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I don't know where Signal Hill is but based on your title, I wanted to make sure your realize that while Fairfax City is a separate school division (which a lot of people may not even realize) it is totally ran by Fairfax County Public Schools, so when it comes to services, curriculum, etc. it's all one and the same. You need to look at which schools in FCPS actually have the program your little one needs. It sounds like he's in a preschool spec Ed program but not all the elementary schools have that program. I can tell you've already done a lot of research so you may have looked at this already. If not check this page on special Ed for FCPS, Fairfax County Public Schools: Special Education Instruction. I would suggest calling and finding out if the school near where you are looking actually has the program for him. The programs are there, but I know you want to be as close as possible. Good luck.
I can't say if there is any way to find out so quickly which elem school would be best for your son. They will probably all be relatively the same for your daughters. If you had time, I'd say call up the elem school in the area and ask to meet with the spec ed teacher and principal and talk about it, but it doesn't sound like you have time.
Most Fairfax County schools will have the same services, but some will deliver them better than others. I am not sure if your youngest would be in a regular school or would require a special center, in which case you would want to be relatively close and not have to transport him very far every day. I don't know much about Ravensworth, except it's a language immersion school (Spanish, although your kids aren't in the program just because you're at the school) and it got a new principal a couple of years ago, so you really can't count on old reviews on Great Schools to be accurate.
Another thing you might think about is proximity to Inova Fairfax hospital - this is the hospital that has a large children's center, and if your child has medical needs there is a good chance this is the hospital you will need to go to. I have a friend with a child who has medical issues, and they spend a lot of time there, but it's very inconvenient for them because they live so far away. You should be OK anywhere in the Fairfax or Springfield area, though.
Yes you are all right! I have done research and I am doing more It's hard to get real info from parents and I am looking for any just good mom-dad advice on here too. Thanks for that website Choff - I stopped by one of the elementary schools today and got that website as well as the contact to their special child (I forget the exact name...) department that runs the special ed things! I did NOT know that about Fairfax city verses county so that is good information!! The reality is that he will probably fit into a special ed preschool and or may also need the more specialized classroom/placement at any point during our 4 years... so it can happen both ways and I can't prepare an dplan for it all. I will start my phone calls tomorrow!
Does anyone have positive things to say about any school? The Fairfax city school would be: Daniel's Run and we would be within walking distance - on the other side of the park. Not the same quaint and inviting neighborhood feel (not that it's bad at all!) but close proximity to so many things and so close to the school.
I'm hoping you get someone to respond who may know either school. Again, as you are researching you can gain a lot by digging into their PTA webpages as well as look at each school School Improvement Plan (SIP) that's on their website. it will speak to their focus, programs, etc. I am retired from FCPS and remember several years ago attending a meeting at Daniels Run and being impressed they had a science lab as well as a water shed project since they were right by the creek. Fairfax City is a nice little place as you've discovered. It's become very walkable and the parks are great. They have several festivals downtown and a big July 4th celebration with fireworks over at Fairfax HS. The one positive I can say about the Ravensworth area is most likely you can get a membership to the Ravensworth pool. If so and if your children like to swim, summer league swimming is big in NoVa and is a great community, family activity. I'm not sure what pool would be the equivalent for Fairfax City, maybe Fairfax Pool itself. There are a lots of opportunities either area I'm sure. Good luck with your research!
OP, were you in a DoDEA school? Schools between city and county aren't going to be significantly different as both are run by the county school district. If you live in the city you at least know that your kids will not be reassigned to a different school if boundaries change.
I believe the Signal Hill neighborhood the OP is talking about is off Rolling Rd, near Braddock Rd and Southhampton Dr and goes toward Lake Braddock Secondary School. The post office calls the area Burke. You will find the schools in the Lake Braddock SS feeder system very good. Fairfax County Public Schools are well equipped to handle special needs kids. Your kid is older than when FFPS usually starts working with special needs kids. I am unfamiliar with you child's condition but a friend has a child who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The school system started working with him when he was 3 and by the time he was eight he was a in cub scouts, friendly and seemed to have normal social skills.
Anywhere in Fairfax County or Fairfax City should have schools that can work with your child. Good luck.
Yes correct - I remember seeing Rolling Rd and Lake Braddock as we were driving into that neighborhood. It's a Burke neighborhood and has a planned feel... a younger feel that much of the area so while it doesn't offer anything within walking distance and I did not notice any parks - it does appear to have many younger families so playmates, neighbors, outside-scooter and bike rides seem to be a good bet for that neighborhood. I'm not keen on busing out to another neighborhood for the girl's school although I did make the drive and it wasn't terribly far or anything! We could have a more spacious home in this area though since the years they were built lends itself to a more open floor plan, finished basements, etc.
The Fairfax city home is walkable (more than likely a drive with the young kids but maybe a good scooter/bike ride, etc) to the library and coffee shops, etc and the large park is right across the street. It's not visible for the kids to play without me but it's accessible and we could walk to school (which we currently do now).
