Anonymous wrote:It's the #1 most complained about challenge on this fourm when it comes to house hunting in the area

+1000. There is a lot of really fugly housing in this area.

Anonymous wrote:I thought that you were going to say that the challenge in buying a house for the schools is frequent re-zoning and the every-changing landscape of schools and how "good" they are in a certain area. You really have no guarantees for what kind of educational experience your kids are going to have when you buy a house and your kids are in public school.

How are you judging the quality of the schools? I wouldn't rely on great schools or other sources online. I'd talk to parents. That's not easy but definitely worth it if you are using that as a factor in buying a house. Those poorly regarded schools might actually be fine. For instance, some of the best elementary schools in our area are actually title 1 schools.

Very much depends how you define "best." We're at a Title 1 and it's a great school with a wonderful staff who does a really good job with a largely high needs population. But as my DC has advanced through the school, it has ceased to be the "best" school for her because the challenges in the upper grades for the population served by the school are at odds with her needs. There are more intense behavioral issues that are more disruptive. Despite the strong teaching in early grades, there are still a high number of students well below grade level because there is still an attendance issue for many at risk students which means even the school's great qualities don't help because the kids simply are not in the classroom enough, and then receive no support at all at home.

So it's a great school but is not the best school in this situation because my child's learning needs don't match up with the school's strengths or population.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools don't prepare your kid. A "good school" just means smart or hardworking kids live in the area.

Of course, schools prepare your kid, and having a strong peer group pushes kids to challenge themselves.

Few things are sadder than a kid who thinks they’re a big deal because they were the big fish in a very small pond, only to find they weren’t well prepared at all when they got to college.

Well, often those very small ponds have strong peer groups. I went to a school like that and I was more than prepared for college. Much depends on the teachers too.

I thought that you were going to say that the challenge in buying a house for the schools is frequent re-zoning and the every-changing landscape of schools and how "good" they are in a certain area. You really have no guarantees for what kind of educational experience your kids are going to have when you buy a house and your kids are in public school.

How are you judging the quality of the schools? I wouldn't rely on great schools or other sources online. I'd talk to parents. That's not easy but definitely worth it if you are using that as a factor in buying a house. Those poorly regarded schools might actually be fine. For instance, some of the best elementary schools in our area are actually title 1 schools.

Anonymous wrote:Schools don't prepare your kid. A "good school" just means smart or hardworking kids live in the area.

Of course, schools prepare your kid, and having a strong peer group pushes kids to challenge themselves.

Few things are sadder than a kid who thinks they’re a big deal because they were the big fish in a very small pond, only to find they weren’t well prepared at all when they got to college.

If you want a better house, build it.

Don't expect someone 50 years ago to have built and preserved your dream house for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posters obsess way, way too much about schools.

What I have learned is when you are applying for college, you are competing with other students in your school for admission.

It’s better to go to a less competitive school and if your kid is really smart and does really well in school, they will shine.

Stop worrying about schools.

My cousin was valedictorian at a mediocre HS. He now attends an Ivy. He is struggling. His parents are wealthy and could have afforded private but they knew he would never be top (or close) of the class so put him in public HS and did all the sorts of extras (tutors, famous sports coach, consultants).

He is now surrounded by super wealthy international students (50-100+ million and billionaire kids) and now views the world how they do. It is very depressing.

I told him to take easier classes this semester until he can get time management under control. My partner and some friends attended top Ivys and all seem to have a better grasp of life but maybe it is just because he is still young.

Schools don't prepare your kid. A "good school" just means smart or hardworking kids live in the area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posters obsess way, way too much about schools.

What I have learned is when you are applying for college, you are competing with other students in your school for admission.

It’s better to go to a less competitive school and if your kid is really smart and does really well in school, they will shine.

Stop worrying about schools.

Dumb advice. You want your kid to be well prepared, not just be one of the better kids at a bottom-feeder school.

Anonymous wrote:Posters obsess way, way too much about schools.

What I have learned is when you are applying for college, you are competing with other students in your school for admission.

It’s better to go to a less competitive school and if your kid is really smart and does really well in school, they will shine.

Stop worrying about schools.

How many pyramids are you willing to consider? I was mainly considering WSHS, LBSS, and Robinson - I feel like if you have a wider range of acceptable school pyramids you might have more chance of finding a house you like in a school district you like.

Anonymous wrote:Tell me you are looking at homes that fall within Fall Church City school boundaries without telling me you are looking at houses that fall between Falls Church City school’s boundaries

This doesn't sound like Falls Church City at all. It sounds more like Alexandria or Fairfax City.

Tell me you are in Takoma Park without telling me you are in Takoma Park

Anonymous wrote:Posters obsess way, way too much about schools.

NP here - we moved homes because of the schools and we do not regret it one bit. Changing to a better/more highly regarded (and yes, highly rated) school has made a HUGE difference in our children's lives.

^ Del Ray