Virginia Mom who sends both of her DD to SFS -- the commute is fine, the school is great...

OP here. Thanks so much for the information and opinions. Yes, we are moving for DH's job not just for a "free house". DH wants to try to keep the house in Falls Church for sentimental reasons. I work from home and DD is our only child. We'll try the commute for a year and reassess.

Again, thanks for the information and welcome.

Anonymous wrote:Just remember that some posters may be well intentioned and others maybe wanting their child to get off the waitlist if you say no.

Actually most are telling her to dump the house, not the school.

You all are nuts. It isn't that big of a drive, certainly less than the people who commute to Sidwell from Gaitherburg and Mitchellville, much less Michigan Park.

OP, please don't do this to your DC @ such an early age. You really would be shortchanging your DC to subject them to this kind of commute w/o the DC having any say in it.

Anonymous wrote:The schools in Falls Church are absolutely top notch. Drop Sidwell.

OP, are you in Falls Church City? If yes, I'd agree with the PP unless you have a really compelling reason to go private.

Even if you are willing to do the daily commute, you should realize that almost all of your DC social circle will spread throughout the area. So you'll be driving on weekends too!

I would go and deal with the commute and consider moving closer to the school of it seems too burdensome.

Anonymous wrote:to all the posters saying that "many" families commute to sidwell from falls church area/reston, how many of those families have kids in the lower school? ime it is more common to deal with the long commute for school when the kids hit upper school. Op, I think that is a bear of a commute to subject a young child - plus your child won't know anyone in your neighborhood and you will be too far for play dates with classmates.

+1 to this. OP I can virtually promise you that no DC or even MD parents will take the trouble to let their kids go to your house for playdates. Falls Church might as well be Richmond in the minds of many of them/ us.

I wouldn't want my child in the car for two hours a day just for school. It's just not fair, and while Sidwell is an excellent school, I don't think it's so much better than the Falls Church public school that I'd make my child lose out on that much time for relaxing, reading, doing homework, etc. I'd look into the local public schools in Falls Church, or consider selling the house. If you really want to give this a try, the only way I'd agree to do it is with an agreement with my spouse that if, after the first month, the commute to school is really bad, you'll sell the Falls Church house and buy closer to school (because at that point, pulling your child out of school just a month or two in would be really unfair).

to all the posters saying that "many" families commute to sidwell from falls church area/reston, how many of those families have kids in the lower school? ime it is more common to deal with the long commute for school when the kids hit upper school. Op, I think that is a bear of a commute to subject a young child - plus your child won't know anyone in your neighborhood and you will be too far for play dates with classmates.

That commute? Hell to the no.

Is this an only child?

The problem isn't the drop off, it's returning home to Falls Church afterward. Is that your plan? The afternoon may be the easier part of the commute.

If there's a bus you might consider starting it at Kindergarten. Phasing it in later might be more difficult than if you'd started school with the bus as part of the routine from the get-go.

I live in FC and don't think this is a big deal - there are a bunch of side roads and it sure beats getting on the beltway. You will be fine, and welcome to the area!

Just remember that some posters may be well intentioned and others maybe wanting their child to get off the waitlist if you say no.