My son has a rare disorder called Tuberous Sclerosis. We have brain tumors and heart tumors and kidney tumors... we mostly deal with the developmental delays, active seizure disorder and just maintaining all of his medical appts to keep track on everything. His status can change daily but we have been stable for a good 6 months and seem to have him in a really good place medically. He runs, jumps, plays, climbs, loves other kids... and is kinda like a 7 months old lab puppy? He needs someone to kinda watch and guide and help him understand what's appropriate most of the time He is all boy and none of you would notice a difference until you tried to talk to him and you would most likely just assume he wasn't paying attention.
So having my girls in a predictable and close location is really nice. Having a more family-friendly neighborhood and more space to work with in the house is also really nice. It sounds like Caleb's school situation will be most likely the same (as it's the same program) either place we stay.
Such as now - my son is handing me his socks and shoes He wants to go outside. He doesn't use words but he hands them to me and climbs in my lap and flutters his little eyes and gives me a kiss. He knows how to communicate and get what he wants lol!
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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I have a suggestion for you. Why not rent if you will only be in NoVA for 4 years? That might open up more neighborhoods for you that better fit what you want. I do think the suggestion of staying close to INOVA Hospital is a good one. So many of the doctors and specialists are in offices on Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) surrounding the hospital, that you may be spending a lot of time in that area. And traffic being what it is - and that area gets pretty congested - you may want to minimize that distance. With that in mind, I think Fairfax City would be good choice. Daniel's Run is a good school - my friend's kids go there. If you are looking for a more small-towny feeling with lots of neighborhood children, the Town of Vienna would be good, too. Lots of places to walk to and tons of families. Decent commute to Falls Church. Problem is that $600K is a tough price point there. But renting may open up options there for you.
yes renting would be a good option HOWEVER such a terrible waste of money. LOL. we have rented out our home in California for 4 years now and are ready to sell. I'm tired of all-white walls and a home that I cannot change
And I'm a tarheel Just noticed your Chapel Hill location!
Yes correct - I remember seeing Rolling Rd and Lake Braddock as we were driving into that neighborhood. It's a Burke neighborhood and has a planned feel... a younger feel that much of the area so while it doesn't offer anything within walking distance and I did not notice any parks - it does appear to have many younger families so playmates, neighbors, outside-scooter and bike rides seem to be a good bet for that neighborhood. I'm not keen on busing out to another neighborhood for the girl's school although I did make the drive and it wasn't terribly far or anything! We could have a more spacious home in this area though since the years they were built lends itself to a more open floor plan, finished basements, etc.
The Fairfax city home is walkable (more than likely a drive with the young kids but maybe a good scooter/bike ride, etc) to the library and coffee shops, etc and the large park is right across the street. It's not visible for the kids to play without me but it's accessible and we could walk to school (which we currently do now).
My son has a rare disorder called Tuberous Sclerosis. We have brain tumors and heart tumors and kidney tumors... we mostly deal with the developmental delays, active seizure disorder and just maintaining all of his medical appts to keep track on everything. His status can change daily but we have been stable for a good 6 months and seem to have him in a really good place medically. He runs, jumps, plays, climbs, loves other kids... and is kinda like a 7 months old lab puppy? He needs someone to kinda watch and guide and help him understand what's appropriate most of the time He is all boy and none of you would notice a difference until you tried to talk to him and you would most likely just assume he wasn't paying attention.
So having my girls in a predictable and close location is really nice. Having a more family-friendly neighborhood and more space to work with in the house is also really nice. It sounds like Caleb's school situation will be most likely the same (as it's the same program) either place we stay.
Such as now - my son is handing me his socks and shoes He wants to go outside. He doesn't use words but he hands them to me and climbs in my lap and flutters his little eyes and gives me a kiss. He knows how to communicate and get what he wants lol!
I don't know of any parks adjacent to Signal Hill. Accotink is just down the gasoline road, I think the sign says 5511 Rolling Road or something like that. Accotink has the Cross County Trail (CCT) running though it and you can easily bike to Wakefield Park via Accotink. Kings Park has a small park in it called Kings Park Park. Lots of stream valley parks are spread throughout the county. I believe the county has nearly 40 square miles of parks.
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It's hard to get real info from parents and I am looking for any just good mom-dad advice on here too. Thanks for that website Choff - I stopped by one of the elementary schools today and got that website as well as the contact to their special child (I forget the exact name...) department that runs the special ed things! I did NOT know that about Fairfax city verses county so that is good information!! The reality is that he will probably fit into a special ed preschool and or may also need the more specialized classroom/placement at any point during our 4 years... so it can happen both ways and I can't prepare an dplan for it all. I will start my phone calls tomorrow! 
He is all boy and none of you would notice a difference until you tried to talk to him and you would most likely just assume he wasn't paying attention. 
