Anonymous
12/11/2013 12:39
Subject: Moving to Arlington
Since your child is years away from ES, I wanted to alert you to the fact that some boundaries will change before your child starts school.
In 2015, a new school will open on the Williamsburg ES campus and it will be filled with students from Nottingham, Jamestown and Taylor. That sets off a cascade of boundary changes: Some Taylor to Jamestown, some Tuckahoe to Nottingham and some McKinley to Ashlawn (Ashlawn's addition will be complete, so they will have plenty of capacity).
Then, in 2016, an addition to McKinley will be completed and a portion of the Glebe boundary will move to McKinley.
You can look up More Seats, More Students for more info.
In 2015, a new school will open on the Williamsburg ES campus and it will be filled with students from Nottingham, Jamestown and Taylor. That sets off a cascade of boundary changes: Some Taylor to Jamestown, some Tuckahoe to Nottingham and some McKinley to Ashlawn (Ashlawn's addition will be complete, so they will have plenty of capacity).
Then, in 2016, an addition to McKinley will be completed and a portion of the Glebe boundary will move to McKinley.
You can look up More Seats, More Students for more info.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 12:27
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
Anonymous wrote:We love our neighborhood in Lee Heights/Donaldson Run. Super close in to DC, nearby stores and amenities, beautiful treed neighborhood with lots of trails, and a good school pyramid (Taylor/Williamsburg/Yorktown). There is a good neighborhood feel, with lots of kids but also non-intrusive. Our house which we bought over the summer is an older rambler/fixer-upper but we still had to pay more than we should have. I think there are still somewhat reasonably-priced houses in the neigborhood although there are also a lot of big houses going up that eat up entire lots!
I think its beautiful back there! Very thick, old mature trees and gorgeous houses. It has a 'NW' feel to me.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 11:55
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
We love our neighborhood in Lee Heights/Donaldson Run. Super close in to DC, nearby stores and amenities, beautiful treed neighborhood with lots of trails, and a good school pyramid (Taylor/Williamsburg/Yorktown). There is a good neighborhood feel, with lots of kids but also non-intrusive. Our house which we bought over the summer is an older rambler/fixer-upper but we still had to pay more than we should have. I think there are still somewhat reasonably-priced houses in the neigborhood although there are also a lot of big houses going up that eat up entire lots!
Anonymous
12/11/2013 11:52
Subject: Moving to Arlington
I live in Bluemont (22205) and love the close proximity to everything - Metro, grocery stores, 3 bike trails, tons of parks and minutes from 66, 50 and DC. The schools are excellent - Ashlawn, McKinley, Swanson, W-L, depending on where in Bluemont you are.
Re: Montessori - my understanding is that it's difficult to get a spot. Highly coveted. There are tons of church based preschools that you can send your kids to (Trinity, St Ann, Mt Olivet).
I don't know who this poster is that keeps saying "Yorktown or Bust' is, but it's a complete fallacy that your kids are doomed if they go to another school in Arlington.
Re: Montessori - my understanding is that it's difficult to get a spot. Highly coveted. There are tons of church based preschools that you can send your kids to (Trinity, St Ann, Mt Olivet).
I don't know who this poster is that keeps saying "Yorktown or Bust' is, but it's a complete fallacy that your kids are doomed if they go to another school in Arlington.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 11:37
Subject: Moving to Arlington
Do a redfin search for Yorktown pyramid the rest are bad. If that is out of your price range I would check out falls church city, west falls church and mclean.
http://www.redfin.com/homes-for-sale#!v=8&sst=®ion_id=111867®ion_type=7&market=dc
http://www.redfin.com/homes-for-sale#!v=8&sst=®ion_id=111867®ion_type=7&market=dc
Anonymous
12/11/2013 11:28
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
If you can get something in 22209 I would. The 5-10 year plans for this area is amazing. An investment there will be well worth it in the future, but currently mostly foreigners, baby boomers and college students are attracted to the area. CCH, LV, Maywood, Cherrydale and others are nice too, but right now the most expensive home sold in Arlington although unpublished is in this zipcode. If you can get high end(washington fine properties) realtors to disclose, they may clue you in and surprise you. Check out rents/sf, some of the rental units are going for 12K or more/month. The county has grand plans for the area and with very limited residential units planned, the residential units will be even more sort after and less affordable. The economic downturn slowed things down but the plans are back on big time.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 10:43
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great neighborhoods in North Arlington. I'm in Country Club/Shirley Woods/Milburn Terrace, which is a good place for young families if you don't mind not having walkable metrorail access. (bus lines are great, though.) We feed into Nottingham/Williamsburg/Yorktown. Westover is awesome (along with Larchmont/Parkhurst/Highland Park), lots of folks like Maywood, Cherrydale, Waycroft, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, Dominion Hills, Overlee, etc. Schools are mostly awesome, though some of them are extremely white. 22207 and 22205 are great, but there are also cool 'hoods in 22201, 22203 and 22213. Just search for Arlington, VA and look for the zipcodes that end in an odd number. (or even numbers, if you're cool with South Arlington.) Pricier nice hoods include Lyon Village (if you want metro proximity) and Country Club Hills (if you don't care about that.) A little farther out toward McLean/MD, you have Dover, Balmoral, Rivercrest, etc.
