Black Community in NOVA? (and Schools) (Alexandria, Burke: hair salon, apartments, how much)

[totsuka]

My friends really like the area you are living in. Fairfax is much more expensive...

[Fairfax Mom]

My son is in a higly rated Kindergarten in the Fairfax area - near Burke - he has Asians, Hispanic, Black, 2 mixed race families - black/white and Asian/white - there is no minority in his class since there are so many races represented.

Any race is will be welcomed here.

[Skapov]

Originally Posted by Denton56

FCPS works very hard to hire Black teachers and promote them to Principals and administrators. A few years back, the whitest high school in the county, Madison, had a Black Principal. So, no, they don't assign Black teachers or Principals to the crummy high schools.

Here's the deal, rich areas have better schools because rich people are usually pretty smart and so are their children. Those areas have more whites and Asians than Blacks, although there are certainly Blacks in those areas. Blacks are 11% of Fairfax county, and very well integrated throughout the county.

I agree that you cannot change the schools in PG county. They're hopeless. Only vouchers will change the schools, just like DC.

I also agree that there will be a massive, county wide, redistricting within the next two years, before the school board has to run again in 2011. Your best bet is to move as close to the high school as possible to lessen your chances of redistricting. One school you might want to consider is Louise Archer in Vienna. It was the original Black elementary school for the county. It has a wonderful history. Louise Archer was a black educator who did so much for Black kids in that end of the county. Directly behind Louise Archer is Madison high school. While it still has less than 5% Black kids, those kids are just like every other kid in Vienna and very much a part of the school and the community. My white son dated a Black girl there for three years and no one thought anything about it other than she was fabulous and my son was lucky to have her. We loved her then and still love her. Sorry for the digression. The area around Louise Archer is the old part of the town of Vienna and very charming. Plus, if you are living in the town of Vienna it is VERY unlikely you would be redistricted out of Madison high school since it is the town high school. Louise Archer also has a GT center and the county GT office is very anxious to place Black children in GT centers. So I would look into Vienna, particularly around Louise Archer. There is a also a good catholic k-8 school just down the street.

This is all **great** information! VA does seem to be more integrated than MD or DC, and I remember thinking that I'd never settle in a RED State, but VA's not even RED anymore.

I did some quick web research of Louise Archer ES and it sounds like a dream, pretty much all the schools in the Vienna area get 5 stars on Schooldigger.com (top 10%) and are excellent! But alas, I went over to ZipRealty.com and out of about 300 listings, only 25 or so came up under $500k. We are gonna be 1st time homebuyers and cannot spend more than about $425K for a home, preferably in the $375-400k range, so Vienna/Oakton are way out of our price range.

I'm really starting to fall head-over-heels for zip code 22152 (West Springfield), especially the Old Keene Mill area which would put us in the heart of West Springfield HS pyramid (and therefore "safe" from redistricting). Can somebody please tell me what type of grocery stores serve this area? Is there a Giants/Safeway and Whole-Foods/Trader-Joes?? Is there a Target nearby? Also, what's up with Springfield Mall? I hear such bad things in the forums, but do you think with the planned remodel (into "Springfield Town Center") it's gonna become a nice little destination like Reston Town Center? Coming from PG County, where we don't have a lot of nice upscale shopping, I've schlepped across the beltway to Tysons Corner on a couple of occasions and it's too congested over there, so it would be nice to know what are the alternatives.

Thanks and I appreciate any helpful information!

[Bigbluelandrover]

I doubt prices are going to spike like the realtors are predicting. The banking situation is a mess and more foreclosures are coming in 09'/10. Even with BRAC military folks are not going to be able to buy 600k+homes. I really wish they would stop pushing that on potential buyers.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by Skapov

This is all **great** information! VA does seem to be more integrated than MD or DC, and I remember thinking that I'd never settle in a RED State, but VA's not even RED anymore.

Well, Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington are bluer then ever. Loudoun seems rather purple while Prince William has a reddish tint to it. The election results aside, much of rest ofthe state is still red beyond densely populated Northern Virginia.

I did some quick web research of Louise Archer ES and it sounds like a dream, pretty much all the schools in the Vienna area get 5 stars on Schooldigger.com (top 10%) and are excellent! But alas, I went over to ZipRealty.com and out of about 300 listings, only 25 or so came up under $500k. We are gonna be 1st time homebuyers and cannot spend more than about $425K for a home, preferably in the $375-400k range, so Vienna/Oakton are way out of our price range.

Even in this economy, finding a SFH in Fairfax County for less than $400 will be a challenge. A TH would be more realistic in that range. Cross over to Prince William and home prices drop dramatically. However your commute would increase dramatically as well.

I'm really starting to fall head-over-heels for zip code 22152 (West Springfield), especially the Old Keene Mill area which would put us in the heart of West Springfield HS pyramid (and therefore "safe" from redistricting). Can somebody please tell me what type of grocery stores serve this area? Is there a Giants/Safeway and Whole-Foods/Trader-Joes?? Is there a Target nearby? Also, what's up with Springfield Mall? I hear such bad things in the forums, but do you think with the planned remodel (into "Springfield Town Center") it's gonna become a nice little destination like Reston Town Center? Coming from PG County, where we don't have a lot of nice upscale shopping, I've schlepped across the beltway to Tysons Corner on a couple of occasions and it's too congested over there, so it would be nice to know what are the alternatives.
Thanks and I appreciate any helpful information!

