WWYD -- Fairfax City vs. Falls Church City Schools

[Anonymous]

We are looking at a house in Fairfax City, where the schools are good but not outstanding. We don't have to move immediately and are wondering if we should wait for something in our price range ($450-575K) in Falls Church City. How much better are the Falls Church City schools? The trade-off in the size of the house this buys in Fairfax City vs. Falls Church City is potentially significant, so any feedback or advice is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at a house in Fairfax City, where the schools are good but not outstanding. We don't have to move immediately and are wondering if we should wait for something in our price range ($450-575K) in Falls Church City. How much better are the Falls Church City schools? The trade-off in the size of the house this buys in Fairfax City vs. Falls Church City is potentially significant, so any feedback or advice is appreciated.

How do you know the Falls Church City schools are better than those in Fairfax City? Do the test scores mean the schools are better or simply that the Falls Church City schools serve fewer lower-income kids? In any event, if you're looking for a nice SFH in that price range in Falls Chuch City, you're not going to have many options.

[Anonymous]

Why not look in Fairfax, just outside Fairfax City (22031, 22032). Look for a house that feeds into Woodson HS. Plenty of houses in your price range and a school with a fantastic reputation. Ranks up there with McLean and Langley, though not nearly as economically privileged (which is a positive in my eyes). A friend teaches there and loves it.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine finding anything decent for 575k in Falls Church City.

I agree with the PP that you should look at Fairfax schools that feed into Woodson.

[Anonymous]

It's not some teaching miracle that Woodson HS has a good reputation and high test scores; it's simply a reflection of the fact that its boundaries are limited entirely to upper-middle class, even if not uber-wealthy, neighborhoods. Fairfax HS draws from some nice neighborhoods as well, but also includes more students from townhouse and apartment complexes. Both schools are part of the same public, county-wide system.

[Anonymous]

PP, thanks for the reality check. Exactly what I needed to hear.

[Anonymous]

falls church city schools are supposed to be very nice - smaller schools. i'd take a look but may be worth holding out if you can

[Anonymous]

also i think falls church city runs their own school system

[Anonymous]

You can find a few tiny Cape Cods in the City of Falls Church for under $600,000 - that's all. If your price range is below $600K, and you're nervous about Fairfax City, there are other places in Fairfax County you might want to consider. In addition to the Fairfax/Annandale neighborhoods that feed into Woodson, there are places like Vienna Woods in the town of Vienna and Dunn Loring Woods right outside Vienna. Both these neighborhoods are a bit more affordable than the City of Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

I would only move to the City of Falls Church. You could always rent.

[Anonymous]

Here I was thinking the City of Falls Church system was a small public school system, only to learn now that it's apparently Falls Church Country Day school. Such over-hyping is rare even by the norms of this an anonymous internet forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here I was thinking the City of Falls Church system was a small public school system, only to learn now that it's apparently Falls Church Country Day school. Such over-hyping is rare even by the norms of this an anonymous internet forum.

???!!!
City of Falls church has its own small school system: http://www.fccps.k12.va.us/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here I was thinking the City of Falls Church system was a small public school system, only to learn now that it's apparently Falls Church Country Day school. Such over-hyping is rare even by the norms of this an anonymous internet forum.

WTF

[Anonymous]

I think the poster was suggesting that some of you are promoting the Falls Church City schools on this forum like it's an exclusive private "Country Day" school, rather than a public school system.

[Anonymous]

question you didn't ask: how's the commute to work? If one or both of you is commuting into DC, the difference in commuting time can be significant. (I live between the two places you're considering and wish almost daily that I lived closer in.) might want to include that in your calculations - that could make the smaller house in FC more worth it.