Woodbridge, Manassas, Manassas Pk. etc. (Lake Ridge, Montclair: crime, townhomes, middle school)

[AMT660]

Hello,

Back in 2008-2009 my family was looking to relocate from Elmont NY to either Woodbridge, Manassas, Manassas Park, or areas close to them. Unfortunately the move never happened, however we are seriously looking to make a move in the next year. During that time I had posted several threads but stopped due to the move being put on hold.

With that said, I would like to know how are these areas now? The price of SFH in the area appear to be reasonable and the schools seem to be ok as well. We noticed in some areas one out of the three (elementary, junior, high school) may be good but not all three.

So I would like to hear from those families who have been living in the area.

Thanks.

[Bigfoot424]

I would avoid Woodbridge if possible unless the person must live near I 95. Woodbridge has improved greatly in many areas but still has more crime issues than places such as Manassas or M Park. Both of my kids went to the City of Manassas schools and received good educations. Some will come on here saying how bad the schools are. My God daughter is in high school here in Manassas City and has nearly a 4.0 GPA so the kid makes what they will of the school system. The Manassas area in PWC has many areas to avoid but I'm not going to start listing the areas. You'll have to ask about a particular area if there is an interest. I know M Park was a place to avoid for years but is not the M Park of old any longer. The east side of Euclid Ave exploded several years ago with new homes and townhomes and several police officer friends of mine live back there and really like it.

[NOVA_guy]

Woodbridge isn't that bad, like anywhere it has its good and it's not so good areas.

If you are moving to Woodbridge or looking to move I would stay in the 22192 and 22193 zip codes. Avoid anywhere off of route 1 which tends fall into the 22191 zip code.

[ChristineVA]

I live in the 22193 area of Woodbridge closer to the Montclair entrance. It takes me exactly 8 minutes to hit I95 which is good if you are commuting to DC.

Like Bigfoot said, choosing between the areas is dependent a lot on where you have to work. I work in DC and my coworkers who live in Manassas, by far, have the longest commute either by driving or by rail. Woodbridge, IMO, has better access and public transporation options (including extensive slug lines) into the city.

But Manassas will have better access to the jobs more towards the west.

I find that PWC, as a whole, has those issues with schools with some parts of the system being excellent and others not so much. For instance, my kids' elementary was top notch but the middle school was one of the worst in the country and the high school so-so. Whereas, another person who lived up the road from me got all three schools that were really good. If you go out to the western end of Prince William (Bristow/Gainesville areas) you are going to have a better shot at all three levels being excellent but commuting is pretty bad into DC.

It would help to know where you'll be working.

[kww]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I live in the 22193 area of Woodbridge closer to the Montclair entrance. It takes me exactly 8 minutes to hit I95 which is good if you are commuting to DC.

Like Bigfoot said, choosing between the areas is dependent a lot on where you have to work. I work in DC and my coworkers who live in Manassas, by far, have the longest commute either by driving or by rail. Woodbridge, IMO, has better access and public transporation options (including extensive slug lines) into the city.

But Manassas will have better access to the jobs more towards the west.

I find that PWC, as a whole, has those issues with schools with some parts of the system being excellent and others not so much. For instance, my kids' elementary was top notch but the middle school was one of the worst in the country and the high school so-so. Whereas, another person who lived up the road from me got all three schools that were really good. If you go out to the western end of Prince William (Bristow/Gainesville areas) you are going to have a better shot at all three levels being excellent but commuting is pretty bad into DC.

It would help to know where you'll be working....

....and what your proposed budget is?

[Oldhag1]

I live in the 22192 zip code. It is really nice out here, the commute to DC is better than Manassas, and puttering around for local chores is better than most areas in NOVA. I am a retired teacher who as a military wive taught in a lot of school systems and am currently subbing here. There are only two schools I subbed at so far that I would be concerned about sending my child to in the least. The rest are fine, and most even excellent. People around here have no clue about the state of education outside of the NOVA bubble and don't realize just how good these schools are. Around here you are comparing good, better, and great - not unacceptable and acceptable.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

I live in the 22192 zip code. It is really nice out here, the commute to DC is better than Manassas, and puttering around for local chores is better than most areas in NOVA. I am a retired teacher who as a military wive taught in a lot of school systems and am currently subbing here. There are only two schools I subbed at so far that I would be concerned about sending my child to in the least. The rest are fine, and most even excellent. People around here have no clue about the state of education outside of the NOVA bubble and don't realize just how good these schools are. Around here you are comparing good, better, and great - not unacceptable and acceptable.

Well, do tell...inquiring minds want to know!

[jillybean720]

I lived in 22192 (Lake Ridge of Woodbridge) and never had a problem. We also had better rated schools there than we do where I am now in Loudoun County. I lived in Manassas previously, but it's been so long and the area I lived in has been built up so much since then that I'm sure a lot has changed.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Well, do tell...inquiring minds want to know!

I just didn't like the attitude of some of the teachers and staff I met.

At one of the schools too many seemed to have a "I am here just because it pays my bills" attitude. Most schools have employees that believe that what they do is important and when they talk about their students, even when frustrated, there is an underlying sense of commitment to them, both academically and emotionally. The teachers there seemed to be just checking the blocks. The support staff conveyed the sense that the students were an imposition.

At the other, the principal was an ambitious tyrant who clearly was only concerned about what did or did not make him look good and I felt really sorry for the teachers that worked there. They were miserable and I would have been if I worked there too. That kind of stuff generally negatively affects their performance in the classroom. The woman that worked the front desk gushed all over the principal but was snitty to students and teachers. She told one teacher that she was busy so she didn't have time help her look for a form that wasn't in the binder it was supposed to be in, that if other teachers didn't take things they weren't supposed to it wouldn't be a problem, then proceeded to talk to her sister. That I knew she was talking to her sister was telling.

Interestingly, one school is considered on the lower end and the other is highly rated, but those test scores are a reflection of the demographics they serve. The parents of the kids are the high scoring school will make sure their kids do well academically but a school with a negative employee climate will impact the atmosphere kids associate with education.

[gomason]

It is much much easier to commute into DC from Woodbridge with lots of commuting options.

Just stay away from Route 1.