Anonymous wrote:OP again - it is the lower school.

DH's parents left him a house in Falls Church (they are retired and moved to Costa Rica).

Are you moving yo this area solely for the benefit of a free house? If you are not moving for professional reasons, I would rent out or sell the Falls Church house - and buy yourself a nice place in California.

I know if families that drive in or have driven in from Poolesville, Darnestown and Reston.i

Agree with @10:30. People do make that long a commute. Try it out and see how it goes for you for a year and then re-assess.

OP, I would advise renting out the FC house and renting or buying something else closer to Bethesda.

Anonymous wrote:OP again - it is the lower school.

DH's parents left him a house in Falls Church (they are retired and moved to Costa Rica).

It will be a long haul, but not impossible. I would think the worst part will be the evening commute (if you both work, and the child is in aftercare at the school until 5) Generally, school starting at 8, you are on the road earlier than the worst of the morning commute. Good luck! If you love the school, and the house is paid for, you can do it for a year, and then reassess what makes sense for your family. Welcome to the area, and congrats on having your child accepted to a wonderful school!

OP, I live in Falls Church. It's great and all but there is no way in hell I'd commute from there to Sidwell (particularly the lower school). Do both parents work? It will be quite difficult. I am in Falls Church City and don't know anyone who sends their kids there.

It's probably 30 min without traffic already. With traffic, could be anything! If you have to live in Virginia, I would look into McLean.

OP again - it is the lower school.

DH's parents left him a house in Falls Church (they are retired and moved to Costa Rica).

I'd find a school closer to home.

No way do you want to do this.

Why in the world are you living in Falls Church?

Anonymous wrote:We are moving from California and may have made a bad decision about where to buy a house in Washington in regard to DD's new school (Sidwell Friends).

Anyone know how long it will take us to drive from Falls Church to Sidwell?

Upper or lower school? Actually, never mind. I'm so sorry, OP, but the drive from Falls Church to either campus (LS is in Bethesda, US is in NW DC) is equally bad.

Maybe you can think about renting something closer to whichever campus your DD is attending, and renting out the home you bought in FC? Or, you can try to sell as quickly as possible. Alternatively, brace yourself for a challenging commute and figure out ways of coping.

Good luck!

lower school or middle/upper school? They are in different places. Probably a little easier to get to lower school from Falls Church.

A very long time, particularly around the time when school is starting.

What part of Falls Church?

We are moving from California and may have made a bad decision about where to buy a house in Washington in regard to DD's new school (Sidwell Friends).

Anyone know how long it will take us to drive from Falls Church to Sidwell?