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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think Falls Church City (FCC) is one of the nicer places to live in Northern Virginia.

For children, it tends to be a closer knit community since the schools are smaller, and everyone in FCC feeds into the same schools (the same MS and HS).  Historically, FCC schools have been just a minor step below the best Fairfax County schools, and comparable to the best Arlington schools.  FCC just built a completely new modern high school that may be the nicest school facility in the DMV, and test scores in the first year are comparable to Langley HS and McLean HS, and bested only by one Bethesda HS, despite the district having fewer advanced programs and far less private-tutoring-per-capita than those schools.

If you live near downtown, FCC is a walkable community for many errands, and most kids walk to the downtown meet up.  As I see it, the primary downsides to FCC are (1) horrible traffic along Route 7; (2) limited walkable access to the metro and therefore DC area amenities like museums, since it’ is 1-2 miles away (the East Falls Church metro has plenty of $5/day paid weekday parking as well as free weekend parking); and (3) slightly higher taxes compared to the surrounding suburbs.

I liked living there except for the traffic on Route 7.  I’d probably still be living there if it weren’t for the traffic.
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OP here.  Thank you for this info.  I didn't know about the new high school.  Is there a convenient way to get to East Falls Church metro?  I can't seem to find if there are buses that regularly go there of if I can bike from FCC and park the bike somewhere in the metro.
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OP, the EFC metro is actually in Arlington fyi, but borders FCC so depending on where you are you can walk to metro and stuff along Broad St. Check out the neighborhood Broadmont and the parts of Arlington that border it. Also you may like Westover in Arlington not too far from here although it’s a somewhat small walkable area.

I will add that walkability around here usually means sidewalks and trails, a handful of parks, a coffee shop and a few restaurants, maybe metro or your kids’ schools. I can also get to an exercise studio and our vet’s office. But definitely can’t do all my errands on foot. Everything else I need is super close by though.

Since you’re considering private, I’d also suggest opening up your search. FCC and N Arlington cost a premium because the schools are perceived as better than more affordable areas (the merits of this are debatable, but you may as well look all over). City of Alexandria (not to be confused with the neighborhoods in Fairfax County with an Alexandria address) or parts of S Arlington (I like Pentagon City) could also be good fits.

You could also consider living in DC if you want even greater walk ability. [/quote]

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