Don't know if they'd consider a religious based preschool, but our daughter goes to the preschool at First Baptist of Alexandria on King Street. It has a great program. It should be close to both Hayfield and the West Potomac area.

The pp zip codes are 22306, 22307, 22308 and even 22309

Anonymous wrote:Look between the GW Parkway and Route 1 south of Old Town in Alexandria. This area, which is also is Off of Fort Hunt, is a wonderful area with good schools for the most part.

I second this. The address may say "Alexandria" but you are in Fairfax County, and the schools are FCPS. This area has everything on your wish list, and a decent commute.

Look between the GW Parkway and Route 1 south of Old Town in Alexandria. This area, which is also is Off of Fort Hunt, is a wonderful area with good schools for the most part.

Can you go private? St. Stephens/St. Agnes has a great reputation (I am not affiliated with the school in any way - in fact, I don't know where it is but a friend has her kids there). There's an episcopal school which also has boarders but I'm blanking on the name. Personally, I would love to live in Old Town but those who do are sending their kids to privates. I also like the Del Ray neighborhood a lot - very funky - good restaurants - small town feel - Commonwealth Academy (college prep for smart ADHD kids) is there.

BTW since you are military, I just want to mention there are quite a few excellent military boarding schools in the VA area - and they are much more economical than most of the day privates in the area. We looked strongly at Fork Union Military School for our son, but in the end thought it was too far away and he was too young. There's also Fischburn (sp) academy in Staunton, which we toured. And many others. It's a unique opportunity that Virginia offers and some of those kids make a clean sweep of the Ivies when it comes to application time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schools are much better if you head toward the Springfield/Burke area, with high schools like West Springfield and Lake Braddock. I know a lot of families that commute to Andrews from there.

Longer commute. Sounds like you are scared of AAs.

Wow. People on this board jump right to race. My comments were based entirely on test scores. We live in Fairfax, so I don't even know the demographics of Alexandria schools.

Alexandria City Public Schools have a reputation because they have lower average test scores than some of the other districts. They also have a higher percentage of minorities and low income families.
If you do a search of DCUM you will find many ACPS haters but also posters who are happy with Alexandria City public schools, and feel like their children have thrived academically and socially. I live in a West End neighborhood that feeds into Tucker/Hammond/TC Williams (there's only one high school) pyramid, and we've got tons of military families living around here and sending their kids to public school.

Anonymous wrote:The schools are much better if you head toward the Springfield/Burke area, with high schools like West Springfield and Lake Braddock. I know a lot of families that commute to Andrews from there.

Longer commute. Sounds like you are scared of AAs.

The schools are much better if you head toward the Springfield/Burke area, with high schools like West Springfield and Lake Braddock. I know a lot of families that commute to Andrews from there.

Thank you both for the helpful responses.

Hayfield Elementary and Island Creek Elementary. Tons of military, very middle-income/upper-middle. Low FARMS. Very diverse. Good test scores. Close to Belvoir for Commissary and health care. Not a high-stress/competitive area.

Anonymous wrote:Some good friends are moving back to the area, the husband is military and will be working at the Pentagon but could move to either Bolling or Andrews AFB eventually, so North Arlington where they previously lived could potentially become a miserable commute. They have 3 boys that will be preschool through 3rd grade. What are good family neighborhoods in or near Alexandria with good schools, lots of nature nearby is a big plus. I live in NW DC and don't know much about VA schools other than Arlington and McLean. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Check for houses in the West Potomac High School district just South of Old Town. Lots of nature, bike trails, good schools, young families, beautiful homes. The neighborhoods are not walkable like Arlington or NW DC though.

Some good friends are moving back to the area, the husband is military and will be working at the Pentagon but could move to either Bolling or Andrews AFB eventually, so North Arlington where they previously lived could potentially become a miserable commute. They have 3 boys that will be preschool through 3rd grade. What are good family neighborhoods in or near Alexandria with good schools, lots of nature nearby is a big plus. I live in NW DC and don't know much about VA schools other than Arlington and McLean. Thanks in advance for any advice.