I would need 4 Bdrms, 2 bath as a minimum with great public schools- high school down to elementary. I would prefer something that is close to his work.
We STILL need to know if DH's job location is inside or outside the beltway! This is a really important variable. Also, is he planning on biking to work? Bus? Metro? Driving? It all matters a lot when deciding where to live.
Generally, though. If inside the beltway, choose Fairfax County and school pyramids as follows:
McLean High School pyramid: try to live within walking or easy biking distance of Longfellow Middle School. There are bus routes along Westmoreland Street that go to the Tysons Corner area. If DH works inside the beltway easy to bike or bus. Personally, I'd rate this as the best option both a location perspective as the routes to all schools in the pyramid do not involve crossing any major arteries. This high school area also contains many of the less expensive neighborhoods with McLean addresses. Frankly, probably the best bang for your buck inside the beltway while maintaining proximity to DH's job in McLean.
Marshall High School pyramid: Easy walk from the Pimmit Hills neighborhood, this is also an IB (International Baccalaureate) school if that is of interest to your high schoolers. Also, this is right near Route 7 which is a place to cross the beltway though traffic can be very bad due to the Tysons Mall.
Langley High School pyramid: This is a considerably more expensive area and I'd consider it completely car dependent both from a school perspective and a commuting perspective--very far from metro and lousy bus access.
George Mason High School pyramid (City of Falls Church, not Fairfax County Public Schools): This is about 100 yards from the West Falls Church metro station and walking distance to grocery stores, restaurants and other shopping. That metro station is also a large bus hub and it's easy to get almost anywhere from there. It's also right next to the NoVA UVA/V-Tech campus if you or DH want to take grad courses (though you won't qualify for in-state tuition).
If DH's job is outside the beltway: Choose Fairfax County Schools as follows:
Langley High School (see above). This pyramid includes the part of McLean outside the beltway as well as the Great Falls area.
Madison High School pyramid: Nothing wrong with this pyramid other than the fact that you have to drive along Route 123 (called Maple Avenue along that stretch) which is slow and crowded, and has artificially low speed limits that are vigorously enforced. Also, 123 sucks for bicycling.
Farther out than that DH will have a long commute with traffic and be paying tolls if driving.
On another note: if you have any kids who are likely to be GT qualified, the magnet school for the McLean area is now Churchill Road which is in the Langley pyramid. You can live elsewhere and send your qualified kids there, but they will be bus dependent or you will have to drive across Route 123 (called Dolley Madison Hwy there) during morning rush hour.
Also, Virginia is strange in that we have "independent cities" as well as Counties. These cities are typically geographically within a county but not administratively part of it. They often have their own school systems, police and fire depts., etc. and include the City of Falls Church, the Town of Vienna, and the City of Alexandria. The problem is that many places in Fairfax County that are not in the independent cities but close to them will have postal addresses that make it seem they are in the independent city. When you look at rental listings, be sure to check the school district. Also, the Tysons Corner area is not a "place" and there are no "Tysons Corner" postal addresses--they are all in "McLean" or "Vienna".
