King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

When did they pass a bond to fund a magnet school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

When did they pass a bond to fund a magnet school?

In 2021 the school bond has $13.5 mil estimate for site acquisition of a future western high school. So I think it was that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

When did they pass a bond to fund a magnet school?

In 2021 the school bond has $13.5 mil estimate for site acquisition of a future western high school. So I think it was that year.

Doesn't say anything about a magnet.

I don't think our School Board would do anything but use the school to solve the problems of constant boundary adjustments in this area. That is the right thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

When did they pass a bond to fund a magnet school?

In 2021 the school bond has $13.5 mil estimate for site acquisition of a future western high school. So I think it was that year.

Doesn't say anything about a magnet.

I don't think our School Board would do anything but use the school to solve the problems of constant boundary adjustments in this area. That is the right thing to do.

Maybe I missed the part where it said it was destined to be a regular school? Did the bond literature discuss that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

Oh my god, stop pushing this stupid magnet school agenda. Not going to happen sweetheart.

[Anonymous]

I hope it doesn’t become a magnet school. Magnet schools are overrated especially when there are plenty of high achievers already in the natural attendance area. For all but the top .0001 percent of students, the benefits of attending a neighborhood school along with your peers of diverse backgrounds and abilities outweighs any minimal advantages given by a magnet school.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you think people complaining about FCPS spending $150M for something that’s been in the plans for 20 years is bad, wait to see how they react to spending $150M for something (Aviation Acadeny, TJ West, etc) that’s been in no plans.

Well, just to play devils advocate here, people appear to be upset about the secrecy and lack of disclosure, not necessarily about the school; and just because you spent 20 years assuming that the western school would benefit your area doesn’t mean that the school board is beholden to you.

No one is upset about nonexistent "secrecy"'except one poster on here, you.

Not just on here, aren’t you up in arms about some next door posts? Weird that you just conveniently forget your talking points when it suits your argument.

The only person desperately parroting talking points is you.

The rest of us are discussing this great new school!

So you really think that the budget should revolve around you? It’d be interesting to take a poll of Fairfax county to see how many people would support a magnet over a school devoted to fixing pretend capacity issues in your area. (Though I’ll concede that your split feeder situation does suck, but will remind you that you bought your house knowing the situation).

I think you’d probably get 80% support a new magnet with available options for their kids to go to it if they are smart enough.

It’s the reason it’s actually being discussed by the board, rather than just anonymous internet buffoons on an anonymous forum pretending like they deserve a school just because there was a placeholder in the CIP.

I think you two are pushing back so vociferously because you know I’m right. The community would be ecstatic to get a magnet west over placating a bunch of insufferable constituents who believe they are owed anything.

Of course people would vote that way because they would potentially benefit from a magnet school, whereas if they aren't in the area of KAA they wouldn't benefit from it. People are obviously going to vote in their self interest.

Honestly, most people are not interested in a magnet--except, maybe DCUM.

People in the western part of the county for sure are interested. Imagine not having to schlep to Alexandria every day because your kid’s a genius.

No. They are tired of their neighborhoods being split off.

Some people are thinking more long term. I agree neighborhoods should stick together but that doesn't mean entire zip codes.

With the neighborhoods close to KAA, it is the neighborhoods.

I don’t disagree that neighborhoods near KAA want to go to that school, but the people pretending like there isn’t broad support for a TJ-type school in that part of Fairfax are just self-interested and aren’t being serious.

DP. I doubt there's "broad" public support for another magnet and in any event the School Board has enough on its hands with TJ. You can keep complaining about TJ's location relative to western Fairfax, but overall the school facilities in western Fairfax are nicer than in eastern Fairfax. Not to mention that the "western HS" has always been envisioned primarily as a neighborhood high school that would create more stability in the Floris/Oak Hill area, which has been redistricted multiple times over the past 25 years.

Well said.

I don’t dislike the idea of TJ West, but come on, let’s just have a regular high school.

Maybe Centreville HS doesn’t need to expand its capacity to 3,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

Oh my god, stop pushing this stupid magnet school agenda. Not going to happen sweetheart.

