Best Schools In/Near Fairfax (Springfield, West Springfield: homes, neighborhoods, theater)

[Tresninas]

My husband may be taking a job at Fairfax Hospital. We'll have one child in high school, one in middle, and one in elementary school, though at this point, I'm most interested in the high schools. What neighborhoods with excellent high schools are within a reasonable commute (30 min or less) to the hospital? I've looked at Great Schools, US News & World Report, School Digger, etc. These ratings are all based on test scores, APs, etc., but I'm also interested in schools where the kids are happy, have a wide variety of clubs, to choose from, and where there's diversity.

I work from home, so commute isn't an issue for me. But I do love the arts, so it would be nice if an area has theater, cultural centers, etc., or if I'm not too far from the metro so I can go into D.C. on the weekends.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Tresninas

My husband may be taking a job at Fairfax Hospital. We'll have one child in high school, one in middle, and one in elementary school, though at this point, I'm most interested in the high schools. What neighborhoods with excellent high schools are within a reasonable commute (30 min or less) to the hospital? I've looked at Great Schools, US News & World Report, School Digger, etc. These ratings are all based on test scores, APs, etc., but I'm also interested in schools where the kids are happy, have a wide variety of clubs, to choose from, and where there's diversity.

I work from home, so commute isn't an issue for me. But I do love the arts, so it would be nice if an area has theater, cultural centers, etc., or if I'm not too far from the metro so I can go into D.C. on the weekends.

Budget? Type and size of house?

[Tresninas]

Budget, $700K. Something with at least four bedrooms, not picky about anything else.

[gomason]

Maybe Fairfax? Fairfax HS is very diverse and is a pretty good school.

[Vectorhead]

I would also look in the Woodson, West Springfield and Lake Braddock school pyramids. All excellent schools with lots of very nice neighborhoods in your price range and reasonable commutes to Inova Fairfax.

[michgc]

There's diversity everywhere. Most schools have tons of clubs. The area around Mantua neighborhood or another that feeds into Woodson High School would be a good starting point. It's pretty close to the hospital.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by michgc

There's diversity everywhere. Most schools have tons of clubs. The area around Mantua neighborhood or another that feeds into Woodson High School would be a good starting point. It's pretty close to the hospital.

It really depends on your definition of "diversity." WT Woodson for example is like 60% white. I don't particularly consider that diverse for Northern Virginia standards but I guess it might be for someone not from the area. I went to a school that was like 35% white if I remember correctly, for example.

[michgc]

Originally Posted by gomason

It really depends on your definition of "diversity." WT Woodson for example is like 60% white. I don't particularly consider that diverse for Northern Virginia standards but I guess it might be for someone not from the area. I went to a school that was like 35% white if I remember correctly, for example.

True. I grew up in the Phila. suburbs. My school was (and likely still is) 97% white. I consider all the schools in Fairfax County to be diverse with respect to race and ethnicity (even a school that is 60% white will have lots of Indians, Middle Easterners, etc.), and somewhat diverse religiously. Many of the schools, however, are not very diverse is socioeconomically.

[JD984]

One recommendation: the Dunn Loring Woods/Stonewall Manor neighborhoods in Vienna that feed into Marshall High and put you near both the Dunn Loring Metro and Fairfax Hospital (which is actually in the Falls Church part of Fairfax County, not the City of Fairfax). You can find four-bedroom homes for under $700K there.

[Tresninas]

Thank you! This is so helpful!