McLean Swim and Tennis clubs (Arlington, Tuckahoe: moving to, schools, pool)

[newtomclean]

Hi, I'm moving to McLean from the San Francisco Bay Area this summer. Trying to find a swim and tennis club for my two (soon to be three) kids. We'll be moving to the Chesterbrook neighborhood. I currently have the option to either do the Highlands half summer membership or the McLean Swim and Tennis Club full summer. Any thoughts? Also, are there any other clubs that I should get on the waitlist for? Thanks in advance.

[claremarie]

I also live in the Chesterbrook area. We swim at Highlands, which in my unbiased opinion is one of the nicest pools in the area. McLean is perfectly fine, but it has only one pool, which means limited availability to the general membership during swim team practices (every morning) and swim meets (Monday nights and Saturday mornings). Highlands has two pools, so there is always a pool available to members even during swim/dive meets, and more shade than most area clubs. Because there are two pools, we have six lap lanes available in one pool at all times for lap swimmers, and two pools means just generally less crowded conditions. There is a 1-2 year wait list at Highlands for full summer membership, but the mid-summer membership begins around July 15.
Chesterbrook Swim Club also has two pools, but a long and weirdly-structured wait list. Check their web site for details, but you might be on the list for quite some time. You could also try Kent Gardens, which also has only one pool but might have openings for the whole summer. Then there is Tuckahoe, which has one outdoor pool and an indoor pool. Also almost certainly a wait list.
Not sure how old your kids are, but if you want them to swim on the swim team, you should join McLean, as the swim season will be nearly over by mid-July.
Good luck! If you have any other questions about pools or schools, feel free to ask.

[newtomclean]

Thank you for the great information. We will join Highlands for the half summer membership. Also had another question--are there any preschools that you would recommend closeby? And do these have lengthy waitlists? My other kids will be enrolling at Chesterbrook Elementary in K and 2nd grade. Thanks in advance for your advice!

[claremarie]

Many preschools in this area fill up fast, so waitlists are not unusual. My kids have not been in preschool for a while, so my information isn't current. We started at the Falls Church Day School in the City of Falls Church when we lived in Arlington -- and continued after we moved to McLean. It's a nice, Christian-based program and all of our kids enjoyed their experience there. There are several Montessori programs in the Chesterbrook area -- the Montessori School of McLean and Brooksfield School are two right on Kirby Road. Langley Hill Day School on Georgetown Pike is part of a Quaker congregation. There is a large and well-regarded preschool at Temple Rodef Shalom on Westmoreland Street, near the intersection of Kirby Road and between Haycock and Longfellow schools. Dolley Madison Preschool, on Saville Lane just off 123 near the CIA, is another one I've heard good things about. St. John's Catholic Church, on Linway Terrace off Old Dominion (about a mile from Chesterbrook) also has a preschool program.
Hope this helps!

[newtomclean]

Thank you so much for your detailed information. We visited The Falls Church last Christmas and I didn't know they had a preschool program. I will look into their program and a couple others that you mentioned.

Perhaps I will meet you at Highlands this summer. My name is Delia and we'll be the family from California!

Thanks again for your help and time.