whatshername wrote:Thank you all so much for your replies - this is really all very helpful.

I'm a little familiar with Arlington, but not with Fairfax, and we would consider both areas. I wish I could find a "street map" that showed where exactly the metro runs. Right now if I see a street address, I have to Google how far it is from a metro stop. I have seen metro maps, but they don't have street names on them. (Am I making sense?) The goal was to be able to walk a half mile to the metro and avoid driving ... in either school district. We had not considered commute time on the metro however as was wisely pointed out. In an ideal world a commute time of 30 minutes or less would be wonderful, but "ideal" might also be "impossible". It seems we will have to decide what is more important - length of metro commute or school district.

What people say here about Yorktown vs. Washington-Lee is interesting. On "paper" (ie in schooldigger dot com), Yorktown is shown to be a better school - perhaps one cannot judge completely by that though. I did not know WL had an IB program.

To answer some other questions, yes I stay home. Oh and the 1.75 did refer to bathrooms - I meant we'd prefer one and 3/4 bath house, three bedroom. A "tear down" on a small lot is just fine. We'd prefer a stand alone small house as opposed to a town home or condo.

I maybe should also clarify that even though I have been mentioning high schools, oldest child is actually still a toddler. I just find it easier to start looking at housing areas by the high school and then work my way down to the elementary schools. One can have a good elementary school in a so-so high school district, but usually good high school districts have pretty good feeder schools. Perhaps I should also clarify that we will be renting for awhile (once we arrive in VA) and making a decision about buying after we rent ... right now I'd like to get started (soon) at looking at different areas to scope things out.

I read with interest the discussion between Arlington and Fairfax schools. We have not decided on that yet either. I am more familiar with the Arlington area, and still need to visit the area where the Fairfax school district is. I understand there is "city" and "county" school districts and it seems the country school district is better.

The last time I was in Arlington I did see a 1100 square foot house near-ish to Courthouse metro for around one million three hundred thousand. Thus I assume that being close to the metro and also close to DC drives up property value. That same house in Kansas (we are not from Kansas) might sell for $50,000 lol. (I laugh so as not to cry.)

The GreatSchools/SchoolDigger scores definitely need to be taken with a grain of salt. They are more reflective of the income profile of the surrounding neighborhood and diversity (or lack thereof) in the school population than anything else. Yes, W-L gets a lower rating than Yorktown. That seems to be mainly because Yorktown is more universally high-income, most of the area zoned to it is expensive single-family homes. W-L has a significant low-income population but also a substantial high-income population plus, as a PP noted, it attracts high-achieving kids from across the county for the IB program. It's just a much more diverse school. Lower income and immigrant students tend to score lower on the state tests that are the basis of ratings and the GreatSchools algorithm now penalizes schools that have more diverse populations and a test score gap between White/non-White students. You can look at the actual data on the Virginia Dept of Ed web site and run reports for schools among students with your family's profile to see how kids like yours are doing.

Thank you all so much for your replies - this is really all very helpful.

I'm a little familiar with Arlington, but not with Fairfax, and we would consider both areas. I wish I could find a "street map" that showed where exactly the metro runs. Right now if I see a street address, I have to Google how far it is from a metro stop. I have seen metro maps, but they don't have street names on them. (Am I making sense?) The goal was to be able to walk a half mile to the metro and avoid driving ... in either school district. We had not considered commute time on the metro however as was wisely pointed out. In an ideal world a commute time of 30 minutes or less would be wonderful, but "ideal" might also be "impossible". It seems we will have to decide what is more important - length of metro commute or school district.

What people say here about Yorktown vs. Washington-Lee is interesting. On "paper" (ie in schooldigger dot com), Yorktown is shown to be a better school - perhaps one cannot judge completely by that though. I did not know WL had an IB program.

To answer some other questions, yes I stay home. Oh and the 1.75 did refer to bathrooms - I meant we'd prefer one and 3/4 bath house, three bedroom. A "tear down" on a small lot is just fine. We'd prefer a stand alone small house as opposed to a town home or condo.

