Fairfax or Montgomery?

[Anonymous]

We are moving to the DC area this summer - we will have a rising 6th (avg academic, into sports) and 8th grader (above avg academic, into sports and art). They are biracial and had some bad experience down in Central VA - we are in search for more diverse and international environment. On paper, within Montgomery county, Richard Montgomery, Whitman, Churchill, Wootton all look good. So do McLean, Marshall, Langley, and West Springfield. If you have children going to any of these schools - could you share your thoughts, starting with your middle school (I don't know which ones feed into what...yet). Our priorities are: diverse/inclusive culture, academic opportunities/rigor, student experience (chance to enjoy friends, sports, arts, etc.), and school administration/philosophy, in that order. I'd appreciate some insight!

[Anonymous]

First of almost no- one likes their middle school. SO there is that. It is an age thing.

We picked Virginia because of better in state college options. We also picked Virginia because most of our types of jobs were in DC or northern Virginia and we could commute to Bethesda from our NOVA house if needed. Commute is important too. I think all of the schools you mention are fine and you will find, and it is more of picking nits to separate them out.

[Anonymous]

Commute is king
Tell us more Op
It matters more than you know

[Anonymous]

No one with a West Springfield Budget is a realistic buyer for Whitman.

Be honest here re: your budget Op

[Anonymous]

As our real estate budget - we won't be spending 1-million for a house, but if we had to, we can...do we want to? Absolutely not. We both work in Charlottesville now but we don't need to be there everyday (especially me; I work remotely anyway). So commute is I guess easier if we are in Fairfax County, but going up to MD only adds 20 more minutes, without traffic. On paper, McLean and Langley sound like they're intense, like lots of pressure on the kids? And how urban/suburban are the neighborhoods in West Springfield or Marshall?

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of areas in FFX where tear downs are going for close to (or more than) $1 million. I don't know MD, but I'd assume that is also true there. Also, there is never not traffic in this area. Why are you moving to the DC area? To escape having your kids in a school in central VA? You probably want to take a close look at real estate in terms of the various markets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As our real estate budget - we won't be spending 1-million for a house, but if we had to, we can...do we want to? Absolutely not. We both work in Charlottesville now but we don't need to be there everyday (especially me; I work remotely anyway). So commute is I guess easier if we are in Fairfax County, but going up to MD only adds 20 more minutes, without traffic. On paper, McLean and Langley sound like they're intense, like lots of pressure on the kids? And how urban/suburban are the neighborhoods in West Springfield or Marshall?

OP, even non-rush hour, its not 20 minutes anymore. Fairfax to MoCo can be 45-120 minutes on a good day. Snow storm, 3-4 hours. There is only one way over on one bridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of areas in FFX where tear downs are going for close to (or more than) $1 million. I don't know MD, but I'd assume that is also true there. Also, there is never not traffic in this area. Why are you moving to the DC area? To escape having your kids in a school in central VA? You probably want to take a close look at real estate in terms of the various markets.

I would go with FCPS. There are far more good schools for your needs--diverse, inclusive and high academic achievement-- than those listed. If you're considering West Springfield and Chantilly, I would also add in Woodson, Robinson, Lake Braddock, Fairfax, and Westfield. These are all suburban communities though. You can find reasonable houses within your budget there.

[Anonymous]

You are insane, OP. C-ville is 2 hours each way from Fairfax/Arlington with no traffic. If you really don’t want to stay in Charlottesville itself, your best bet is Gainesville in Prince William and the then there’s a straight shot down 29 when you have to go. The schools are decent and Gainesville is not that “out there” any more. But if you don’t like the public schools in Charlottesville, you should live there near the university and send your kids to private.

[Anonymous]

I'd vote for Ashburn/Brambleton/South Riding.... lots of new homes, more white/Asian/some hispanic/ some black (not a lot). There are good schools, and you get more amenities and space for the price. If you had to change jobs, you could probably find something in Fairfax County that wouldn't be a terrible commute.

It would be insane to move to Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County is overall a more diverse and more academically rigorous environment than Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

Marshall or West Springfield for higher achievement for students of color. Woodson, McLean and Langley too grindy and $$$-conscious.
Hard no to MC, please read threads on MD schools and real estate fora.

[Anonymous]

Oh. I just saw you need to be in Cville, ahhhh! Western Albermarle is a good HS, what's wrong with being in Cville or getting a cheaper home in Fluvanna or neighboring and sending kids to StAB?

[Anonymous]

sp-- Albemarle, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of areas in FFX where tear downs are going for close to (or more than) $1 million. I don't know MD, but I'd assume that is also true there. Also, there is never not traffic in this area. Why are you moving to the DC area? To escape having your kids in a school in central VA? You probably want to take a close look at real estate in terms of the various markets.

I would go with FCPS. There are far more good schools for your needs--diverse, inclusive and high academic achievement-- than those listed. If you're considering West Springfield and Chantilly, I would also add in Woodson, Robinson, Lake Braddock, Fairfax, and Westfield. These are all suburban communities though. You can find reasonable houses within your budget there.

Really? With all the gun nuts and white nationalists rallies in VA, as a POC I'd avoid it.