Which public school do you go to?

[Anonymous]

The one that is in closest proximity to your home or one you would prefer to go to that is 2 miles away? Is it your choice or is it mandatory that you go to the closest geographically?

[Anonymous]

Which school district?

In FCPS, there are a few options, but at the elementary level, generally it is to get into a particular program: language immersion, GT center, the Baileys and Hunters Woods magnets, etc. There are a couple ways to "opt" into other schools, mainly through a child care hardship.

[Anonymous]

In Fairfax County you go to the school that is assigned to you - it is not necessarily the one that is closest to you, geographically, however. We have three elementary schools that are closer to us distance-wise (each less than 1 mile) than the one my children are assigned to (slightly over 1 mile). Because we are more than 1 mile from our school, they get a school bus. Talk about inefficiency. We don't have a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Fairfax County you go to the school that is assigned to you - it is not necessarily the one that is closest to you, geographically, however. We have three elementary schools that are closer to us distance-wise (each less than 1 mile) than the one my children are assigned to (slightly over 1 mile). Because we are more than 1 mile from our school, they get a school bus. Talk about inefficiency. We don't have a choice.

It's largely a function of what sites were available when the county needed to build new schools, and how enrollment patterns have subsequently evolved. It may seem inefficient, but most of us wouldn't be too thrilled if the county could condemn our homes in order to build a new school.

[Anonymous]

I am in fairfax county. Is there anywhere you can call to get info on this? I am not sure what school we are slated to go = where do you find that info?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in fairfax county. Is there anywhere you can call to get info on this? I am not sure what school we are slated to go = where do you find that info?

Use the Boundary Locator:

http://boundary.fcps.edu/boundary/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Fairfax County you go to the school that is assigned to you - it is not necessarily the one that is closest to you, geographically, however. We have three elementary schools that are closer to us distance-wise (each less than 1 mile) than the one my children are assigned to (slightly over 1 mile). Because we are more than 1 mile from our school, they get a school bus. Talk about inefficiency. We don't have a choice.

It's largely a function of what sites were available when the county needed to build new schools, and how enrollment patterns have subsequently evolved. It may seem inefficient, but most of us wouldn't be too thrilled if the county could condemn our homes in order to build a new school.

Not entirely true. When the redistricting of several of the high schools took place a couple years ago (Oakton, South Lakes, Chantilly, etc), half the school board admitted there were inefficiencies and flat out flaws in the plan - say, redistricting students who live two miles from Chantilly to more than eight miles w/ traffic to Oakton - and agreed the overall distribution of who goes where needed a major overhaul. Of course, no one is willing to take that project on though. Also, don't think there aren't politics involved with these decisions by the school board and who's deal making with who to ensure their disctrict is "safe" from such "inefficiencies".

[Anonymous]

Also --

For Loudoun:
https://webinter.loudoun.k12.va.us/Lcps_Locate/SelectSystem.aspx

For Prince William:
http://findyourschool.pwcs.edu/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not entirely true. When the redistricting of several of the high schools took place a couple years ago (Oakton, South Lakes, Chantilly, etc), half the school board admitted there were inefficiencies and flat out flaws in the plan - say, redistricting students who live two miles from Chantilly to more than eight miles w/ traffic to Oakton - and agreed the overall distribution of who goes where needed a major overhaul. Of course, no one is willing to take that project on though. Also, don't think there aren't politics involved with these decisions by the school board and who's deal making with who to ensure their disctrict is "safe" from such "inefficiencies".

I do recall that there was talk a few years ago that, when some Oakton students were shifted to South Lakes, one School Board member advocated strongly to move students from Chantilly to Oakton to make up the difference. There was apparently a concern that Oakton athletic teams might not be able to compete with Chantilly or Westfield without the additional students.

Even so, it's still the case that a lot of the population growth in recent years has been in the western part of the county, where there are fewer schools, and that there's a cluster of high schools (Madison, Oakton, Fairfax and Woodson) in the center of the county that are close to one another. Ever since it was built, Oakton has primarily served students who lived substantially to the west of the school's location.