About Springfield's Orange Hunt Estates

The Sydenstricker School in Springfield VA was the last one room school house in operation in Fairfax County. It closed in 1939 but the building is still used today and maintained as a community meeting hall by the Upper Pohick Community League. The belfry contains the original school bell purchased in 1920's from the Sears Roebuck store in Alexandria. The school was named after the first minister of the original Sydenstricker Church next door built in 1909. Rev. Syndenstricker was also the uncle of Nobel Prize Winner Pearl Buck the author of The Good Earth.

Schools in Springfield VA and Fairfax County have come a long way since the Syndenstricker school closed. For the 2011-2012 school year you will find 177,000 students enrolled in Fairfax County Schools, the 11th largest school district in the US. Per the Fairfax County School website the country schools are comprised of "138 elementary schools (grades K-6), 22 middle schools (grades 7 and 8), 4 secondary schools (grades 7-12), 21 high schools (grades 9-12), 7 special education centers, 2 alternative high schools, and 48 alternative programs."

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has been ranking number 1 in the US and World Report for multiple years.

You won't find a single one room school house in the entire Fairfax County Schools system today.

Moving to Springfield or Fairfax County area? Make sure you check out the Fairfax County Public School Website for information for information on the schools and programs offered.

Searching for houses in Springfield Virgiina and wonder what school your children would attend? Enter the address in the Fairfax County School Boundary link to find out.

If you are still looking for a home in the Springfield VA area or anywhere in Fairfax County give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call 703-346-2213. Not only did I attend Fairfax County Schools from kindergarten through high school graduation so did my children. Let me show you the neighborhoods that meet the needs for your family.

Fall means HS football at West Springfield HS in Springfield VA. As part of the Fairfax County Public School System, West Springfield HS Varisty football opening game is on Thursday September 1, 2011 against Edison HS.

The rest of the West Springfield Varisty Football games are scheduled as follows:

If you are a parent of a West Springfield HS student consider joining the Spartan Booster Club. Funds raised support all West Springfield sports and depending on your membership level provided you passes to a WSHS sporting event.

Good luck to the Spartan Varisty Football team for the 2011 season.

If you haven't been stationed in Northern Virginia before one of the first things that you want to become familiar with are all the different commuting options available. Depending on the neighborhood you may have the option for an express bus, a metro ride, VRE or slug line. Many who "slug" in the morning take a bus home in the evening, so you are not stuck with just one choice of how to come and go.

Once you have an idea of your commuting options then we can take a closer look at some of the Fairfax County neighborhoods that have always been popular with military personnel. This tour takes you down Old Keene Mill Road one of the main throughfares in Springfield.

One of those neighborhoods is the tree lined neighborhood of Cardinal Forest located in West Springfield. With well maintained homes spread out on large lots, the ability to walk to Accotink Park and express Metro bus (18G) service to the Pentagon this area has been a prime location since it was built in the late 1960's.

Just around the corner is the townhouse community of Charlestown. Built to reflect Colonial Williamsburg the all brick homes are well maintained by the homeowners and the association. The HOA is responsible for all of the exterior maintenance of the homes, including a three year paint cycle for trim, brick courtyard walls, roofs, front yard mowing and trash removal.

Just as with Cardinal Forest you can walk to all of the same recreation, shopping and commuting options. The largest model town houses the Concord and Hermatage have 2500 square feet of living space on three levels.

The final stop on this tour down Keene Mill Road is the neighborhood of Orange Hunt Estates. Orange Hunt also is on a direct bus line to the Pentagon and is only minutes away from one of the major slug lines and connector bus points in the area. Just like Cardinal Forest the homes in Orange Hunt Estates sit on large tree lined lots and have been maintained well over the years by the owners.

All of these neighborhoods are part of the West Springfield HS Pyramid.

So if you are looking for affordable neighborhoods in Fairfax County with loads of commuting options to the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir or other military bases in the area, consider these terrific neighborhoods. If your orders bring you to Northern Virginia this year give the Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. If buying is not in your plans. Don't worry our team is happy to help you find a place to rent in any of these or other Northern Virginia neighborhoods as well.

If you are just moving to West Springfield (VA) from another part of the country the term "slug line" make you go YUCK. However for anyone who has lived in the area for awhile the term "slug line" means a great way to get from a West Springfield neighborhood to the Pentagon or other major DC employment areas.

One of the questions that anyone relocated to the area asks is about public transportation options. Once newcomers understand the value of a slug line...it is FREE then they wonder if they can find a home within a mile of a slug line.

The good news is that the local MLS does give us the option to do a map search based on homes within a radius and it is easy to provide a list of available homes within a specified area. For example this map shows a one mile radius around four specific slug lines close to popular West Springfield neighborhoods.

1. Cardinal Forest Shopping Center/Shell Station
South side of Old Keene Mill Road

2. Daventry
Hunter Village Drive and Old Keene Mill Road

2. Sydenstricker Commuter Lot
Sydensticker and Fairfax County Parkway
Bus and Slug Line

4. Rolling Valley Commuter Lot
Next to Rolling Valley Shopping Center
9300 Old Keene Mill Road
Bus and Slug Line

If you are considering a move to West Springfield and need help look for a home close to a "slug line" or any other form of public transportation give the Cindy Jones team a call at 703-346-2213. Let our experience put you on the road to home ownership and maybe even find you a free ride to your office.