Use the VRE for commute!!

OP, if your child is older, beyond the entry for separate AAP classes starting in 3rd grade, they will be somewhat happier at a Non-Center school.

Having said that, however, I don't think that needs to mandate your house/neighborhood selection.

It's just, FCPS s*cks separating-out the kids.

A bit further out, but could be doable for only a couple days a week. Burke - Cherry Run ES specifically. 2-3 classes per grade, great neighborhood, feeds to Lake Braddock, but have Robinson as an IB option. $750-$850 is reasonable range for the area.

As others have said, I dont think Mantua homes are in your price range. However, pretty much all of the Woodson/Frost feeders are great! We are really happy at Little Run, but have lots of friends who are happy at Wakefield Chapel, Canterbury Woods, and Olde Creek. My husband commutes into DC (Foggy Bottom) a few days a week via the express lanes and says it isnt too bad. Pre-covid, he drove to the Metro every day, but now that he’s just going in a few days a week, driving is great and he is door-to-door in about 35/40 minutes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wakefield Forest is a great school. Truro is good hood if you like mid century homes, Chapel Square/Wakefield Chapel are great if you like more traditional homes.

Olde Creek and Little Run are tiny neighborhood schools in same area, 2 classes per grade.

Some Mantua homes built on oil spill land.

OP, thanks! We know people in Truro and it sounds super fun, but I don't think we can afford there. I will check out the other areas, though! I had no idea there were such tiny schools in Fairfax County, will look into those.

Oil spill land? Can you tell me more about that?

There are old articles (roughly 25 years ago) about the environmental contamination cleanup in the Washington Post. It is now perfectly safe and it doesn’t affect home values. The Post’s real estate section has also written a number of neighborhood profiles on Mantua over the past 60 years. It is one of the more desirable yet affordable closer-in communities.

The only real options in your price point in the Mantua district are two townhouse communities. The one I have experience with is Chesterfield Mews off 50 and is a great neighborhood and very commuting friendly.

The truth is that all of the Woodson pyramid elementary schools are good and you can stay under $850k if you look at the area between 236 and Braddock Road. Rutherford and Truro are both great.

Anonymous wrote:At this point, the only thing you'll find in Mantua at that price point will be a fixer upper or outright tear down.

+1. Under 850K will be very hard in Mantua. You'll have more options elsewhere in the Woodson pyramid.

I don’t recommend Olde Creek. I would stick with mantua, Canterbury woods or Wakefield forest.

At this point, the only thing you'll find in Mantua at that price point will be a fixer upper or outright tear down.

I have friends in Mantua who love it. Great schools at ES, plus Frost/Woodson. Neighborhood is friendly and great community feel. My kids were in preschool nearby so we’re quite familiar w the area

Anonymous wrote:Wakefield Forest is a great school. Truro is good hood if you like mid century homes, Chapel Square/Wakefield Chapel are great if you like more traditional homes.

Olde Creek and Little Run are tiny neighborhood schools in same area, 2 classes per grade.

Some Mantua homes built on oil spill land.

OP, thanks! We know people in Truro and it sounds super fun, but I don't think we can afford there. I will check out the other areas, though! I had no idea there were such tiny schools in Fairfax County, will look into those.

Oil spill land? Can you tell me more about that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We will be looking for a $750-$850K house so we have a limited budget for closer in Fairfax County (ugh).

Ugh!!! Fairfax County is the Worst!!

LOL, I didn't mean Ugh to Fairfax County, we live here! Ugh to the limited budget and ugh to the fact that I actually said that $750-$850K is a limited budget. I feel gross about that, but it is what it is.

Wakefield Forest is a great school. Truro is good hood if you like mid century homes, Chapel Square/Wakefield Chapel are great if you like more traditional homes.

Olde Creek and Little Run are tiny neighborhood schools in same area, 2 classes per grade.

Some Mantua homes built on oil spill land.

Anonymous wrote:
We will be looking for a $750-$850K house so we have a limited budget for closer in Fairfax County (ugh).

Ugh!!! Fairfax County is the Worst!!

We are looking for new homes and currently priced out of a larger home in our inside-the-beltway neighborhood. The area zoned for Mantua would add 20 or so minutes to our commute to Arlington, but it would only be two days a week, so we can deal with that. What is the school and the greater community like? My older child is not in AAP, if that makes a difference since it's a Center school.

What about surrounding areas and surrounding schools? We will be looking for a $750-$850K house so we have a limited budget for closer in Fairfax County (ugh).