I maybe should also clarify that even though I have been mentioning high schools, oldest child is actually still a toddler. I just find it easier to start looking at housing areas by the high school and then work my way down to the elementary schools. One can have a good elementary school in a so-so high school district, but usually good high school districts have pretty good feeder schools. Perhaps I should also clarify that we will be renting for awhile (once we arrive in VA) and making a decision about buying after we rent ... right now I'd like to get started (soon) at looking at different areas to scope things out.

I read with interest the discussion between Arlington and Fairfax schools. We have not decided on that yet either. I am more familiar with the Arlington area, and still need to visit the area where the Fairfax school district is. I understand there is "city" and "county" school districts and it seems the country school district is better.

The last time I was in Arlington I did see a 1100 square foot house near-ish to Courthouse metro for around one million three hundred thousand. Thus I assume that being close to the metro and also close to DC drives up property value. That same house in Kansas (we are not from Kansas) might sell for $50,000 lol. (I laugh so as not to cry.)

A whole bunch of house right across from the Herndon Metro stop and not too far from Town Center. If you are willing to bike to the Herndon Metro stop you could send kids to Fox Mill ES, Carson MS, and South Lakes HS. Homes are under $800,000 and you are near the Dulles Toll Road for easy access if you need to drive some where.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12641-Etruscan-Dr-Herndon-VA-20171/51731184_zpid/ $590,000.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12906-Pinecrest-Rd-Herndon-VA-20171/51733807_zpid/ $550,000.

Both have easy walks to the Giant up the street as well as walks to school. They will be an easy bike ride, on a dedicated trail, to the new Herndon metro stop and go to Fox Mill.

The question is what type of commute the family wants. Buy a townhouse close to a metro stop for a more affordable price, pay over a million dollars to buy a house buy a metro, of a longer commute with a house and a lot and good schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:City of Falls Church

Be aware of all of the new changes they are quietly pushing and be okay with that before you buy there. The standards based grading for all is going to be fantastic or a disaster in the middle and high school.

Arlington has it too starting this year.

Anonymous wrote:Look, there is a big difference between APS and FCPS. FCPS puts more emphasis on advanced academics and attracts far more kids, especially Asian kids, whose parents place a premium on academics. Yorktown is a few miles from Langley and McLean, but is about 6% Asian vs. 25% at Langley and McLean. North Arlington attracts people who place a premium on a shorter commute, including some higher-income whites who do not want Asian kids outperforming their kids. They won’t often admit it, but it is absolutely true (and is often expressed in coded references to “Tiger moms” and the like).

As a result, the top pyramids in FCPS are on a different level than the schools in APS. APS is actually a bit underwhelming for a county with Arlington’s wealth, but it’s fine. The top pyramids in FCPS, however, are excellent, at least for kids who are strong academically. Arlington residents will often claim there’s no big difference among the schools, so they can argue the shorter commute breaks the tie in Arlington’s favor. But it’s a bit more complicated.

LOL, are you by chance Asian yourself? Talk about living the stereotype.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown is overrated. I know, because we purposefully left that school zone. Arlington schools are overcrowded and have a lot of problems one finds with overcrowded schools. The governance is also in disarray. The boundaries you see for Yorktown are a legacy effort to shoehorn some racial and economic diversity into what is otherwise would be a homogenously while, rich school. Understand, I'm not saying Yorktown is a BAD school -- on the contrary. But it's not the end-all, be-all.

Anything on the silver line will be a long, expensive Metro commute. But lifestyle out near Loudoun is better in general.

WL is the same as YHS academically, it has a more diverse population. It has an IB program. I know many zoned for YHS that transferred to WL for IB.

If you have the $$ (home next to orange line are very pricey), it’s an incredibly convenient location and great to walk to everything. Amazon has brought another bump in home values. $1.75 should get you something and, yes, it’s crazg!!

+1 Because students can transfer into W-L from the other 2 HSs for IB, it has a larger cohort of high-achieving kids. The last boundary conflict showed that people really do not want to get zoned away from W-L to Yorktown or Wakefield, which is why the school board ended up leaving it overcrowded, throwing up their hands and just adding an annex.

