Once And For All Manassas/Woodbridge/Dumfries?

[LuisaREA]

Lake Ridge has the reputation of having the better schools in Woodbridge. You should have no problem finding something under $300,000. Although as a previous poster mentioned, if you are looking for new, that will get you a very nice townhome or an older SFH. I live in Port Potomac which is a new development in Woodbridge and I love it. The community has both an indoor, outdoor pool (which my 2yr loves), a gym, tennis courts, basketball courts and it is only a few minute drive from the new Wegmans and new development of upscale stores that is under construction. Right now you can find a luxury townhome at $300,000 at Port Potomac. There is also Potomac Club which is a gated community that has a lot of amenities to include a climbing wall where you can probably find a Townhome for just under $300,000. This one is actually next to the Wegmans and it is and area that it looks like it is turning out to be very nice. However, what I have heard about the schools around here is that they are okay. They probably don't get the excellent rating, but as a previous poster mentioned, Northern VA ranks higher than most of the country.

Luisa Rodriguez

[Newk]

Check out the Bristow area west/northwest of Bull Run off of Sudley Manor. Not sure you will find the price of house you are looking for, but it is a nice area, and the houses are big.

Dale City is suspect too. I would lean more towards Montclair.

[American Arrogance]

Originally Posted by LuisaREA

Lake Ridge has the reputation of having the better schools in Woodbridge. You should have no problem finding something under $300,000. Although as a previous poster mentioned, if you are looking for new, that will get you a very nice townhome or an older SFH. I live in Port Potomac which is a new development in Woodbridge and I love it. The community has both an indoor, outdoor pool (which my 2yr loves), a gym, tennis courts, basketball courts and it is only a few minute drive from the new Wegmans and new development of upscale stores that is under construction. Right now you can find a luxury townhome at $300,000 at Port Potomac. There is also Potomac Club which is a gated community that has a lot of amenities to include a climbing wall where you can probably find a Townhome for just under $300,000. This one is actually next to the Wegmans and it is and area that it looks like it is turning out to be very nice. However, what I have heard about the schools around here is that they are okay. They probably don't get the excellent rating, but as a previous poster mentioned, Northern VA ranks higher than most of the country.

Luisa Rodriguez

Swan Creek whihc is locate din Soutbridge area...further south of Port Potomac, has received the School of Excellence awards several times in the past 6 years.

Prince William county public school website is a good source o get information on school ratings.

[ridleym]

I am purchasing a house in Kettler Forlines homes off 1 North. How is that area?

[anpanman]

Not sure I've ever encountered a "language barrier" in any stores here. Where are you coming from that had a language barrier?

[nwlv]

No, No, and No.

[EMTnest]

For schools, I would look toward the middle schools instead of the elementary (which one you will be zoned to). Most of the middle schools are weak. Don't assume that just because they won an "award" that the school is great unless you are in the school regularly -- you don't know what is really going on. I would definitely look at their scores and compare the schools. High schools you can get out of your boundary by going with a specialty program.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by EMTnest

For schools, I would look toward the middle schools instead of the elementary (which one you will be zoned to). Most of the middle schools are weak. Don't assume that just because they won an "award" that the school is great unless you are in the school regularly -- you don't know what is really going on. I would definitely look at their scores and compare the schools. High schools you can get out of your boundary by going with a specialty program.

I second this opinion. As someone who many years ago moved into a great zone for an elementary school, my address SUCKS for middle and high schools. Oh, how I wish I had done my homework.

I would say that 99% of the elementary schools in PWC are pretty darn good. They do a great job.

I know it seems hard to imagine that your child will be in middle school but before you know it, the time is here, and you can't get out of your house. I would look at middle schools and high schools.

And, yes, for PWC you can transfer out of your zoned or base high school but you will have to apply to a program that you might not be interested in just to get into the high school you want. For instance, if you want to attend Woodbridge High School, you will have to become part of their fine arts program and take fine arts courses in order to go there. The transportation to and from can also be an issue, especially if both parents work. If you attend a high school out of your zone, you will have to go to an express bus stop and get the bus there, which means you will need to be driven to the stop. This was a hardship on our family as we were both out of the house prior to the pick up for the express stop.

I should have REALLY done a better job when I moved but my daughter was 3.5 at the time and high school was not on my brain.