PP, The OP will have no idea what you're saying with regard to Rosemary Hills.

Since nobody else here understands you, I will answer.

Basically, if I were you and working at AU, I would try to position myself so my kids would be in either the Churchill, Whitman, or BCC High School Clusters. If in the BCC high school cluster just watch out for the Rosemary Hills school busing program. The liberals in this part of the county seem to be deadset on continuing this outdated, archaic program of splitting up siblings, and forcing them to commute multiple thousands of extra miles for the sake of their expired social experiments.

Earth to Rosemary Hills - the 70s called and are asking for their school busing program back.

Is the poster working AT American University in DC? Or at a university somewhere in Maryland (presumably)?

It depends on the age of your child. How old is he?

Do you mean how close should you live to the university where you will work? In Maryland, your child will go to the public school near where you live, so if you want your child to go to school near your university, you need to live near your university. But, if your university is easy to get to by public transportation, I would say you should live in an area where your commute to work is not too bad, and where you like the neighborhood and school.
It might also depend on how old your child is and how long you will be visiting in this area.

Hi, I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you looking for housing? Or for a son for your school that's near American University?

I'm a visiting scholar of China. I'm working in american universtiy. I want to kown the suitble room from my school and my son's school.It's difficult for me to balance these two factors.Thank very much.