Faux Falls Church (Arlington, McLean, Manassas: houses, neighborhood, school districts)

[Doppelganger69]

Thanks to you all, I've started investigating the City of Falls Church, as it sounds like one of the more liberal, community-oriented areas within a tolerable commute of Manassas. I even found I house I liked and was starting an upswing on the emotional roller-coaster that attends major moves, when I realized the house is outside the boundaries of the City of Falls Church. Yet, the boundary locator for Fairfax County Schools does not recognize the address (on Buckelew). So how do I find what our school district would be? And would we still have access to Falls Church community pool and other amenities, or are those just for City residents? What are the other pros and cons of being within or without the City lines?

Thank you all for your abundant help. It's very difficult to do this long distance, in an unfamiliar area, and while having to accommodate the needs of four people in the family, rather than just me.

[saganista]

If the house listing or your realtor isn't a source for what school districts the house is in, I would call the Falls Church City Public Schools people (703-248-5600), as while all of Buckelew Drive (very nice area back there, btw) is indeed outside of the Falls Church city limits, you may be in one of those "special circumstances" noted earlier, but that may actually depend on which side of the street the house is on. If so, you might go to Shrevewood ES, which is a Fairfax County school, but then move to Mary Ellen Henderson MS and George Mason HS, which are Falls Church City schools. If not, you might go from Shrevewood to Kilmer MS and Marshall HS, or a few doors up or down, you might instead go to Timber Lane ES, then on to Longfellow MS and McLean HS. If you don't have definitive info from either of the above, I'd go straight to the horse's mouth. There are too many if's, and's and but's about Buckelew to go with anything but official information...

[ArizonaBear]

Piece of trivia here: I had a couple of classmates who lived on Dorchester; the 'city' address was Falls Church yet they attended Arlington schools-----------due to that section of Dorchester dipping within the Arlington city (county) limits about 100' or so.

[saganista]

That's zip codes for you. An articificial construct designed to make mail delivery more efficient. It's no contest when they come up against the actual boundaries of incorporated places...

[dream0176]

I dont normally post on to these things. And have only been on the site to see opinions on various areas of N VA. BUT have to speak up on what I have seen to be so common on here and thats the calling of "Real" Falls Church and "Faux" Falls Church. I didn't realize the place I spent the majority of my school years in "faux" Falls Church (or Falls Church 22042, Broyhill Park- Fairfax County) was fake. Yes Falls Church 22046 schools are better (my family lived there a couple years and I attended school there) because look at the size of the city. You have one lower grade elementary, one upper grade elementary, one middle school and one high school. So of course it is easier to manage and structure the schools to be exceptional. Just don't automatically cross Fairfax County's Falls Church off your list. It's not a bad place. I graduated from Falls Church High School and didn't turn out too bad (undergraduate, masters, and on my way to law school). All schools and areas have problems. I'm moving back to the area in a few months and considering 22042 (in addition to 22043 and 22046). Only reason 22042 is not top on my list...way too close to my mother. LOL.

[claremarie]

You've gotten good advice already, so I'll just add that some houses in this area actually straddle two jurisdictions, giving you the privilege of paying taxes to both but also choosing which school system to utilize. I know folks who live in this area whose house is located in both Arlington and Fairfax Counties.
With regard to community pools, the City of Falls Church has no public or municipal pools. There are several private swim clubs in the area -- Poplar Heights and High Point are two of them -- but membership is open to pretty much anyone. Fairfax County operates a number of rec centers with indoor pools, and nonresidents can use them by paying a slightly higher fee. Most of the libraries in northern Virginia are open to residents of other jurisdictions as well.

[car54]

It never ceases to amaze me that some peoples' criteria for where to settle is whether the city/town/neighborhood is liberal or conservative, or "red" or "blue", if you will. What nonsense! LOL

Is the air different in red vs. blue areas? Are you afraid that the "other side" will kick down your door and try to "convert" you? Is there an odor that is detectable if one were to mistakedly end up in a blue area when one is red....or vice versa?

I have lived in this house for 57 years (since I was a baby) and I haven't the foggiest idea whether this is a red street or a blue street...nor do I care. Because I learned many years ago that only fools discuss politics (or religion)!

[saganista]

Doesn't say much for the people who post every day in the C-D Politics and Religion forums...

[Doppelganger69]

My, how exciting! It's only my first week here and already I've gotten up some people's dander.

To Dream0176, many congratulations on your many degrees, both earned and anticipated. It is a wonderful thing that the local schools played such a positive role in your success. But, pray, how did you know which to attend without ascertaining the actual boundaries of each's jurisdiction?

And to Car54 . . . surely you understand that different people find it easiest to build friendships or simply feel comfortable with one another based on common ground in certain areas. For some, a shared enthusiasm for Nascar is the guarantee of a lifelong friendship. For others, perhaps they find affinity among co-workers or fellow students. And others find friendship among those who share similar political or even (gasp) religious beliefs. I am glad to have "amazed" you, but I wonder that you are so easily amazed by a simple truth at this stage of life. I certainly do not feel "foolish" when educating myself about the upcoming election, or discussing the relative merits of each candidate with those who are similarly interested, but perhaps I deceive myself.

To Saganista, Claremarie, and others, thank you so very much for your ongoing willingness to help me navigate the ins and outs of an unfamiliar and detailed area. I am very grateful.