Fort Hunt Elementary (in Stratford) is a Spanish immersion school. As such, native Spanish speakers (often from the route 1 corridor) are bussed to the school so the classes are a mix of neighborhood kids learning Spanish and native speakers. Test scores reflect that many kids are ESL and free lunch. This freaks many parents out and so they avoid houses zoned to Fort Hunt Elementary. Also, Waynewood is zoned to be almost no minorities and test scores are really high. People chose Waynewood because test scores are high, thinking the education is better. It is just whiter and with a higher SES. It is not better, FYI. I have lived in the area for 25+ years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The elementary school is regarded as better. It is the whitest elementary school in Fairfax, I believe. My kids go to fort hunt and we have had a great experience and my house was at least 100k cheaper than it would have been. People in WW tend to be very high on themselves/the school. Don’t recommend.

How is this a good thing?

How is it a bad thing?

You mean how is segregation a bad thing? What?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The elementary school is regarded as better. It is the whitest elementary school in Fairfax, I believe. My kids go to fort hunt and we have had a great experience and my house was at least 100k cheaper than it would have been. People in WW tend to be very high on themselves/the school. Don’t recommend.

How is this a good thing?

How is it a bad thing?

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bc of the schools. It’s because of the REC POOL. Waynewood Rec is >>>>>>>>> Riverside Rec.

Waynewood Rec has strict geographic boundaries for membership. Anyone can join Riverside. You can imagine the impact that has on the pool and facilities.

Interesting. I have been to a few of the pools in the area (except for Waynewood) and they all seem to be about the same. Some have deeper and larger pools or just bigger facilities but the quality all are about the same quality. Mt Vernon is different being tucked in that wooded section. Is there something about Waynewood facilities that are significantly better?

Riverside facilities seem small but fine. I’m sure there are people from outside the neighborhood but does that affect quality?

And do people really pay that much more because of a community pool?

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bc of the schools. It’s because of the REC POOL. Waynewood Rec is >>>>>>>>> Riverside Rec.

Waynewood Rec has strict geographic boundaries for membership. Anyone can join Riverside. You can imagine the impact that has on the pool and facilities.

.

Stratford Recreation Association (SRA) pool is very nice and is also private. You must live within bounds to be in it. SRA is in Fort Hunt Elementary zone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bc of the schools. It’s because of the REC POOL. Waynewood Rec is >>>>>>>>> Riverside Rec.

Waynewood Rec has strict geographic boundaries for membership. Anyone can join Riverside. You can imagine the impact that has on the pool and facilities.

Waynewood rec has a years long waiting list and memberships no longer convey with houses. Stratford landing and mount vernon park are both just as nice as waynewood.

Inaccurate (on both counts). Waynewood has an “approved user” category with a very short wait list. You get full access to the facilities but just can’t vote for or be on the board (oh no!!).

Anonymous wrote:It’s not bc of the schools. It’s because of the REC POOL. Waynewood Rec is >>>>>>>>> Riverside Rec.

Waynewood Rec has strict geographic boundaries for membership. Anyone can join Riverside. You can imagine the impact that has on the pool and facilities.

Waynewood rec has a years long waiting list and memberships no longer convey with houses. Stratford landing and mount vernon park are both just as nice as waynewood.

It’s not bc of the schools. It’s because of the REC POOL. Waynewood Rec is >>>>>>>>> Riverside Rec.

Waynewood Rec has strict geographic boundaries for membership. Anyone can join Riverside. You can imagine the impact that has on the pool and facilities.

Anonymous wrote:If Waynewood is not something you are dead set in, look for a house zoned for Stratford landing. I think there’s a house in Riverside Gardens coming on the market soon.
Based on school scores, it’s Waynewood>stratford landing>ft hunt. But every family I know in each school is happy with their school.

Stratford is the center school. I would not recommend it unless your kid is AAP. Belle view and ft hunt are good schools if you don’t want waynewood

Anonymous wrote:The elementary school is regarded as better. It is the whitest elementary school in Fairfax, I believe. My kids go to fort hunt and we have had a great experience and my house was at least 100k cheaper than it would have been. People in WW tend to be very high on themselves/the school. Don’t recommend.

How is this a good thing?

Anonymous wrote:If Waynewood is not something you are dead set in, look for a house zoned for Stratford landing. I think there’s a house in Riverside Gardens coming on the market soon.
Based on school scores, it’s Waynewood>stratford landing>ft hunt. But every family I know in each school is happy with their school.

Op - sure that’s fine. But the houses are basically the same in each school zone. Mix of housing stock. The only difference is the elementary school. You are zoned for the exact same middle and high school.

If Waynewood is not something you are dead set in, look for a house zoned for Stratford landing. I think there’s a house in Riverside Gardens coming on the market soon.
Based on school scores, it’s Waynewood>stratford landing>ft hunt. But every family I know in each school is happy with their school.

The elementary school is regarded as better. It is the whitest elementary school in Fairfax, I believe. My kids go to fort hunt and we have had a great experience and my house was at least 100k cheaper than it would have been. People in WW tend to be very high on themselves/the school. Don’t recommend.

Ugh, “Whitewood”

Can someone please tell me why Waynewood houses are $500,000+ or more expensive than those zoned for Stratford or Fort Hunt elementary school? They all go to the same middle and high school. I do not understand the “prestige” behind living in Waynewood.