If you want the shortest commute, houses walkable to the Orange/Silver in Arlington and mostly zoned to W-L will do that. FWIW, we're a few blocks from the Virginia Square station in Ashton Heights and have been happy with our schools (Long Branch/Jefferson/W-L). Plenty of excellent Fairfax schools farther out along the Silver line but the commutes do get significantly longer/more expensive. Personally, if I wanted to be in the Fairfax schools and commute to DC, I'd buy in McLean and drive, significantly faster than metro from farther out.

There are express buses all up and down Columbia Pike with 10 minute headways during rush hour that can take you downtown in under 30 minutes, and back again the evening, and $1m will get you a large, nearly new construction house in much of south Arlington. it sounds like you’ve ruled out SA, but I’d encourage you to take another look; the metro isn’t as pleasant or as convenient as it was when I moved here 20 years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:03 here. We've gotten pretty off track from the original question - can you be in any of the listed Fairfax school districts and be within half a mile of metro. Question wasn't comparing the school systems.

OP I think the answer for Mclean/Langley is not really. Most probably drive in I would guess. Vienna there are some neighborhoods right near the metro, but most people probably still drive and park in the lot there. You might be able to find a house RIGHT off Nutley though and do it. There are townhouses RIGHT next to the Vienna metro that are really easy if you wanted a townhouse. All the other schools I think the vast majority would be driving to metro, parking in lot and then getting on.

This isn't true - there are tons of houses walking distance to West Falls Church that feed to Haycock/Longfellow/McLean.

This is on a busy road but otherwise fits the bill: https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

There are a few townhouses that could work too.

https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

I live in the area - we're a 5-8 minute walk to West Falls Church metro (probably 1/4 mile). DS goes to Haycock and we can also walk to all the amenities of Falls Church City. It's a great location.

Sorry in my previous post I did say that around west falls church was a good option and I agree. Was thinking of other parts of McLean and the McLean station for this post.

There are some townhouses and single-family houses on small lots within walking distance to the McLean Metro, which is basically the east end of Tysons. Not as many as within walking distance to West Falls Church.

I think based on all of this it's not crazy to say that for most of those fairfax schools, the majority of people are not walking to the metro in the morning. There are a few here and there, but that doesn't seem to be the norm. OP the difference here will also be that the roads are bigger out by those stations, it's just not as typically walkable of an area so just keep that in mind. There are some houses that might meet this criteria, but this isn't typical.

That is true. There are no high schools in Arlington where the majority of the people are walking to Metro, either.

Anonymous wrote:Oakton High School is WALKING distance from Vienna Metro. There are 2,000-sq-feet townhomes ALL around there for $500,000-$700,000.

Agreed, there are townhomes I don't think that was ever disputed. My post said there are townhomes right next to Vienna metro, but OP is talking about a million + budget, it doesn't sound like she's looking for a townhome. Further, according to googlemaps Oakton high school is an 18 minute walk and .9 miles which isn't what OP was asking for. There are a bunch of single family homes right off Nutley that I mentioned, but when you really get down to it it's about a mile. Vienna is great, I genuinely really like Vienna. I just don't think there are a ton of houses that meet what she's looking for which is a hard ask in the suburbs.

I feel like this is turning into a match between fairfax and arlington per usual and I just don't know why this has to be. The OP is asking for the ability to walk easily to the metro, in a three bedroom house on a small lot for about a million. It sounds like Arlington is more likely the vibe she's going for. That doesn't mean anything is wrong with Fairfax!

OP rest assured people will be more helpful when you arrive and this angst between fairfax and arlington is far more prominent on DCUM then anywhere else. Everyone is usually pretty happy where they live here actually, you're just seeing that different families prioritize different things.

Oakton High School is WALKING distance from Vienna Metro. There are 2,000-sq-feet townhomes ALL around there for $500,000-$700,000.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:03 here. We've gotten pretty off track from the original question - can you be in any of the listed Fairfax school districts and be within half a mile of metro. Question wasn't comparing the school systems.

OP I think the answer for Mclean/Langley is not really. Most probably drive in I would guess. Vienna there are some neighborhoods right near the metro, but most people probably still drive and park in the lot there. You might be able to find a house RIGHT off Nutley though and do it. There are townhouses RIGHT next to the Vienna metro that are really easy if you wanted a townhouse. All the other schools I think the vast majority would be driving to metro, parking in lot and then getting on.

