What Can You Tell Me About South Arlington? (Alexandria, Abingdon: low income, crime)

[aformernyer]

Hi,

I am looking for homes in the $700-$800ish range in South Arlington. I don't know anything about it other than the fact that it's less expensive than North Arlington, schools aren't as good, and there is low income housing around there.

Neighborhood safety is of huge importance. I want to feel comfortable pulling into my driveway after dark. Which schools are considered to be most desirable in the area or do people who live in homes of that price range typically send their kids to private school? I want to be in a diverse area but I would rather stay away from Title 1 schools.

At various open houses in North Arlington I was happy to see signs on people's lawns about hate having no place here. Would I see that in South Arlington also?

Which neighborhoods should I focus on and which would you not recommend? I'm not looking to get into a political debate nor one about social class. I just want guidance as if you were talking to a friend or a relative moving to the area.

Someone suggested Arlington Heights. I did a general search and the homes and/or the streets they were on were nice even if the house wasn't my style.

Thank you.

[The Dissenter]

South Arlington is very variable. The area along S Arlington Ridge Rd is well thought of. It really depends on the individual area.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by aformernyer

Hi,

I am looking for homes in the $700-$800ish range in South Arlington. I don't know anything about it other than the fact that it's less expensive than North Arlington, schools aren't as good, and there is low income housing around there.

To be honest, I find it strange that you have already selected the location with having done any research.

[NOVA_guy]

Is there a reason why you’re not looking at North Arlington? South Arlington has some OK neighborhoods if you do your research but North Arlington is better overall.

[JD984]

Here's a map of the Arlington elementary school boundaries last year:

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uplo...ap-SY19-20.pdf

The South Arlington neighborhood schools (green flags) are Abingdon, Barcroft, Carlyn Springs, Drew, Fleet, Hoffman-Boston, and Oakridge. There are also "option" schools (red stars) with language immersion or other specialized programs that students who live outside the neighborhood may be able to attend: Campbell, Claremont, and Montessori.

Of the neighborhood schools, Barcroft, Carlyn Springs, Drew and Randolph are all high-poverty, Title I schools; Oakridge is relatively low-poverty, and Fleet and Hoffman-Boston are in the middle - close to but not necessary Title I. I think the Arlington Heights area you mentioned is zoned for Fleet. Of the option schools, Claremont and Montessori are lower-poverty than Campbell.

In general, the North Arlington schools serve wealthier communities, with a few exceptions, but it is harder to find a house under $800K in North Arlington and those neighborhoods may not have the same appreciation potential as South Arlington.

I believe that the percentage of people in South Arlington who send their kids to public schools is at least as high as in North Arlington. My guess would be that there are more parents who live in the expensive Arlington Ridge and Aurora Hills neighborhoods in South Arlington who send their kids to privates than anywhere else in that part of the county.

[aformernyer]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

South Arlington is very variable. The area along S Arlington Ridge Rd is well thought of. It really depends on the individual area.

Thank you.

[aformernyer]

Originally Posted by JD984

Here's a map of the Arlington elementary school boundaries last year:

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uplo...ap-SY19-20.pdf

The South Arlington neighborhood schools (green flags) are Abingdon, Barcroft, Carlyn Springs, Drew, Fleet, Hoffman-Boston, and Oakridge. There are also "option" schools (red stars) with language immersion or other specialized programs that students who live outside the neighborhood may be able to attend: Campbell, Claremont, and Montessori.

Of the neighborhood schools, Barcroft, Carlyn Springs, Drew and Randolph are all high-poverty, Title I schools; Oakridge is relatively low-poverty, and Fleet and Hoffman-Boston are in the middle - close to but not necessary Title I. I think the Arlington Heights area you mentioned is zoned for Fleet. Of the option schools, Claremont and Montessori are lower-poverty than Campbell.

In general, the North Arlington schools serve wealthier communities, with a few exceptions, but it is harder to find a house under $800K in North Arlington and those neighborhoods may not have the same appreciation potential as South Arlington.

I believe that the percentage of people in South Arlington who send their kids to public schools is at least as high as in North Arlington. My guess would be that there are more parents who live in the expensive Arlington Ridge and Aurora Hills neighborhoods in South Arlington who send their kids to privates than anywhere else in that part of the county.

Thanks for your response. I see based on the map that Fleet School is sort of in the middle and it’s in the middle sociologist-economically. What are option schools, exactly? Are they like schools that focus on ESL? The houses in N Arlington I’ve followed have sold a lot over asking. Is South Arlington improving? Is that why you feel there would be more appreciation?

Thanks!

[JD984]

Originally Posted by aformernyer

Thanks for your response. I see based on the map that Fleet School is sort of in the middle and it’s in the middle sociologist-economically. What are option schools, exactly? Are they like schools that focus on ESL? The houses in N Arlington I’ve followed have sold a lot over asking. Is South Arlington improving? Is that why you feel there would be more appreciation?

Thanks!

My understanding is that option schools have a particular focus and are open to students who live outside the immediate neighborhood of the school. For example, Campbell has an "EL" (expeditionary learning) focus with a lot of outside/environmental activities, Claremont has a Spanish immersion program, and Montessori obviously has a Montessori approach. They aren't necessarily geared to ESL students. It's also possible that APS could convert option schools back to neighborhood schools at some point.

I think South Arlington has more upside potential because it's less expensive but still close to DC, the Pentagon and HQ2. North Arlington has certainly been appreciating as well, but the lots are small and when the prices hit a certain level people start to look elsewhere.

FWIW, of the three main high schools in Arlington (Yorktown, Washington-Liberty, and Wakefield), Wakefield in South Arlington has by far the nicest building.

[aformernyer]

Originally Posted by JD984

My understanding is that option schools have a particular focus and are open to students who live outside the immediate neighborhood of the school. For example, Campbell has an "EL" (expeditionary learning) focus with a lot of outside/environmental activities, Claremont has a Spanish immersion program, and Montessori obviously has a Montessori approach. They aren't necessarily geared to ESL students. It's also possible that APS could convert option schools back to neighborhood schools at some point.

I think South Arlington has more upside potential because it's less expensive but still close to DC, the Pentagon and HQ2. North Arlington has certainly been appreciating as well, but the lots are small and when the prices hit a certain level people start to look elsewhere.

FWIW, of the three main high schools in Arlington (Yorktown, Washington-Liberty, and Wakefield), Wakefield in South Arlington has by far the nicest building.

Thank you so much for your help, JD984. One more question and then I'm done, lol. What would you consider to be a good middle of the road area. It seems the homes right now Arlington Ridge and Aurora Hills neighborhoods in South Arlington are out of my reach for single family homes, is Arlington Heights a good middle ground area or are there others you would suggest?

[Veritas Vincit]

The thing is even if the area is relatively nice in its own right, proximity tends to embolden the thieves. I'd say the vast majority of crime reports I see are in South Arlington. There's certainly nice-looking neighborhoods in South Arlington, just like there's very dodgy ones north of Arlington Blvd (like the area around Glebe Rd south of the Harris Teeter), but if you own property of note and live down there you're a target of convenience for the fellows from the not so nice parts as well as the nearby rougher parts of Alexandria.