DP. Don’t mind the magnet-hater, she’s been very hostile trying to push her agenda these past couple days. She’s just mad that Frisch and Dunne are considering magnet.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think people complaining about FCPS spending $150M for something that’s been in the plans for 20 years is bad, wait to see how they react to spending $150M for something (Aviation Acadeny, TJ West, etc) that’s been in no plans.

Well, just to play devils advocate here, people appear to be upset about the secrecy and lack of disclosure, not necessarily about the school; and just because you spent 20 years assuming that the western school would benefit your area doesn’t mean that the school board is beholden to you.

No one is upset about nonexistent "secrecy"'except one poster on here, you.

Not just on here, aren’t you up in arms about some next door posts? Weird that you just conveniently forget your talking points when it suits your argument.

The only person desperately parroting talking points is you.

The rest of us are discussing this great new school!

So you really think that the budget should revolve around you? It’d be interesting to take a poll of Fairfax county to see how many people would support a magnet over a school devoted to fixing pretend capacity issues in your area. (Though I’ll concede that your split feeder situation does suck, but will remind you that you bought your house knowing the situation).

I think you’d probably get 80% support a new magnet with available options for their kids to go to it if they are smart enough.

It’s the reason it’s actually being discussed by the board, rather than just anonymous internet buffoons on an anonymous forum pretending like they deserve a school just because there was a placeholder in the CIP.

I think you two are pushing back so vociferously because you know I’m right. The community would be ecstatic to get a magnet west over placating a bunch of insufferable constituents who believe they are owed anything.

Of course people would vote that way because they would potentially benefit from a magnet school, whereas if they aren't in the area of KAA they wouldn't benefit from it. People are obviously going to vote in their self interest.

Honestly, most people are not interested in a magnet--except, maybe DCUM.

People in the western part of the county for sure are interested. Imagine not having to schlep to Alexandria every day because your kid’s a genius.

No. They are tired of their neighborhoods being split off.

Some people are thinking more long term. I agree neighborhoods should stick together but that doesn't mean entire zip codes.

With the neighborhoods close to KAA, it is the neighborhoods.

I don’t disagree that neighborhoods near KAA want to go to that school, but the people pretending like there isn’t broad support for a TJ-type school in that part of Fairfax are just self-interested and aren’t being serious.

DP. I doubt there's "broad" public support for another magnet and in any event the School Board has enough on its hands with TJ. You can keep complaining about TJ's location relative to western Fairfax, but overall the school facilities in western Fairfax are nicer than in eastern Fairfax. Not to mention that the "western HS" has always been envisioned primarily as a neighborhood high school that would create more stability in the Floris/Oak Hill area, which has been redistricted multiple times over the past 25 years.

Well said.

I don’t dislike the idea of TJ West, but come on, let’s just have a regular high school.

Maybe Centreville HS doesn’t need to expand its capacity to 3,000.

Gotta love the Carson families throwing centreville families under the bus. Kumbaya everyone.

[Anonymous]

reid said KAA site isn’t being considered in the boundaries. but that is should open by 2026. how?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slides/agenda for last night's boundary review committee meeting were posted, and they appear to have completely glossed over the KAA acquisition.

https://www.fcps.edu/june-23-2025-superintendents-boundary-review-advisory-committee-meeting

Maybe they are waiting for the sale to close before taking action, though it could be an indicator they plan to make it some sort of magnet school.

When did they pass a bond to fund a magnet school?

In 2021 the school bond has $13.5 mil estimate for site acquisition of a future western high school. So I think it was that year.

Doesn't say anything about a magnet.

I don't think our School Board would do anything but use the school to solve the problems of constant boundary adjustments in this area. That is the right thing to do.

I agree that is that the right thing to do, but they seem to be moving forward with the current boundary study as is. I realize it's FCPS, but I can't imagine they are stupid enough to keep the proposed changes intact and then go through the whole thing again in another year or two or three when the new school opens. So that indicates to me, maybe they plan to do something else with it. Or maybe they are waiting for the sale to close.

[Anonymous]

Gotta love the Carson families throwing centreville families under the bus. Kumbaya everyone.

You sound ridiculous. Is every school building a handout? Maybe they should shut a few more down and sell them so taxpayers pay less. Just shove everyone into a few giant schools as tightly packed as possible, regardless of commutes and communities.

