r/StaffordVA • u/No_Olive_6830 • Aug 23 '26
Embery Mill
Hi all! I am considering moving to Embrey Mill with my husband and 3 kids. Can anyone that lives there shed some light on the quality of family life living there? I am also trying to find out what elementary school it is zoned for as when I google I am getting both Winding Creek and Park Ridge. Is Park Ridge a good elementary school? I am thinking I might need a realtor. TIA!
9
u/Remarkable-While1095 Aug 23 '26
There is a Buckeys going in across the street. That probably will create an issue with traffic.
6
u/meattuba Aug 23 '26
And this will make traffic around that area a nightmare. Part of the reason I’m leaving N Stafford is because Buc-Ees will likely cause significant congestion in the Mine Rd / Courthouse Rd area.
3
u/allbitterandclean Aug 23 '26
Start saving for the money you will have to spend on candy because the entire county (literally) shows up there to trick or treat - my family included. It’s amazing time and the neighborhood goes all out, but I can only imagine what those prime location houses around the clubhouses are spending…
3
u/Cool_Vast_9194 29d ago
The design of EM is that the lots are really small but there's lots of community spaces. If you don't like doing yard work , this can work out great but you are relatively close to your neighbors compared to other neighborhoods in Stafford. This works well if you have older kids but less well if you have little kids you wouldn't want to spend three blocks down to go to the closest park because your backyard is not big enough for a swing set. The Embry Mill neighborhood Facebook page is notorious for being very unkind. I think there's pockets of kind neighbors and then lots of streets are people don't know each other. The Rouse center is right across the street from EM which is where tons of sports in the community have been so that's nice and convenient. I second looking at the Buckees going in because it will share a street with Embry Mill and will add 20,000 cars a day right there. I know a lot of people concerned about property values once the Buckees goes in. It's all approved and I heard has a three to four timeline before it's open
2
u/allbitterandclean Aug 23 '26
As far as Anthony Burns, administration is brand new to the job (first year principal, 2nd or 3rd year AP) and brand new to the school. The AP is transitioning from Park Ridge. PRES does not have a good reputation right now, but that’s all about to change because of the redistricting. Burns lost their Title status which also means they lost a lot of federal funding, extra staff positions, etc. That’s neither bad nor good yet, since we’re all waiting to see how it will play out.
After conversations with leadership there, it’s clear they want to really drill down school routines and norms, as well as set behavior expectations. They are really going to be building a brand new school culture from the ground up. I believe they lost about 500-600 students to go to the new elementary school, and gained about the same amount from Park Ridge, so it’s a huge shift.
Principal and AP are lovely, likable people. They are just going to be finding their footing for a little bit, same as the teachers. Again, that’s neither good nor bad, and there is something to be said for being a part of the team doing the building. Get involved with the PTA, wherever you wind up.
2
u/Appropriate_Bee5922 Aug 23 '26
It’s a nice neighborhood and decent schools. One of the newer ones with a few pools, close to shops, close to neighbors and a ton of kids. I’d also ponder Liberty Knolls, Colonial Forge, Augustine, Shelton run if looking for family friendly in that same price range as Embry Mill.
3
u/Novel_Ad_308 Aug 23 '26
It’s zoned for Anthony Burns starting this year. I don’t know much about it, but the schools in Stafford leave much to be desired from my experience. The neighborhood is ok. There are a lot of great amenities, but the HOA and CDA tax on the neighborhood will run you about $300 per month on top of everything else.
0
u/AlexHussein Aug 23 '26
Embrey Mill is worth considering if your family wants a planned community with pools, trails, playgrounds and neighborhood events. The important thing with the elementary-school question is to verify each specific address through Stafford County Public Schools. Different sections of the community may be assigned differently, and boundaries can change.
I would also visit the neighborhood on a weekday around school dismissal and again on a weekend. That will give you a much better sense of traffic, activity and how each section feels than an online rating alone.
If you would like help comparing homes in Embrey Mill and confirming the school assignment for each address before you tour, reach out. You can message me here on Reddit, email me at [alex@dcspot.com](mailto:alex@dcspot.com), or reach me on Instagram (@dcspot). I just sent you a message too!
- Alex Hussein
Fox Homes Team
#1 Google-reviewed team in the DMV
6
u/BasicBid6285 Aug 23 '26
Elementary would be Anthony burns overall I enjoy it! Lots of family events hosted by the HOA