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Anonymous wrote:Near West Falls Church Metro - McLean HS or Marshall HS - is the ideal spot for those wishing to be close to Metro and zoned for top schools.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia
Thanks you!!
And thank you to everyone else as well for your informative answers.
Thanks for all of this additional information, you all have given us a lot to consider. I'm sure the addition of Amazon is not going to help the overcrowding issues, and will impact both school districts.
Appreciate all the posts!
Appreciate all the posts!
Thank you all so much for these answers. I appreciate everyone's input, this has been really interesting.
Once again I'd really like to thank all of you for your replies. I have read all of them and appreciate the information you have provided. Thanks for all the links also. Oh and I had no idea you could add a transit layer in Google maps! 
Just to clarify a detail ... we don't really care how close the high school is to a metro station, rather we were contemplating the idea that it would be "nice" if the house we eventually purchased could be within 1/2 mile of a metro. Of course the other options of commuter buses and driving to a metro station are all worth considering also.
That particular house on a busy street (as well as some of the other houses) is indeed cute ... but I do think the street looks a bit too busy. If the housing market every slumped 20 years from now, it might be harder to sell it.
Just to clarify a detail ... we don't really care how close the high school is to a metro station, rather we were contemplating the idea that it would be "nice" if the house we eventually purchased could be within 1/2 mile of a metro. Of course the other options of commuter buses and driving to a metro station are all worth considering also.
That particular house on a busy street (as well as some of the other houses) is indeed cute ... but I do think the street looks a bit too busy. If the housing market every slumped 20 years from now, it might be harder to sell it.
What is the difference between a base school and a center school? Is a base school where they have regular and advanced classes, and a center school where they only have advanced classes?
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Oh, this is all very interesting. Thank you so much for all your replies.
Three more questions...
- If your child gets in to a language immersion program, then they will "just" do language immersion and not also be put in any kind of AAP?
- I gather Arlington public schools don't have anything like this?
- I wonder how the kids who don't get in feel?
We will be moving to the area soon. Oldest is still a toddler. We have not decided yet on Arlington or Fairfax County.
I have mixed feelings about it - on the one hand it sounds like a great way for the 20% to get a learning experience more geared towards their level, which is wonderful. On the other hand, I imagine it must create a certain amount of stress. I suspect some kids spend the summer between first and second grade going to test prep classes.
Three more questions...
- If your child gets in to a language immersion program, then they will "just" do language immersion and not also be put in any kind of AAP?
- I gather Arlington public schools don't have anything like this?
- I wonder how the kids who don't get in feel?
We will be moving to the area soon. Oldest is still a toddler. We have not decided yet on Arlington or Fairfax County.
I have mixed feelings about it - on the one hand it sounds like a great way for the 20% to get a learning experience more geared towards their level, which is wonderful. On the other hand, I imagine it must create a certain amount of stress. I suspect some kids spend the summer between first and second grade going to test prep classes.
Thanks again, this is all very interesting. I'm sure I could not help with elementary school math!
Thank you all so much for your replies - this is really all very helpful.
I'm a little familiar with Arlington, but not with Fairfax, and we would consider both areas. I wish I could find a "street map" that showed where exactly the metro runs. Right now if I see a street address, I have to Google how far it is from a metro stop. I have seen metro maps, but they don't have street names on them. (Am I making sense?) The goal was to be able to walk a half mile to the metro and avoid driving ... in either school district. We had not considered commute time on the metro however as was wisely pointed out. In an ideal world a commute time of 30 minutes or less would be wonderful, but "ideal" might also be "impossible". It seems we will have to decide what is more important - length of metro commute or school district.
What people say here about Yorktown vs. Washington-Lee is interesting. On "paper" (ie in schooldigger dot com), Yorktown is shown to be a better school - perhaps one cannot judge completely by that though. I did not know WL had an IB program.
To answer some other questions, yes I stay home. Oh and the 1.75 did refer to bathrooms - I meant we'd prefer one and 3/4 bath house, three bedroom. A "tear down" on a small lot is just fine. We'd prefer a stand alone small house as opposed to a town home or condo.
I maybe should also clarify that even though I have been mentioning high schools, oldest child is actually still a toddler. I just find it easier to start looking at housing areas by the high school and then work my way down to the elementary schools. One can have a good elementary school in a so-so high school district, but usually good high school districts have pretty good feeder schools. Perhaps I should also clarify that we will be renting for awhile (once we arrive in VA) and making a decision about buying after we rent ... right now I'd like to get started (soon) at looking at different areas to scope things out.
I read with interest the discussion between Arlington and Fairfax schools. We have not decided on that yet either. I am more familiar with the Arlington area, and still need to visit the area where the Fairfax school district is. I understand there is "city" and "county" school districts and it seems the country school district is better.
The last time I was in Arlington I did see a 1100 square foot house near-ish to Courthouse metro for around one million three hundred thousand. Thus I assume that being close to the metro and also close to DC drives up property value. That same house in Kansas (we are not from Kansas) might sell for $50,000 lol. (I laugh so as not to cry.)
I'm a little familiar with Arlington, but not with Fairfax, and we would consider both areas. I wish I could find a "street map" that showed where exactly the metro runs. Right now if I see a street address, I have to Google how far it is from a metro stop. I have seen metro maps, but they don't have street names on them. (Am I making sense?) The goal was to be able to walk a half mile to the metro and avoid driving ... in either school district. We had not considered commute time on the metro however as was wisely pointed out. In an ideal world a commute time of 30 minutes or less would be wonderful, but "ideal" might also be "impossible". It seems we will have to decide what is more important - length of metro commute or school district.
What people say here about Yorktown vs. Washington-Lee is interesting. On "paper" (ie in schooldigger dot com), Yorktown is shown to be a better school - perhaps one cannot judge completely by that though. I did not know WL had an IB program.
To answer some other questions, yes I stay home. Oh and the 1.75 did refer to bathrooms - I meant we'd prefer one and 3/4 bath house, three bedroom. A "tear down" on a small lot is just fine. We'd prefer a stand alone small house as opposed to a town home or condo.
I maybe should also clarify that even though I have been mentioning high schools, oldest child is actually still a toddler. I just find it easier to start looking at housing areas by the high school and then work my way down to the elementary schools. One can have a good elementary school in a so-so high school district, but usually good high school districts have pretty good feeder schools. Perhaps I should also clarify that we will be renting for awhile (once we arrive in VA) and making a decision about buying after we rent ... right now I'd like to get started (soon) at looking at different areas to scope things out.
I read with interest the discussion between Arlington and Fairfax schools. We have not decided on that yet either. I am more familiar with the Arlington area, and still need to visit the area where the Fairfax school district is. I understand there is "city" and "county" school districts and it seems the country school district is better.
The last time I was in Arlington I did see a 1100 square foot house near-ish to Courthouse metro for around one million three hundred thousand. Thus I assume that being close to the metro and also close to DC drives up property value. That same house in Kansas (we are not from Kansas) might sell for $50,000 lol. (I laugh so as not to cry.)
Interesting! Thank you so much to all for your replies and for the link!
Oh - Thank You!! I really appreciate this.
Do you know if there is a similar link for the schools in Arlington?
Do you know if there is a similar link for the schools in Arlington?
I apparently answered above as "anonymous" but yes, will be ending up at metro center station.
I realized after I posted this here, that I probably should have put it in the VA Schools section, not here. I tried to delete the post here but could not figure out how to do that ... sorry!
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?)
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?)
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?)
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?)