Doing a little research I saw a Whole Foods right on Old Keene Mill Rd. There's a Trader Joes in 22150 as well. You'll find Giants, Safeways as well as Shoppers everywhere around here. The redevelopment of Springfield Mall is still in the early planning stages but the property is surrounded by your usual big-box stores (e.g. Borders, Best Buy, Old Navy). There is a Target connected to Springfield Mall itself. For upscale shopping, the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax may be a closer alternative to Tysons.

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by Skapov

This is all **great** information! VA does seem to be more integrated than MD or DC, and I remember thinking that I'd never settle in a RED State, but VA's not even RED anymore.

I did some quick web research of Louise Archer ES and it sounds like a dream, pretty much all the schools in the Vienna area get 5 stars on Schooldigger.com (top 10%) and are excellent! But alas, I went over to ZipRealty.com and out of about 300 listings, only 25 or so came up under $500k. We are gonna be 1st time homebuyers and cannot spend more than about $425K for a home, preferably in the $375-400k range, so Vienna/Oakton are way out of our price range.

I'm really starting to fall head-over-heels for zip code 22152 (West Springfield), especially the Old Keene Mill area which would put us in the heart of West Springfield HS pyramid (and therefore "safe" from redistricting). Can somebody please tell me what type of grocery stores serve this area? Is there a Giants/Safeway and Whole-Foods/Trader-Joes?? Is there a Target nearby? Also, what's up with Springfield Mall? I hear such bad things in the forums, but do you think with the planned remodel (into "Springfield Town Center") it's gonna become a nice little destination like Reston Town Center? Coming from PG County, where we don't have a lot of nice upscale shopping, I've schlepped across the beltway to Tysons Corner on a couple of occasions and it's too congested over there, so it would be nice to know what are the alternatives.

Thanks and I appreciate any helpful information!

As mentioned, there are lots of grocery stores in the West Springfield area (Giant, Safeway, Whole Foods, Shoppers). The Trader Joe's is located in the Springfield Plaza shopping center (close to Springfield Mall). There is a Target at Springfield Mall and there is one in Burke.

The "drawing board" plans for Springfield Mall look really nice. Last I heard, the remodel was due to begin in early '09.

The Fairfax Corner/Fairlakes area has some very nice upscale shopping/dining.

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by springfieldva

As mentioned, there are lots of grocery stores in the West Springfield area (Giant, Safeway, Whole Foods, Shoppers). The Trader Joe's is located in the Springfield Plaza shopping center (close to Springfield Mall). There is a Target at Springfield Mall and there is one in Burke. The Fairfax Corner/Fairlakes area has some very nice upscale shopping/dining.

West Springfield is very nice. Add Wegmans to your list of grocery stores in the area--great prices and inventory.

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by mlv311

West Springfield is very nice. Add to your list of grocery stores Wegmans--great prices and inventory.

Wegmans (located at Fairfax Corner) is very nice.

Kingstowne is another good location for upscale shopping/dining/movie theaters.

[HereinVA]

Originally Posted by Bigbluelandrover

Even with BRAC military folks are not going to be able to buy 600k+homes.

Says who? I know plenty that can (and have).

[jaywallace]

Originally Posted by Skapov

Okay, I'm currently living in Maryland and really love my community here in Prince George's County (Upper Marlboro area), but I just had a baby in July and after researching the schools, my husband & I have decided to move to Fairfax County. We are looking at the Burke/West Springfield area, especially the areas that feed into Irving MS and West Springfield HS (the elementary schools that feed into that pyramid all seem okay). My concern however, is that there doesn't seem to be many African-American families in NOVA the way it is in Maryland, and we are trying to get a feel for the "vibe" in that area.

Can somebody please let me know are there any Black Hair Salans or would I have to travel to Alexandria to get my hair done? Are the schools well-integrated or will my child face hostility? What are the best schools in NOVA with at least a 15-20% AA student body, but good scores and high ranking? Also, I notice on FCPS website that black SAT scores are about 200 pts lower than white/asian scores, and AP/IB participation is lower too. How come?! Do the teachers disuade black pupils from taking the tough courses, or try to track black students into the remedial path? I personally attended schools in Virginia Beach (father was military) and I remember how the schools would automatically assign all black children to remedial classes (my schools were about 3% black), and then you'd stay there if your parents didn't fight to get you out. Luckily, I had an English teacher (the only black teacher at that school) that finally rescued me, and by Middle School I was in honors classes (usually the only black) where I went on to become a straight-A student and go on to college. Are there many Black Teachers in FCPS?

Please help!! Thanks and I appreciate it!

Although I do understand your reason for posting, would it be "racist" for a white person to post the exact same thing?