Absolutely best schools in Arlington/Vienna area

[VeniceSunrise]

I know I'm a bit picky here, but I really want to settle down for good and not have to move all the time, so I'm a bit nervous about landing in a wrong place. We've been researching many places, and almost moved to TN but a much better opportunity popped up in DC. With my niece planning to stay with us, I want to kill two birds with one stone and land near a good school for her as well, not just a good apartment/house to rent for us.

Oh, and another question: Does one have to attend the school they live the closest to? Or do they have freedom to choose which school they want to attend?
Thanks so much!

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by VeniceSunrise

I know I'm a bit picky here, but I really want to settle down for good and not have to move all the time, so I'm a bit nervous about landing in a wrong place. We've been researching many places, and almost moved to TN but a much better opportunity popped up in DC. With my niece planning to stay with us, I want to kill two birds with one stone and land near a good school for her as well, not just a good apartment/house to rent for us.

Oh, and another question: Does one have to attend the school they live the closest to? Or do they have freedom to choose which school they want to attend?
Thanks so much!

Other posters are more knowledgeable on school issues, but I know you can't just pick what school you want. I think you can apply to attend a school your home isn't zoned for, and if there's room they may allow it. I also think you have to pay tuition or some type of fees to do that. With how crowded most schools in this area are I would not count on being able to do that.

Maybe you should browse Fairfax County's website. A plethora of info there on school related items. You could also look at Arlington County & City of Falls Church websites if you are interested in schools there.

FCPS Home Page Redirect Page

[JD984]

Originally Posted by VeniceSunrise

I know I'm a bit picky here, but I really want to settle down for good and not have to move all the time, so I'm a bit nervous about landing in a wrong place. We've been researching many places, and almost moved to TN but a much better opportunity popped up in DC. With my niece planning to stay with us, I want to kill two birds with one stone and land near a good school for her as well, not just a good apartment/house to rent for us.

Oh, and another question: Does one have to attend the school they live the closest to? Or do they have freedom to choose which school they want to attend?
Thanks so much!

As noted, there is only one high school in the City of Falls Church, George Mason, and that's the only public school you can attend if you live there, except for the math/science magnet at Thomas Jefferson HSST in Fairfax if you are admitted.

If you're in Fairfax or Arlington County, you have an assigned school based on your residence. That may - or may not - be the closest school to your house. You also have some ability to attend a school that is not your assigned school that offers a different curriculum than your base school. So, for example, if you are zoned for Yorktown in Arlington, you may be able to attend Washington-Lee because Yorktown has AP classes and W-L has an IB program (as well as AP classes). On the other hand, to take another example, if you are zoned for McLean in Fairfax, you generally would not be eligible to attend Langley, because they are both AP schools, but you could attend Marshall, because it's an IB school. Students in Arlington and Fairfax are both eligible to attend TJ as well if admitted.

The City of Alexandria also has its own school system (which is separate from the parts of Fairfax County with Alexandria addresses). There is one HS - TC Williams. Historically, Alexandria City would not allow its students to attend TJ. There's been some talk of changing that, but I don't know if that's happened.