Need great schools, commute twice a week to Pentagon (Arlington: low crime, townhouse)

[MidwestWorkMom]

Hi everyone, We are moving to the DC area. Commute to Pentagon about 2 days a week, and the other days, there is a choice of working out of office in either McLean or Herndon. Must-haves: Excellent middle school/high school (high percentage of kids doing well in AP classes) with approx 2000 students, or less. (Prefer 1200 or so).
Other important factors: low crime rate, daily commute door to door less than 30 minutes, and commute to Pentagon less than 1 hour. Our house budget is approximately $550k.

I noticed that Woodson HS has about 2000 students, Marshall has about 1500, and George Mason has only 800 or so. I'm concerned about finding something nice in our budget in those areas. Am I overlooking a good small High School, and do you have any thoughts on a location to hone in on for the right schools, the right price, and the right commute distance?

Thoughts will be greatly appreciated!.....

[Carlingtonian]

Western McLean or N. Arlington if you can be OK with a 2BR house. Or maybe Falls Church.

I think I recall those HSs you named as having good SAT scores--somewhere on here there's a color-coded list JEB77 puts together every year--but I think the best bet for your commute would be western McLean: close to Herndon and probably 30-45 minutes to the Pentagon via GW Parkway. (I can do it in 15 from 22205.)

Are you wanting a SFH or are you OK with a townhouse?

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by MidwestWorkMom

I noticed that Woodson HS has about 2000 students, Marshall has about 1500, and George Mason has only 800 or so.

Woodson is an AP high school, Marshall is an IB high school, and I believe George Mason is an IB high school. Not sure if that matters to you/your student(s).

[MidwestWorkMom]

Carolingtonian, Hmm, a 2-bedroom house would be too small. Let's ignore the hour commute to Pentagon requirement... because I'm not confident I can find anything in western McLean....Also, I'll look for that list you refer to "JEB77". Thank you. P.S. SFH strongly desired.

[MidwestWorkMom]

Orangefish---Either AP or IB would be ok-- the school size is more important to me than AP / IB. Thanks for the input.

[GCPA]

My next door neighbor commutes to the Pentagon and we are located in Potomac Falls/Sterling/Cascades (20165). He says he can do it in 30-40 mins at 6 am. We (as in Sterling) are next door to Herndon, which is a 15 min commute. For the price range, you should be able to find yourself a very nice and big house.

Have no clue about the schools, size, etc. here in this part of Loudoun County.

Just a thought.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by MidwestWorkMom

Carolingtonian, Hmm, a 2-bedroom house would be too small. Let's ignore the hour commute to Pentagon requirement... because I'm not confident I can find anything in western McLean....Also, I'll look for that list you refer to "JEB77". Thank you. P.S. SFH strongly desired.

The list at issue can be found in this thread:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/north...-2011-sat.html

You'd have more SFH choices in your price range in the Woodson district than in the George Mason or Marshall districts, in places like Canterbury Woods in Annandale (22003 zip code). Note that some parts of Annandale are assigned to different high schools.

The high schools in Loudoun tend to be smaller than those in Fairfax, and the housing is more affordable, but I'd personally find the commute (except to Herndon) unbearable.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by MidwestWorkMom

Carolingtonian, Hmm, a 2-bedroom house would be too small. Let's ignore the hour commute to Pentagon requirement... because I'm not confident I can find anything in western McLean....Also, I'll look for that list you refer to "JEB77". Thank you. P.S. SFH strongly desired.

I should clarify: 550K will get you a 2BR in N. Arl but probably a 3BR in western McLean (I think).

There's also Reston--much closer to Herndon.

Edit: Just now realized JEB77 had replied (in the very same minute!) with his link, just as I was typing this response with the same link.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by MidwestWorkMom

Orangefish---Either AP or IB would be ok-- the school size is more important to me than AP / IB. Thanks for the input.

Note then that George Mason HS is the HS for the Falls Church City Public Schools system. With relatively few exceptions, it is only residents of the (very small) City of Falls Church who can attend. This is what accounts for its seeming low enrollment. Be aware also that there are sizable areas of nearby Fairfax County that have Falls Church mailing addresses but are NOT part of the City of Falls Church at all.

[Carlingtonian]

Re. commuting to the Pentagon: Be advised that parking there is in short supply. (The installation has many people park at the mall nearby and walk there via a tunnel.) But there are plenty of commuter buses that go there. There's also a WMATA bus from West Falls Church, which has a park/ride lot.