Moving to NoVA (Burke, Dale City, Woodbridge: low income, apartments, to rent)

[kimsnowy]

Hi,

I have accepted a job in Springfield and will be moving to NoVA next month. I have a daughter who is in 6th grade, so I am really looking for areas that have good middle schools. She is in G & T where we are now. I really do not want her to be in a lower income school because I know her needs won't be addressed at all.
I am looking to rent something for $1500 or less. I also do not want to have too much of a commute (30 minutes or less)..

Any suggestions? Is PWC going to be too much of a commute? Are there any good areas in Springfield that are going to be affordable?

Thanks.

[CaliTerp07]

The GT program for middle schools here in FFX is run as a magnet school program. They have what the county calls "centers" where kids in the highest level of GT classes go. (That ends after 8th grade though--you go to your assigned high school unless you apply/are accepted to the math/science school). All that to say, if you find a way to prove to the county that your daughter should be in the advanced classes, she may not have to go to the middle school on your address. Someone else will have to speak to how getting in after the original 3rd grade test is addressed.

All the data on low income/free lunch/test scores/etc is available on the FCPS website. You can look at the middle schools and high schools and figure out what you're comfortable with.

That being said...what do you want to find for $1500? That's apartment dollars in Springfield, and most apartments are in lower income areas. If you want to stay in FCPS, I'd look at renting a condo from a private owner in the school zone you want to be in. Try Craigslist (it's very popular here).

If you want to look outside the county, someone else will be able to better direct what your $1500 will buy you in various areas.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

Someone else will have to speak to how getting in after the original 3rd grade test is addressed.

See the FCPS website for info:

Identification for Students who are Geographically New to Fairfax County

[kimsnowy]

Thank you, both. This is all good information.
How would the commute be from Burke or Lake Ridge to Springfield?

[Caladium]

I don't know that area so can't help you, but I just wanted to pop in to say Welcome to Virginia!

[saganista]

Burke would be easy by local standards. It's less than ten miles. West Springfield would of course also be good, as it's even closer and also thought to have good schools. Lake Ridge is about twice the commute, and keep in mind that you'd want to stay off of 95 when commuting if at all possible. Both areas are nice. Burke is a little older and has more of a white collar history than does the Lake Ridge/Woodbridge/Dale City area. Still going to be tough to get $1500 to do the job in any case.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by kimsnowy

Thank you, both. This is all good information.
How would the commute be from Burke or Lake Ridge to Springfield?

In what part of Springfield is your job?
What type of housing are you looking for?
Is it just the two of you?

[kimsnowy]

My job is on Hanover Ave. I'm open to renting a house, condo, townhome, or apartment. Right now it's just the two of us moving down there.

[tgbwc]

That would be a relatively easy drive from either West Springfield or Burke.
PM sent.

[Smoke_Jaguar4]

Originally Posted by kimsnowy

Hi,
I really do not want her to be in a lower income school because I know her needs won't be addressed at all.
I am looking to rent something for $1500 or less.

Am I the only one who noticed the irony here?