Moving to VA: Housing/Rental decision based on Elementary schools in Herndon, Fairfax, Reston etc.
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nu2nva
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We are moving to the area next month and we will be basing our rental home search based on elementary schools. I wanted some firsthand feedback from parents whose children are going or have gone to one of the following schools:
McNair Elementary in Herndon (There are several townhomes within our budget $1800-$2300 in the area). We are not getting good reviews for this school or the nearby neighborhoods. Oak Hill Elementary in Oak Hill. There are currently no homes available for rental within our budget. Although we've heard good things about this school. Navy Elementary in Fairfax. We do not know much about this school, however there are possibly several properties available within our budget in the area. Sunrise Elementary in Reston. Again, we do not know much about the school and there are maybe a couple of properties available within our budget. One additional requirement is that ideally we need to be close to Herndon area which is where my husband will be working. What throws me off is the rankings on schooldigger.com for several schools. I know it's by no means an authority site or the final word, but it's all we've got at the moment trying to gauge remotely what's good or not. Oak Hill is ranked 26th out of some 1100 schools on schooldigger which is pretty good. However, we can hardly find properties in that area. Fox Mill is ranked 82nd but nothing in that area within our range. McNair is ranked 103rd but some question marks about the area in general. Sunrise Valley is ranked 171st which is again a little bit discouraging. Navy Elementary is ranked 130th. Lees Corner is ranked 160th and the rest are much lower. I understand that in general FCPS are good but it's kind of hard to see a school ranked at 300/400 out of 1000 and pick that area. I also understand that we may have to do some compromise in terms of rent, smaller or older housing but things are just not adding up at the moment with less than 4 weeks left in our move 
Please help since we are running out of time and need to shortlist some properties based on your feedback. |
Anonymous
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I can't speak to all of those schools, but Navy has a good reputation and is now an AAP school (gifted program).
I'd be leary of anything in the Herndon area. Parts of it are great and parts are awful. Unless I could get some insider knowledge to know which area I was renting in, I'd avoid it. |
Anonymous
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There are some less expensive rentals near Buzz Aldrin Elementary in Reston, which I think is a better school or at least on par with those you've mentioned.
It's also a nice, safe, quiet area. If you live in Reston, you can join the Reston Association which gives you access to all the Reston pools and tennis courts. 2 apartments in your price range: http://homes.longandfoster.com/Real-Estate/PropertyDetails.aspx?1319-GARDEN-WALL-CT-404-RESTON-VA-20194&mlsCompanyID=2&mlsNumber=FX8127551 http://homes.longandfoster.com/Real-Estate/PropertyDetails.aspx?1489-CHURCH-HILL-PL-RESTON-VA-20194&mlsCompanyID=2&mlsNumber=FX8133950 |
Anonymous
| Aldrin or Armstrong in north Reston. Great schools, great area. |
Anonymous
| Navy is great. |
Anonymous
| Agree with all of the above and the ones you mentioned. All good schools. You can't find affordable housing near some probably because they are in a highly desirable area for MS and HS. but don't choose off of that as boundaries change. |
Anonymous
| There are very few houses for rent in Oak Hill Elementary School district because the neigborhoods are highly sought out by buyers looking to move into the school district. Oak Hill is excellent. Great principal and teachers, AAP Center attracts many and strong PTA. When houses go on the market for sale they are swooped up immediately with several buyers. |