Maybe I’m stirring the pot, but many here are thinking outside the box, so here’s my crazy idea. Since so many people seem to hate IB, why not make South Lakes into TJ Northwest and KAA a regular neighborhood high school. Don’t a lot of Langley and Mclean kids get into TJ, but decide to stay in their district because TJ is so far? SL would be a good option. Current SL Lakes kids could go to KAA and Herndon. Maybe even some can backfill at Langley. Hey, they could even do some kind of aviation academy too with all the smart kids.

Someone(s) really does not want this school to solve a problem that needs solving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think people complaining about FCPS spending $150M for something that’s been in the plans for 20 years is bad, wait to see how they react to spending $150M for something (Aviation Acadeny, TJ West, etc) that’s been in no plans.

Well, just to play devils advocate here, people appear to be upset about the secrecy and lack of disclosure, not necessarily about the school; and just because you spent 20 years assuming that the western school would benefit your area doesn’t mean that the school board is beholden to you.

No one is upset about nonexistent "secrecy"'except one poster on here, you.

Not just on here, aren’t you up in arms about some next door posts? Weird that you just conveniently forget your talking points when it suits your argument.

The only person desperately parroting talking points is you.

The rest of us are discussing this great new school!

So you really think that the budget should revolve around you? It’d be interesting to take a poll of Fairfax county to see how many people would support a magnet over a school devoted to fixing pretend capacity issues in your area. (Though I’ll concede that your split feeder situation does suck, but will remind you that you bought your house knowing the situation).

I think you’d probably get 80% support a new magnet with available options for their kids to go to it if they are smart enough.

It’s the reason it’s actually being discussed by the board, rather than just anonymous internet buffoons on an anonymous forum pretending like they deserve a school just because there was a placeholder in the CIP.

I think you two are pushing back so vociferously because you know I’m right. The community would be ecstatic to get a magnet west over placating a bunch of insufferable constituents who believe they are owed anything.

Of course people would vote that way because they would potentially benefit from a magnet school, whereas if they aren't in the area of KAA they wouldn't benefit from it. People are obviously going to vote in their self interest.

Honestly, most people are not interested in a magnet--except, maybe DCUM.

People in the western part of the county for sure are interested. Imagine not having to schlep to Alexandria every day because your kid’s a genius.

No. They are tired of their neighborhoods being split off.

Some people are thinking more long term. I agree neighborhoods should stick together but that doesn't mean entire zip codes.

With the neighborhoods close to KAA, it is the neighborhoods.

I don’t disagree that neighborhoods near KAA want to go to that school, but the people pretending like there isn’t broad support for a TJ-type school in that part of Fairfax are just self-interested and aren’t being serious.

DP. I doubt there's "broad" public support for another magnet and in any event the School Board has enough on its hands with TJ. You can keep complaining about TJ's location relative to western Fairfax, but overall the school facilities in western Fairfax are nicer than in eastern Fairfax. Not to mention that the "western HS" has always been envisioned primarily as a neighborhood high school that would create more stability in the Floris/Oak Hill area, which has been redistricted multiple times over the past 25 years.

Well said.

I don’t dislike the idea of TJ West, but come on, let’s just have a regular high school.

Maybe Centreville HS doesn’t need to expand its capacity to 3,000.

Gotta love the Carson families throwing centreville families under the bus. Kumbaya everyone.

You're just trying to stir up crap. It wasn't that long ago that quite a few Centreville posters were saying they didn't want Centreville to turn into a "mega-school" with 3000 seats.

When some of the uncertainty came up around future boundaries, some started arguing for a huge expansion to ensure that Willow Springs could move from Fairfax to Centreville.

With the new HS located in the Westfield district, and bound to draw heavily from Westfield, it's clear that part of Centreville will move to Westfield, and that the Centreville expansion could be scaled back yet still accommodate Willow Springs.

It would be absurd to promise Floris/Oak Hill its own HS for decades and then turn KAA into a magnet. It would also be absurd to open a new neighborhood HS at the KAA site and then go ahead and expand Centreville to 3000. We don't always have to do absurd. Expanding Centreville to 2500 rather than 3000 would be entirely appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:reid said KAA site isn’t being considered in the boundaries. but that is should open by 2026. how?!?

Yeah I cant understand this. So we will go through all of this and then have another boundary exercise 6 months later?