Pointers for Fairfax and Loudoun ????? (Chantilly, McLean: rental, houses, neighborhood)

[keynejad]

I need a lot of help!!!
I started checking Fairfax, Loudoun, Falls Church, Prince William school district and I am now looking only at Fairfax and Loudoun district only. Basically one of my main concern is the elementary school for my two kids. It seems that I can not afford Mclean, I would like to rent a place for a max. of $2000, 3 beds and 2 baths. Help me by giving info on any additional taxes cities might have, traffic, demographic, family life. I like places where people are down to earth and family oriented.
I have check greatschools.com and Haycock, Cherry Run, Fox Mill, Aldrin, Laurel Ridge, Kent Gardern, Greenbriar West, Clifton, Chesterbrook in Fairfax district sound good.
I can not get a lot of info for the cities in Loudoun county like.. Middleburg, Purcellville, Ashburn, Aldie, Round Hill, Waterford where I also found good elementary schools.
I know, I know that I am asking a lot of question. Please, help!!!

[MarsMary]

I have just moved from South Riding in Loudoun County due to a relocation. We were very happy with the elementary schools there - and a new one is just being built. The community is extremely family orientated and I'd definitely recommend it!

[keynejad]

Being close to the airport has not being a problem for you.

[PossibleMoveToCincyArea]

Kent Gardens is in McLean which you have ruled out. It is a good school though. It has a French-immersion program where the kids learn science and social studies in French.

[twinmma]

all I know is when we moved to Ashburn all we heard about are the great schools and the family atmosphere. My kids are too young for school, but I can say I LOVE Ashburn itself. Everything is new and clean and there are many, many families here. Very Suburbia.

[keynejad]

I have been looking for Loudoun cities webpages and I am having problems to find them... do you know of any where I can see pictures, etc.
Good point, Kent Garden is in Mclean.

[keynejad]

Hi Twinmma... I check on Ashburn, the rental properties seem great. I know your kids are too young for school, but what have you heard about these schools: Sanders Corner, Hillside or Bermont Station. How can I find the bundaries for each of them.

[5stones]

it depends on what you wnat ...Ashburn is very nice and new and is subrubia haven. But no real "town"

Leesburg a bit futher north has a historic downtown with shopes and resturants and a movie theater. Lots of families
Purceville is smaller than Leesburg but still is close to everything and has stores etc...

Waterford is a real small "town" it's historic and property is expensive but here really isn't anythere a few shopes but you'd go into Leesburg ofr everything groceries etc... it's beautiful and quaint though.

Middleburg is another great historic town about the same size a Purceville. But expensive. (it's faquier county)

Round HIll...not really a town no shopping you will have to go in to Pureville and rt 7 can get very congested.

check out the website for the Loudoun times. Home Loudoun Times
and Leesburg today Leesburg Today - The Journal of Loudoun County

They both will give you insite into Loudoun county

As far as schools...I was EXTREMELY pleased with how Loudoun county ran it's schools and the cirriculm. We recently moved to Texas, and my kids are for the most part ahead of thier peers. Loudoun starts spanish in k-garten. and offers kids honors classes in early elem. in math. (for bright kids that will be on the AP tract but don't test a gifted)

The only school in Leesburg I would say shy away from is Catoctin elem. they are going through a rough patch. they have quite a few Non English speaking kids that are required to take the SOL tests and the school has been flagged because of poor scores.

YOu will probably find cheaper rent in Leesburg verses Ashburn (it's alittle bit priceier) most TH or SFH houses you will find have community pools. I wouldn't rent in a neighborhood that didn't include that.

Good luck
PM me if you have any questions.

[MarsMary]

Hi,

to be honest airport noise is quite low level in South Riding - you hear a few planes but they don't fly directly over at a low level like the Target/Costco area of Chantilly. As we travelled a lot we liked being so close!

[nelly 555]

Middleburg and Aldie to an extent are very pricey. you probably won't find what you need in your price range. These are small towns with some amount of single family housing but lots of large homes on a lot of acreage. These are very cute towns to visit on a weekend or drive through in the country. Its definitely horse country and you will find vineyards to tour.