OP where will you and husband be working? you want to factor in your commute as well

lyndscorbin wrote:$650k max

Yeah, that won't get you a house in walkable bethesda or chevy chase. you want a house or a flat?

$650k max

What is your housing budget?

lyndscorbin wrote:If you could pick any state funded elementary in DC for your kids, that has good walkability, where would you go?

Upper NW, DCPS.

lyndscorbin wrote:Thanks for speedy responses! We loved Alexandria when we visited 6 years ago, and it feels like a good area for walkability....but we don't really know other areas to make a comparison. Good state funded elementary school is a big driver on where we decide to live so very happy to hear any thoughts on Arlington etc.....this is a huge move for our family, so we want to get it right!

Then I'd suggest Montgomery County, MD or Fairfax county, VA.

If you could pick any state funded elementary in DC for your kids, that has good walkability, where would you go?

Thanks for speedy responses! We loved Alexandria when we visited 6 years ago, and it feels like a good area for walkability....but we don't really know other areas to make a comparison. Good state funded elementary school is a big driver on where we decide to live so very happy to hear any thoughts on Arlington etc.....this is a huge move for our family, so we want to get it right!

Alexandria city public schools are generally considered inferior to nearby schools in Arlington and Fairfax.

I would look at Bethesda or chevy chase.

Even the best Alexandria schools are quite a distance in quality from schools in the neighboring communities (Arlington, Fairfax).

Why Alexandria?

Lyles Crouch is a good school, as is Maury. You can walk to parks, shops etc. from both. However, Alexandria is going to implement redistricting in 2017, so it is unclear how that will change school boundaries.

First things first- what is your budget?

We're about to move from Cambridge in the UK to DC with our two sons, one of whom is 5 and will be going into elementary school. I'm a Brit and my American husband has lived in the UK for 10 years, and neither of us know DC very well. We're looking to live in Alexandria, and want to base our location around a good elementary school, with opportunities to walk to parks/shops/school just as we do here in the UK. We're favouring Lyles Crouch based on what we've read on line, but would really appreciate any hints and tips. Also want to understand what might be available for our 3 year old, who currently attends nursery here 4 mornings a week. Any thoughts/ideas will be gratefully received!