Need Recommendations for Checking out Manassas, VA (Reston, Oakton: renting, townhomes) - Northern Virginia - Virginia - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Mod_Momma · 01-22-2014, 04:05 PM

tgbwc, - Thanks for the Montclair links - will check that out as hadn't considered it. It looks like it might meet the 30 maximum commute requirement. ??

ChristineVA - Muuuuh. It's a bummer to hear, but it's sort of what we have in our life now. It's a bit suburbia and we ONLY live here because it's affordable, convenient, safe, great for the kids to run/play and near hubby's work. Otherwise, Houston would be tremendously more fun. So, OKAY, thanks for the honesty. My hope is that the outdoor experiences and proximity to DC might make up for it??

marie5v · 01-22-2014, 04:18 PM

Mannassas schools are not generally considered desirable in NoVa, but there may be certain areas that are exceptions (I don't know which ones, though). I suggest focusing your search on Gainesville.

Mod_Momma · 01-22-2014, 04:18 PM

SmartMoney - That all sounds good, especially the IB and Foreign Language programs. Would you happen to know if any of these are available at the Elementary level? (Good on your boys for doing Math & Science!) - Oh, wait...just saw the link you included. Thanks for that.

Mod_Momma · 01-22-2014, 04:54 PM

marie5v - Would that include the Hay Market area?

stpickrell · 01-22-2014, 10:06 PM

School systems in VA are by county or independent city not the ISD stuff you deal with in Texas. So there are three school systems to worry about:
Manassas City Public Schools
Manassas Park City Public Schools
Prince William County Public Schools

Manassas City schools are, as other posters have said, generally not well-regarded. Manassas Park is okay, but is pretty much suburbia. Prince William County schools in/around Haymarket and Gainesville are generally well-regarded.

If you like the idea of downtown living and can accept a ~30-45 minute commute, consider Warrenton (in Fauquier County), Leesburg (in Loudoun County), or even Front Royal (in Warren County). The schools are well-regarded, with the possible exception of Warren County schools (although I'd still take Warren County schools over Manassas City myself.)

$400k gets you quite a bit in Front Royal, if you are patient you can get a beautiful Victorian along/near Virginia Avenue/West Main for that budget. No garage, though.

With all that said, if a short commute, good schools, and absolute safety are your primary goals -- and being near stuff isn't as important -- then Gainesville will be your ticket.

justtitans · 01-23-2014, 07:11 AM

There is a Wegmans off of 29 in Gainesville (one of the best grocery stores in the country), but there is also a Farmer's Market in Old Town Manassas near the train station and in Haymarket.

Here goes information on the Farmer's Markets in PWC:
http://princewilliamfarmersmarkets.nova-antiques.com/

marie5v · 01-23-2014, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mod_Momma

marie5v - Would that include the Hay Market area?

I love Haymarket, and actually wanted to move there, but it's not as inexpensive as it used to be.

Mod_Momma · 01-23-2014, 10:42 AM

Thanks everyone for all of your MOST helpful comments. I am building a huge list of things for my poor husband to check out in his short time there. :-)

Any impressions on the Victory Lakes neighborhood in Bristow, which appears to be in PWC district and offers an IB programme at the Elementary school?

HereinVA · 01-23-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mod_Momma

Thanks everyone for all of your MOST helpful comments. I am building a huge list of things for my poor husband to check out in his short time there. :-)

Any impressions on the Victory Lakes neighborhood in Bristow, which appears to be in PWC district and offers an IB programme at the Elementary school?

I live in Victory Lakes

I think Victory Lakes would well meet your desire for a neighborhood with pools, activities, etc. We have a huge "Fall Festival" each year with hay rides, moon bounces for the kids, food, a live band, pony rides, etc.
At Christmas there is "Winter Wonderland" and Santa comes to visit with the kids, cookies, hot chocolate, horse drawn wagons, etc.
Easter there is an egg hunt, and during the summer there are other parties with bands, food for sale, etc.
I think it is a GREAT neighborhood to live in.

Schools:
The elementary school is Victory Lakes and though I have children attending, I don't know anything about the IB program--I think it is still in the process of being implemented? To be honest, I haven't heard much about it--but I am in general very happy with Victory and there are many excellent teachers there.

Marsteller is the middle school, and I also have children attending there. It is very crowded right now, but they are in the process of building a new K-8 school in Nokesville, so once that is built, it should alleviate some of the over crowding. My children have participated in the Math and Science program they have there and enjoy it. Marsteller also has a lot of clubs, sports and after school activities.

Stonewall Jackson is the high school, and probably the part that most people will see as a negative. Somehow, it has gained a pretty bad rep and I know a lot of people who lived in Victory Lakes when their kids were little, have moved once their kids reach high school age because they don't want their children attending--or some have successfully managed to get their child into a program at a different high school. FWIW, my kids are not old enough for high school yet so I have no personal experience with the school, but people I know that ACTUALLY SEND their kids to Stonewall, LOVE it! All of the negative stuff I have heard has been from parents whose kids aren't old enough yet for high school, or who sent their kids to a different school.
Stonewall DOES have the IB program.

vermonter16 · 01-24-2014, 04:12 AM

Just a note about the schools - bad/good. When my parents moved to Little Rocky Run in Clifton in the 1980s, half the neighborhood went to one school and the other half to the other school The 'other' school was not well regarded and even had police assigned to it (which was really bad in the 80s). The 'good' school was newer and was more of the middle upper class kids. I went to the 'other' school.....changed my life. Maybe there were a lot of trouble makers and it was sure a rough and tumble school but the teachers were awesome and dedicated and like I said - it was a life changing experience. If I hadn't gone to that school - who knows where I would be today. So, don't necessarily judge a book by its cover - there are good and bad teachers everywhere. Fast forward to Centreville High School (I was a part of the first full graduating class). I had some really good teachers...and some horrible teachers. One was fired towards the end of the year when I was a senior (she was my English teacher), pysch teacher walked out one day and never came back. We had a substitute that the kids made fun of - slammed her hand in the door and broke it one day (that teacher was permanently transferred)... I could go on and on. Even though it was a 'state of the art school' and everyone wanted their kid to go there, it still had its fair share of issues.