldn’t make a lot of sense, as it’s a long commute to DC and more likely to appeal to those with budgets well below yours. |
Anonymous
| If you are willing to consider the Marshall HS pyramid then look around the Dunn Loring metro on the orange line. There are several homes within 1/2 mile around $1M. They are going to be renovated 1960a ramblers or 2 story for $800 - $1M. . If you are willing to walk a little further, you can find newer/bigger homes for $1M - 1.2M. |
Anonymous
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Loundon does have an “easy” commute into DC though - buses that go right downtown. Long, but easy.
https://www.loudoun.gov/221/Commuter-Bus |
Anonymous
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Isn’t her budget is $1M. I think the 1.75 was in reference to bathroom count.
So only DH commutes, do you stay home? HHI about $200k? I would live in Loudoun near silver line, but probably take Dulles Connector bus |
Anonymous
Yes, easy if you leave at 5:30, and it will still take at least 1 hour. |
Anonymous
Yes, it’s long but you can sit and sleep or work. And times aren’t terrible during rush hour - they use bus lanes. https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/111193/Dulles-North-Dulles-South-July-2018?bidId= |