I do no know of any of the better schools with signal family houses for under 400K. Sure, you can find houses in that range, but not in a location feeding into the top schools.

Who has told you LJ is rough? I've read that a couple of times on this board, but every parent I've talked to who has kids that go there raves about it.

There actually isn't a single property in Pimmit Hills under $400K on the market right now. Eventually you could find one, but it likely would be small and not in great condition.

I'd probably stay put, and see what people have to say about Jackson and Falls Church in a few years. If you really want to move, and don't want to look at a townhouse, I'd probably be looking at the Chantilly and Fairfax HS districts further out, not Woodson or Marshall.

OP here. Just to clarify, we do currently live in Falls Church (Fairfax County), and would go to Westlawn Elem, Luther Jackson, and Falls Church High. Our budget would probably be around 400,000, and I don't think DH would consider a townhouse (unfortunately, because I know that would open up so many options!). I'm not too worried about elementary schools, more concerned about school safety when they are a little older, like pre-teen and teenage. I've heard Luther Jackson can be rough, and I don't want kids going somewhere that isn't safe.
We could afford Pimmit Hills. I don't think DH would be willing to move as far out as Springfield, and Fairfax would be a tough sell too. He is pretty stubborn and really likes our location right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some reasonable houses for sale in the Shrevewood/Kilmer/Marshall pyramid.

The OP says they currently live in Falls Church??? But the area where PP mentioned is a great location! The schools are good too.

I thought the OP was saying she currently lives in part of Fairfax County with a Falls Church addressed assigned to Jackson/Falls Church; was looking to move somewhere where the schools are more highly rated; and didn't think she could afford McLean, City of Falls Church or Vienna.

If that's right, Shrevewood/Kilmer/Marshall would do the trick, but it all depends on her budget. Most SFHs in the Shrevewood district - in Falls Church part of Fairfax County - will be as expensive as some houses in Vienna, which she's already suggested she can't afford.

What's your budget? That really influences the answer to this question.

Anonymous wrote:There are some reasonable houses for sale in the Shrevewood/Kilmer/Marshall pyramid.

The OP says they currently live in Falls Church??? But the area where PP mentioned is a great location! The schools are good too.

Lake Braddock might also be a good choice.

Pimmit Hills is a nice walkable neighborhood near transit, library, parks, schools, and shopping and the middle and high school are the same that a good chunck of Vienna feeds into. Westgate and Lemon Road are both good schools too. Part of Vienna though also feeds into Luther Jackson for AAP and most of the parents I know are happy about the school.

What's your budget and would you consider a townhouse? If you are really priced out of Town of Vienna, you are probably priced out of single-family homes that feed into Marshall, except for Pimmit Hills.

To check whether you are really priced out of Vienna, check Vienna Woods and Dunn Loring Woods. VW is Madison; DLW is Marshall.

There are some reasonable houses for sale in the Shrevewood/Kilmer/Marshall pyramid.

What about for elementary and middle schools though? Right now we live in the pyramid that includes Luther Jackson Middle School, but I've heard it's pretty rough, plus I'm not crazy about the location of the actual school.

What's your budget?

Woodson might be an option as well, as would Fairfax HS.

I would think the Marshall pyramid is your best choice in the "affordable" range.

We can't afford to buy in Vienna, Falls Church City, or McLean. What's the best option for school pyramids, still in Fairfax County. Right now we live in Falls Church (not the city), and don't want to venture too far, since I work in Falls Church and DH works in Arlington.