Annandale (Alexandria, Springfield, West Springfield: apartment complexes, rentals, houses)

[Newbie2Fairfax]

I am new to these forums but have been doing lots of searches.

My husband and I will be moving to Fairfax County as he has a new job on Capitol Hill and I have a new job in Alexandria. We think Fairfax County makes the most sense for us due to the schools as our children are 5 and 8 years old. We also have a dog (30 pound mix breed).

We are looking to rent a house for now and have been searching around Annandale as our rental budget is low (around $1900). We have found some rentals in the Braddock Elementary school district. How is this neighborhood?

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Newbie2Fairfax

I am new to these forums but have been doing lots of searches.

My husband and I will be moving to Fairfax County as he has a new job on Capitol Hill and I have a new job in Alexandria. We think Fairfax County makes the most sense for us due to the schools as our children are 5 and 8 years old. We also have a dog (30 pound mix breed).

We are looking to rent a house for now and have been searching around Annandale as our rental budget is low (around $1900). We have found some rentals in the Braddock Elementary school district. How is this neighborhood?

The neighborhoods in that district are a mix of pleasant suburban single-family houses (most built in the 1960s to 1980s) close to Braddock or Ravensworth Roads, as well as aging garden apartment complexes off Little River Turnpike. Some of the latter have a rough reputation by NoVa standards.

The elementary school serves a diverse and increasingly Hispanic student population. Here's the school profile:

FCPS - School Profiles - Braddock ES

I recall reading on either this forum or another forum that the principal at Braddock was very highly regarded and had received several awards for her work at the school.

[Newbie2Fairfax]

Thank you for the information and the link, JEB77. I checked with the West Springfield Police department and they said that the area with single family houses is pretty safe and quiet. I will do some research on the school and the principal.

I will be working near North Beauregard Street and Seminary Road. Do you know if that would be a difficult commute from Annandale? I would be working from 9 am to 5 pm.

Thank you again!

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Newbie2Fairfax

Thank you for the information and the link, JEB77. I checked with the West Springfield Police department and they said that the area with single family houses is pretty safe and quiet. I will do some research on the school and the principal.

I will be working near North Beauregard Street and Seminary Road. Do you know if that would be a difficult commute from Annandale? I would be working from 9 am to 5 pm.

Thank you again!

Seems like a pretty easy commute - just go down 236 (Little River Turnpike) east toward Alexandria and then take a left on Beauregard Street to the intersection with Seminary Road.

[DC Oldtimer]

Frankly, I think you would be better off finding something in the Canterbury Woods or Wakefield Forest school districts of Annandale.

Commute would be reasonable from either area.

[Newbie2Fairfax]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Seems like a pretty easy commute - just go down 236 (Little River Turnpike) east toward Alexandria and then take a left on Beauregard Street to the intersection with Seminary Road.

Great! Thank you.

[Newbie2Fairfax]

Originally Posted by DC Oldtimer

Frankly, I think you would be better off finding something in the Canterbury Woods or Wakefield Forest school districts of Annandale.

Commute would be reasonable from either area.

I looked on the map and that is farther away from I-395. Why would those school districts be better?

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Newbie2Fairfax

I looked on the map and that is farther away from I-395. Why would those school districts be better?

It's basically the issue that gets played out on this forum time and time again - schools like Canterbury Woods and Wakefield Forest have fewer lower-income students and students for whom English is a second language than a school like Braddock. As a result, their test scores are typically higher.

The question that you probably would want to ask is whether students who don't require the special assistance that lower-income and/or ESL students may receive also thrive in schools such as Braddock. In general, you'll find more posters on this forum who will simply steer you to the less diverse schools (often in their own current or former neighborhoods) on the assumption that you're seeking out the schools with the highest test scores.

I would agree with DC Oldtimer, however, that the commute to Beauregard and Seminary from Annandale neighborhoods right outside the Beltway such as Canterbury Woods and Wakefield Forest would still be pretty reasonable by DC/NoVa commuting standards.

[Weekend Traveler]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Seems like a pretty easy commute - just go down 236 (Little River Turnpike) east toward Alexandria and then take a left on Beauregard Street to the intersection with Seminary Road.

In the morning, as soon as you move past the Intersection of Braddock Road and Little River Turnpike as you are moving east on Little River Turnpike the traffic basically stops and you are crawling for a few miles as you head towards Beauregard Street. Not an easy drive.

[car54]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

In the morning, as soon as you move past the Intersection of Braddock Road and Little River Turnpike as you are moving east on Little River Turnpike the traffic basically stops and you are crawling for a few miles as you head towards Beauregard Street. Not an easy drive.

I'd cut over from 236 to Columbia Pike and hang a right on Lincolnia Rd and take it to Beauregard...thus avoiding the entire mess of the 236/I-395/Beauregard interchange.

disclaimer: I do that every morning in my school bus....but it's about 8:00am and it's a breeze....can't guarantee what traffic's like earlier.