Comparing Fairfax county and Loudoun county elementary school-wise and housing affordability-wise (apartments, rentals)

[AnnuD]

We have recently moved to NoVa and my son begins Kindergarten next fall. I am researching elementary schools and looking at both fairfax and loudoun counties. Our current plans are to rent but will hopefully be in a position to buy a place of our own in the next couple of years. I appreciate any pointers and/or tips on what school is good with reference to whether renting now and buying later within the boundary is feasible.
My efforts at searching have been hitting a wall on two fronts:

1) schools I like don't seem to have much/any choice of apartment renting within the boundaries [eg, Floris, Oakhill, Greenbrair west, Willow Springs] {this is mostly the case with fairfax county schools I find} , and

2) the school boundaries seem to be redrawn frequently {loudoun county mostly} thereby making it difficult to predict whether the child will stay at the chosen school untill/after the house purchase.

I may be thinking too far {read unrealistic?} but having failed to really understand the AAP/GT arrangements, do I need to consider the AAP/GT center the chosen school might feed into? Is being an AAP/GT program /center in itself a thing to be considered? {I know they show up high in the rankings list}

Help me lift some of the fog over my head plz...

[FCNova]

Schools are generally very good in both counties. Loudoun is further out from the city and major job centers, so it's usually a lot cheaper.

[boyd888]

The schools in both counties are fine. You are WAY overthinking this, especially for a child not even in first grade.

[AnnuD]

boyd888: I get that a lot! {blush}

thanks FCNova. Loudoun is indeed a lot 'affordable' overall.


I guess I am just trying to see if we can stick to one school as much as possible even if a change in housing is imminent.

[exbubba]

The main issue is that not all Loudoun kindergartens are full day, though the issue is being addressed presently. Otherwise the schools are comparable and housing is less expensive.

[LuvVA]

Schools are very good in both the counties.

Housing prices are generally very high and you get older houses in Fairfax Co. when compared with lower prices/newer homes in Loudoun Co.

What is your budget? Are you prepared for older homes?

It's a wise idea to stay in apartment until you make a decision. Some places you may not find apartments that feed to schools you like. In such zones, you may find townhomes/SF homes for rent. This will run any where from $ 2,000 and above.

[AnnuD]

exbubba: I am a stay at home mom currently {all that overthinking makes sense now huh? ;-)} so the full day difference doesn't affect me as much as working mothers yet....but I am aware that issue is being addressed and will help in the future.

LuvVA: You are right too, old Vs new homes is also a variable in the equation. And rents and condition of the properties tend to differ in both counties in that fairfax has older but higher rentals and loudoun has new-ish and lower priced rentals.