best neighborhoods for public schools in nova

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[Post New]04/26/2008 11:40
Anonymous
So why can't you just live in DC Palisades area? That is where we live. We have our children in independent schools but lots of our neighbors are at Key Elem. and are extremely happy. Houses are more expensive then the suburbs but, IMHO the neighborhood is way more charming and beautiful and convenient than anything you will find in NOVA or MC. We also have friends who's kids have gone to Hardy and Wilson and they are thriving happy and well-adjusted children. DC schools, both private and public are way more diverse than suburban schools too. So, my question is, if you want a DC Palisades feel why not stick will the real thing?
[Post New]05/17/2008 21:47
mickeydee
Member Offline
22205 (or at least parts of it) in N. Arlington is a feeder into Yorktown. We're in the Glebe-Swanson-Yorktown stack. Glebe is more diverse (ethnically and socioeconomically I believe) than most other N. Arlington elementaries, and also very good.
[Post New]03/02/2009 17:25
Anonymous
Please reconsider relocating to nova. This is the most closed minded, conservative, self absorbed area I've lived in. I cannot wait to leave.
[Post New]03/02/2009 17:48
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Please reconsider relocating to nova. This is the most closed minded, conservative, self absorbed area I've lived in. I cannot wait to leave.


Wow- I don't feel that way at all. We live in a pretty funky neighborhood on the "southside" of town and maybe this is why.

[Post New]03/02/2009 19:01
Anonymous
Definitely consider Fairfax Station. It is beautiful, and oddly shaped such that there are some parts of it that are much closer in to DC than you may think. You definitely get a little more bang for your buck, most of the homes are in subdivisions with great HOA resources (pools, tennis courts, etc.), and if not, there are fantastic parks that stretch behind most of the homes (the county just put a ton of money into South Run park to expand the pool and fitness center and resod the fields). Plus, most parts are right on the FFX County Parkway, so you have easy access to alot without having to get on the beltway. The schools are continually ranked as among the best in the country (we feed to Sangster Elementary and Lake Braddock High), but I like the area because it lacks some of the -- shall we say parental competitiveness? -- of some other areas we examined (all of which are beautiful and have lots to offer, so not intended to bash at all). As for diversity, our neighborhood has both a wide range of ethnicities, as well as a wide range of kid ages (from married couples w/o kids, to empty nesters). Everyone has always been incredibly welcoming (we moved here from the West Coast). Oh, and we have a Whole Foods and they are putting a Wegmans into Kingstowne this year, which is about 10 minutes from us (can't wait)! It definitely has more trees than some of the closer in suburbs, but with that you get a bigger yard and the parks (we can walk to the park where my son plays soccer on the weekends; we don't even get in the car). That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the areas you are looking at and wish you the best of luck!
[Post New]03/03/2009 13:11
Anonymous
City of Falls Church. Awesome schools, great neighborhoods! Zip code 22046
[Post New]05/18/2009 13:08
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:don't move to Alexandria, at least not where I live, Old Town, elem. school has failed accrediation 6 yrs in a row and the high school, T C Williams has been described to me as "jail or Yale", bc that is were the students in up, no middle of the road. I am looking at Great Falls, the schools there are top notch. (fairfax county, not loudon). good luck


I agree. Don't move to Alexandria. I'm living there and I have to send my DS to private school. I also have a co-worker who used to live there and sent hers to private school too. Just look at all the data on greatschools.net or FPSC website. I know some of kids in Alexandria dropped out of HS or college.
[Post New]05/18/2009 13:34
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Good point PP. So what is the equivalent Arlington high school to Langley (or better)? What neighborhoods would you have to buy into? Thanks.


Yorktown HS. It beats out all of the Fairfax Co. schools in the nation rankings. 22207 is the zipcode. I am a product of Fairfax co. schools and friends, family and I personally think so many of them are very over-rated. It's a huge county and not all of the schools are fantastic.
[Post New]05/18/2009 13:39
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good point PP. So what is the equivalent Arlington high school to Langley (or better)? What neighborhoods would you have to buy into? Thanks.


Yorktown HS. It beats out all of the Fairfax Co. schools in the nation rankings. 22207 is the zipcode. I am a product of Fairfax co. schools and friends, family and I personally think so many of them are very over-rated. It's a huge county and not all of the schools are fantastic.


22207 also feeds into Washington-Lee so if you want Yorktown make sure you find a house that is in that part of 22207. Parts of 22205 also feed into Yorktown. I agree that the Arlington schools are great (we live in Arlington), but Fairfax County does offer more variety of classes through their Academies. It really depends what you are looking for as far as "the best".
[Post New]05/18/2009 13:41
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good point PP. So what is the equivalent Arlington high school to Langley (or better)? What neighborhoods would you have to buy into? Thanks.


Yorktown HS. It beats out all of the Fairfax Co. schools in the nation rankings. 22207 is the zipcode. I am a product of Fairfax co. schools and friends, family and I personally think so many of them are very over-rated. It's a huge county and not all of the schools are fantastic.


That said--- also think WashingtonandLEE HS is fantastic. Way more diverse than Yorktown and it ranked #8 in the total Wash.Metro.area (DC, VA, MD) HS rankings. The whole Clarendon/LyonVillage/Lyon Park area feeds into it which have some of the wealthiest homes in the county, but you also get the Columbia pike/S.arlington area which gives it more balanced diversity-- plus lots of apartments condos as well. The 'mean girls' culture is less prevalent...and frankly some HS like, Langley for instance have huge drug culture..
[Post New]05/18/2009 13:53
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Marshall Teacher - Thanks for defending Marshall on this board. My wife and I (both graduates of leading universities) could have chosen to live anywhere in Fairfax County, including the Langley, Oakton or McLean districts, and settled on a north Vienna neighborhood that feeds into Marshall. We have been pleased with the school - its small size is an asset, the teachers are caring, and students just don't seem to fall through the cracks. In addition, the school is wonderfully diverse, yet full of different types of high achievers.

Marshall parents generally are huge supporters of the school. The School Board has done Marshall very few favors over the years, but the school and its reputation nevertheless have improved considerably in recent years. Test scores for graduating seniors are certainly in the upper half of Fairfax County schools. While I'd hesitate to stereotype other schools, I've heard parents of some Madison students complain that their children receive very little attention or support if they are not top athletes or students, and parents of some Oakton students complain about the sense of entitlement that many students at that school display. THANKS!!


You're welcome! I just get really tired of how people think Marshall is a "bad" school based on not much of anything besides maybe the demographics of the students. Sure, there are some not so great teachers here and some students who are not motivated, but that is true of every school. And there is no reason for people to be scared to send their children here!!! The IB program here is outstanding as well as the Academy classes. I have to say, too, that those of us who teach the "regular" students are pretty good teachers, too.



My child goes to Oakton High School, but from what I see from friends who have kids at Marshall, I think Marshall is a superior school. The size of Marshall is very attractive to me and IMO the IB program offers a better learning experience than AP. Marshall also seems far less cliquey and more of a tight knit community. This is hard to find in a public high school. From people who actually attend the school, I hear nothing but good things.
[Post New]05/19/2009 13:37
Anonymous
Isn't this post supposed to be on the schools section?
[Post New]05/24/2009 21:45
Anonymous
McLean High is a FANTASTIC school--- #55 in the nation, #19 in open enrollment. You can't go wrong. The academics are on par with the best private schools.
[Post New]05/25/2009 13:31
Anonymous
WT Woodson/Frost/Wakefield Forest
[Post New]05/25/2009 14:39
Anonymous
17:25 - Applause, applause! Agreed!
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