In South Arlington, I've seen amazing houses in Arlington Ridge, Aurora Hills, etc. and you have proximity to Crystal City/Pentagon City. Oakridge Elementary is supposed to be good and diverse.
Two notes: if you're both working, Arlington has guaranteed before/after school care for your kids. You have to register in time and pay for it, but it's an easier-to-access system than Fairfax's SACC system, which often has waitlists.
The other - county rec classes are much harder to sign up for than in Fairfax. You have to be online and ready to register right when registration opens or you get waitlisted. I miss Fairfax's more chill county rec system.
We are also moving to Arlington very soon- thanks for the helpful tips on after care and the rec programs!
Anonymous
12/11/2013 10:17
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
There are lots of great neighborhoods in North Arlington. I'm in Country Club/Shirley Woods/Milburn Terrace, which is a good place for young families if you don't mind not having walkable metrorail access. (bus lines are great, though.) We feed into Nottingham/Williamsburg/Yorktown. Westover is awesome (along with Larchmont/Parkhurst/Highland Park), lots of folks like Maywood, Cherrydale, Waycroft, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, Dominion Hills, Overlee, etc. Schools are mostly awesome, though some of them are extremely white. 22207 and 22205 are great, but there are also cool 'hoods in 22201, 22203 and 22213. Just search for Arlington, VA and look for the zipcodes that end in an odd number. (or even numbers, if you're cool with South Arlington.) Pricier nice hoods include Lyon Village (if you want metro proximity) and Country Club Hills (if you don't care about that.) A little farther out toward McLean/MD, you have Dover, Balmoral, Rivercrest, etc.
In South Arlington, I've seen amazing houses in Arlington Ridge, Aurora Hills, etc. and you have proximity to Crystal City/Pentagon City. Oakridge Elementary is supposed to be good and diverse.
Two notes: if you're both working, Arlington has guaranteed before/after school care for your kids. You have to register in time and pay for it, but it's an easier-to-access system than Fairfax's SACC system, which often has waitlists.
The other - county rec classes are much harder to sign up for than in Fairfax. You have to be online and ready to register right when registration opens or you get waitlisted. I miss Fairfax's more chill county rec system.
In South Arlington, I've seen amazing houses in Arlington Ridge, Aurora Hills, etc. and you have proximity to Crystal City/Pentagon City. Oakridge Elementary is supposed to be good and diverse.
Two notes: if you're both working, Arlington has guaranteed before/after school care for your kids. You have to register in time and pay for it, but it's an easier-to-access system than Fairfax's SACC system, which often has waitlists.
The other - county rec classes are much harder to sign up for than in Fairfax. You have to be online and ready to register right when registration opens or you get waitlisted. I miss Fairfax's more chill county rec system.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 10:07
Subject: Moving to Arlington
Anonymous wrote:You'd be better off up in Country Club or Country Club Hills than in Clarendon. It's a more desirable area and a better school pyramid.
Not you AGAIN
.
They are equally desirable. They are apples and oranges.
If being near Metro and all of the 65+ restaurants and shops, gyms, Trader Joes/Whole Foods, and a nice community park---choose Lyon Village, L.Park, etc.
If you want a bigger house and more land--choose Country Club Hills, Dominion Hills, Lee Heights, etc.
I think Westover is also a nice place and has cute strip to walk to.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 09:26
Subject: Moving to Arlington
Search Redfin etc. by 22207. You'll find what you need 
. Welcome!
. Welcome!
Anonymous
12/11/2013 09:21
Subject: Moving to Arlington
You'd be better off up in Country Club or Country Club Hills than in Clarendon. It's a more desirable area and a better school pyramid.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 09:19
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
Another plus for Clarendon. But it's very difficult to find something there.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 08:59
Subject: Moving to Arlington
Anonymous wrote:I am in fairfax county FTM (both of us late thirties, early 40s) with a 5 month old. If cost was not a criteria, any recommendations for zip codes with friendly parents, good Montessori, elementary school would be appreciated. Not sure if there would be too many in our age group.
No in LV and No Arlington many older parents. You will fit in fine.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 08:59
Subject: Re:Moving to Arlington
Go with north Arlington, Clarendon if you can afford it.
Anonymous
12/11/2013 08:56
Subject: Moving to Arlington
I am in fairfax county FTM (both of us late thirties, early 40s) with a 5 month old. If cost was not a criteria, any recommendations for zip codes with friendly parents, good Montessori, elementary school would be appreciated. Not sure if there would be too many in our age group.