Paul VI High School is moving from Fairfax City to Loudoun County

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:very analogous to what happened to Good Counsel. School is flourishing in new, larger place, albeit further out (Olney vs Silver Spring)

All I hear about Good Counsel is how they pay for international students to come here just to play sports. No one I know there is religious. I guess it's all about money. No real reason to move out there for the religious community. Good to know sports is the driving factor. Won't waste my time thinking about whether my child would get a better religious education there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is going to happen to the current school?

Could they not keep it as a smaller high school and build a new school in Loudoun with a new identity, etc?

That is great they are addressing the need in Loudoun but what about central Fairfax? Will students really ride a bus out to South Riding? Or will they go to O'Connell?

From FFX, it's a straight shot against traffic from Fairfax to South Riding on Rte 50. Ditto folks coming from the Reston, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:very analogous to what happened to Good Counsel. School is flourishing in new, larger place, albeit further out (Olney vs Silver Spring)

All I hear about Good Counsel is how they pay for international students to come here just to play sports. No one I know there is religious. I guess it's all about money. No real reason to move out there for the religious community. Good to know sports is the driving factor. Won't waste my time thinking about whether my child would get a better religious education there.

I hear it has been a good opportunity for Frederick county and Howard County residents have a Catholic School Option other than Baltimore schools.

I don't think people need to "move there" people already live there, and they need a Catholic school option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's three fold:

1. The Diocese seeds a need for a Catholic school in Loudoun;

2. PVI has outgrown its current footprint (especially in terms of athletics); and

3. Moving PVI out west is expected to help enrollment at O'Connell.

This is quite typical across the country. The Catholic schools, especially Catholic high schools, moving out further in the suburbs. There's a need and less competition. The model seems to be working well in other cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:very analogous to what happened to Good Counsel. School is flourishing in new, larger place, albeit further out (Olney vs Silver Spring)

All I hear about Good Counsel is how they pay for international students to come here just to play sports. No one I know there is religious. I guess it's all about money. No real reason to move out there for the religious community. Good to know sports is the driving factor. Won't waste my time thinking about whether my child would get a better religious education there.

I hear it has been a good opportunity for Frederick county and Howard County residents have a Catholic School Option other than Baltimore schools.

I don't think people need to "move there" people already live there, and they need a Catholic school option.

Good Counsel did not move far away from its previous location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:very analogous to what happened to Good Counsel. School is flourishing in new, larger place, albeit further out (Olney vs Silver Spring)

All I hear about Good Counsel is how they pay for international students to come here just to play sports. No one I know there is religious. I guess it's all about money. No real reason to move out there for the religious community. Good to know sports is the driving factor. Won't waste my time thinking about whether my child would get a better religious education there.

I hear it has been a good opportunity for Frederick county and Howard County residents have a Catholic School Option other than Baltimore schools.

I don't think people need to "move there" people already live there, and they need a Catholic school option.

Good Counsel did not move far away from its previous location.

It's about a 20 minute drive, more in traffic.

It is still drawing more Frederick county and Howard county residents. It much easier to get to GC from columbia/Clarksville with it located on 108 than on 97. Also, it is a nicer school, the other location was less than ideal since it was closed in by streets and houses.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps a straight shot, but it is still a 12 mile bus ride for central Fairfax students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is going to happen to the current school?

Could they not keep it as a smaller high school and build a new school in Loudoun with a new identity, etc?

That is great they are addressing the need in Loudoun but what about central Fairfax? Will students really ride a bus out to South Riding? Or will they go to O'Connell?

From FFX, it's a straight shot against traffic from Fairfax to South Riding on Rte 50. Ditto folks coming from the Reston, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a straight shot, but it is still a 12 mile bus ride for central Fairfax students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is going to happen to the current school?

Could they not keep it as a smaller high school and build a new school in Loudoun with a new identity, etc?

That is great they are addressing the need in Loudoun but what about central Fairfax? Will students really ride a bus out to South Riding? Or will they go to O'Connell?

From FFX, it's a straight shot against traffic from Fairfax to South Riding on Rte 50. Ditto folks coming from the Reston, etc.

Langley High School is about 12 miles from my house. That's their slated public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the diocese own the Fairfax City building or do they rent it?

It's owned by the City so there were limitations already set in place in terms of wanting to upgrade it and/or expand.

The 2nd problem is that it's considered a historical building so something as "minor" as outdoor lighting or putting up the PVI marquee required all sorts of approvals, paper work, and red tape.

The school is outgrowing its britches and since expansion or remodeling are not options the only choice is to move outwards. Inconvenience to many who reside close by especially wit St. Leos riight down the road. Ireton, o Connell and Jon Paul are too far.

[Anonymous]

The building and land are owned by the Arlington Archdiocese, not the City of Fairfax.
According to the diocese FAQa, "The diocese is in the final stages of negotiations with a developer who will formulate plans for the property in cooperation with Fairfax City planning officials."