Moving to Falls Church with large family - schools?

[buildinginva]

If you are looking for more real estate resources, I really like the franklymls.com website.

[Serenah]

Thanks, BuildinginVa. We're open to all options. DH would like 5 bedrooms on at least an acre. At this point, it looks like DH and I will be working at the exact same location (Federal site) so we're okay with a 45 min. commute or metro ride every morning. I commute for 30 minutes here in NoCo without traffic as it is now anyway.

[claremarie]

An acre is a very large lot in most northern Virginia communities, especially the newer ones which tend to have large-ish homes on very small lots. You could find it in Great Falls, but not much under $1 million.

[JfromReston]

The drive to Falls Church is getting to be a bit long from Chantilly.

This house is on 0.933 acre with 5 Bedrooms - also walking distance to Lake Fairfax park (nice water park for the kids)
1399 PARK LAKE DR, RESTON, VA 20190 - HomesDatabase (http://www.homesdatabase.com/home-listings-LAKE+FAIRFAX+PARK+ESTATE-RESTON-VA-MRIS-FX7352254 - broken link)

This house is on 1.108 acres with 4 bedrooms
11019 BURYWOOD LN, RESTON, VA 20194 - HomesDatabase

Here is one on 5 ACRES in Great Falls!
1037 SPRINGVALE RD, GREAT FALLS, VA 22066 - HomesDatabase (http://www.homesdatabase.com/home-listings-NONE+LISTED-GREAT+FALLS-VA-MRIS-FX7345532 - broken link)

I know these house are the same ones that I presented earlier but my point is to show that you can get houses on large lots without spending over a million.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by claremarie

The City of Falls Church is extremely small -- just a few square miles -- and few large employers are located within the city boundaries. Most businesses and many homes with a Falls Church mailing address are actually in Fairfax County communities adjacent to the City of Falls Church. Many families pay a premium to live in the City in order to take advantage of the highly-regarded school system and the easy access to DC (two metro stops are located nearby). There is one school at each level, and it is the smallest school system by far in the DC metro area. Because there are virtually no poor families in the system, the students score very well on standardized tests. There are some downsides to a smaller system, including fewer specialized course offerings at the high school level.

You will not get as much house for your money in the City as you would in other communities, especially those outside the Beltway. A $700K SFH will be at least 40 years old, and may have only a 1-car or no garage. Most yards are good-sized, but some are more along the lines of a postage stamp. If you prefer newer, or bigger (more than 4 bedrooms), you will almost certainly need to consider looking further out.

Most families find that the public schools meet their needs, but there are some excellent private school options in the area.

Thanks for the clarification on Falls Church. I learn something new everyday.

[FindingZen]

Serenah, if you're looking at Chantilly, you may as well look at Ashburn/Sterling/Leesburg. As claremarie said, you may not necessarily get more land but you will definitely get more - and newer - houses.

[Serenah]

Again, wonderful information. You folks have all been so incredibly helpful and kind -- gives me even more good feelings about moving to NoVa!! :-)