Prince William County - Schools? (Arlington, Alexandria: real estate, foreclosures, credit)

[fabforever]

Thank you for all the information. My husband will be working in Manassas so we will have to live in the Manassas area and surrounding areas. So far we were thinking of Gainsville, Bristow and even Fairfax. So I am trying to find out more about PWC Schools before making a choice. We are visiting NOVA in 3 weeks and I will personally visit the schools. That is why school names are important, that way I know where to look! Thanks Fab

[DavidS827]

I would also add Alvey, Mt View, Victory and Nokesville Elementary to your list if you haven't already. They are all great schools.

[fabforever]

Thank you David, I had Mt View and Nokesville on my list, but I will add Alvey and Victory also.

[Junes_reston]

Overall, Northern VA schools are very good, with a high graduation rate and percentage of students who go on to higher education.

Prince William is going through some "turmoil" right now trying to decide what to do with the thousands of illegal aliens who have moved Northern VA over the past 4-5 years. Manassas, Manassas City and Woodbridge seem to be hit hardest - mostly neighborhoods with older, less expensive homes.

Some of the schools are predominantly Hispanic, with students who have limited, if any English, skills. Many of these schools teach to the lowest common denominator, so select your school district carefully, as your children will be restricted only to that district unless they will be attending magnet or private schools or home schooled.

There are still many areas of Prince William County that are wonderful communities with excellent schools and teachers.

Fairfax County lists all its schools, with demographic make up and test scores by major subjects. I have to presume Prince William County has such a listing as well. This is a very useful tool when selecting a home in a good school district that will retain value.

Welcome to Northern VA

[fabforever]

Thank you for all who answered. I will make sure to visit all the schools mentioned when we visit, it is nice to have some names so we can make an informed decision. I am not sure when we will be in VA now, but I will definetely post back and let you know what we have decided as far as schools in the area. Thanks Fab

[Love2LiveNCities]

Originally Posted by at0micfly

Troll?
I had to sit through the hell that was that countys education system.

Beville MS and CD Hylton are some of the worst. As is Osbourne Park. Stay away from the Potomac Mills area, or Savannah Drive area

Blue collar redneck? PLEASE!! IT IS GHETTO AS ANYTHING!!!!

yeah your really lacking information on that opinion. Ghetto is far from Prince william. Savannah is a few streets with townhouses and minorities...then what right next to it? 500,000 dollar homes and montclair. I went to Hylton and it was a very very good school. and seeing how VA is a top leader in education if not THE BEST any school is good. They all specialize in their own fields in programs almost like a college, and have classes that require jobs to get you ready for education and a career. Nothing is wrong with those schools, a little crowded maybe. But nothing at all is wrong

[Tish Thompson]

I have lived on the eastern and western end of Prince William County, and I must say that my personal preference is the Western end. While I think the quality of the education my kids are getting is about the same, I like the western end of the county better than the eastern side. The Western side has more of a rural feel. Woodbridge feels more urban to me....too many people and too busy. I live in Bristow now and I love it here.

[jessnboys]

The western end (Bristow, Gainesville, Haymarket) are very newly done and nice but I just wanted to add one more school to your list. Ashland Elementary School has a Manassas address (as does the Ashland Community it is located in) but it is very far down 234 closer to Montclair/Woodbridge than anything else. The commute to Manassas wouldn't take long (15 minutes depending on which part of Manassas you're going to and no gridlock or traffic whatsoever as the road has been widened and there's finally no construction going on). The community is very nice with the elementary school (opened in 2002) walkable and getting rave reviews and the high school (Forest Park...newly built as well) also within walking distance. We are zoned to Ashland ES although we live in a different community around the corner with a different HS (Hylton) which is one of the best in PWC so I'm not sure what that previous poster was talking about. Our MS (Benton) was recently written up as one of the best schools in the entire NOVA area by the Washington Post.

Anyway, lots of great communities in Bristow and we have friends whose children attend Cedar Point, Mountain View, Bristow Run, and Tyler and all rave about them. I think you'll be happy with any of the above. As far as communities go, Braemar is very well done and the houses are gorgeous. There is a LOT of construction going on on Linton Hall Road (619) so you'll get a new Harris Teeters at the end near 28 and the end near 29 is exploding with a Best Buy and a dozen other super huge stores. Course, traffic is pretty bad too as there is always work being done on that road.

Good luck in the house search!

[Tish Thompson]

I'm partial to Bristow. My kids are in PWC schools in Bristow...they love it and so do I.

[jberrn]

Originally Posted by Tish Thompson

I'm partial to Bristow. My kids are in PWC schools in Bristow...they love it and so do I.

I am suprised by all the talk about how great Bristow and the schools are! I just bought a home in New Bristow Village (across from the new Harris Teeters), and I am amazed by all of the Hispanics that live in the homes with 3 and 4 families. Hardly anyone speaks english in the neighborhoods! Worst of all, and more on topic, I found out once we moved in that our kids are to be shipped to Manassas (Ellis elementary), and not one of the 3 or 4 schools down the road. Cedar Point is less than 5 miles away. Im sure it has to do with the funding for Ellis, given its low socieoeconomic status. It is very unfair and I wish I would have known about the HUGE immigrant problem here. Im already planning to move in the next 2 to 3 years. Has anyone heard anything more about the school issue for new bristow village?