This isn't true - there are tons of houses walking distance to West Falls Church that feed to Haycock/Longfellow/McLean.

This is on a busy road but otherwise fits the bill: https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

There are a few townhouses that could work too.

https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

I live in the area - we're a 5-8 minute walk to West Falls Church metro (probably 1/4 mile). DS goes to Haycock and we can also walk to all the amenities of Falls Church City. It's a great location.

Sorry in my previous post I did say that around west falls church was a good option and I agree. Was thinking of other parts of McLean and the McLean station for this post.

There are some townhouses and single-family houses on small lots within walking distance to the McLean Metro, which is basically the east end of Tysons. Not as many as within walking distance to West Falls Church.

I think based on all of this it's not crazy to say that for most of those fairfax schools, the majority of people are not walking to the metro in the morning. There are a few here and there, but that doesn't seem to be the norm. OP the difference here will also be that the roads are bigger out by those stations, it's just not as typically walkable of an area so just keep that in mind. There are some houses that might meet this criteria, but this isn't typical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:03 here. We've gotten pretty off track from the original question - can you be in any of the listed Fairfax school districts and be within half a mile of metro. Question wasn't comparing the school systems.

OP I think the answer for Mclean/Langley is not really. Most probably drive in I would guess. Vienna there are some neighborhoods right near the metro, but most people probably still drive and park in the lot there. You might be able to find a house RIGHT off Nutley though and do it. There are townhouses RIGHT next to the Vienna metro that are really easy if you wanted a townhouse. All the other schools I think the vast majority would be driving to metro, parking in lot and then getting on.

This isn't true - there are tons of houses walking distance to West Falls Church that feed to Haycock/Longfellow/McLean.

This is on a busy road but otherwise fits the bill: https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

There are a few townhouses that could work too.

https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

I live in the area - we're a 5-8 minute walk to West Falls Church metro (probably 1/4 mile). DS goes to Haycock and we can also walk to all the amenities of Falls Church City. It's a great location.

Sorry in my previous post I did say that around west falls church was a good option and I agree. Was thinking of other parts of McLean and the McLean station for this post.

There are some townhouses and single-family houses on small lots within walking distance to the McLean Metro, which is basically the east end of Tysons. Not as many as within walking distance to West Falls Church.

Anonymous wrote:City of Falls Church

Be aware of all of the new changes they are quietly pushing and be okay with that before you buy there. The standards based grading for all is going to be fantastic or a disaster in the middle and high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:03 here. We've gotten pretty off track from the original question - can you be in any of the listed Fairfax school districts and be within half a mile of metro. Question wasn't comparing the school systems.

OP I think the answer for Mclean/Langley is not really. Most probably drive in I would guess. Vienna there are some neighborhoods right near the metro, but most people probably still drive and park in the lot there. You might be able to find a house RIGHT off Nutley though and do it. There are townhouses RIGHT next to the Vienna metro that are really easy if you wanted a townhouse. All the other schools I think the vast majority would be driving to metro, parking in lot and then getting on.

This isn't true - there are tons of houses walking distance to West Falls Church that feed to Haycock/Longfellow/McLean.

This is on a busy road but otherwise fits the bill: https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

There are a few townhouses that could work too.

https://www.redfin.com/school/53790/VA/Falls-Church/Haycock-Elementary-School

I live in the area - we're a 5-8 minute walk to West Falls Church metro (probably 1/4 mile). DS goes to Haycock and we can also walk to all the amenities of Falls Church City. It's a great location.

Sorry in my previous post I did say that around west falls church was a good option and I agree. Was thinking of other parts of McLean and the McLean station for this post.

OP, a half mile distance is not very far, especially for the Fairfax County metro stations. If you draw a half mile radius from most of these stations, you basically cover the parking lots and entrance ramps. There are some THs and apartment/condos within that radius for most (all?) of the orange and silver line stations. But single family houses - you would be limited to only a handful at each station.

That said, I found this site: https://ggwash.org/view/35578/map-a-half-mile-walk-to-metro

Maybe it's helpful? IF you look at the regional one, there's not a big area: https://planitmetro.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/WMATA_HalfMile_Walk_to_Nearest_Metrorail_Station_regional1.pdf (Note the silver line wasn't open at this point.)