Western High School Boundary Map options (A/B/C/D)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crossfield/Carson moms freaking out about a meeting apparently being held with 8th graders about the new high school. Are their kids so fragile that they can’t hear about the possibility of there being a new school that some kids might choose to attend? Afraid their kids will actually want to go there? I’m baffled by the freakout. 8th graders from all over the country make choices along with their parents about where to attend high school in areas with they have school choice or if they attend a private/Catholic school. They are old enough to weigh pros and cons and talk with parents about their choices. Why are we acting like kids can’t handle anything that might be stressful for them? If this is their biggest concern I’d say life is pretty cushy.

What is really funny is the the RootedinOakton website claims that sending them to KAA will separate them from their peers? Aren't their peers at Carson? What other Oakton kids go to Crossfield?

Is this being orchestrated by the Crossfield AAP parents at Navy? Makes no sense at all.

Crossfield moms were at Meren’s community meeting. They said Crossfield kids should go to Franklin.

Of course they did. They are cherry picking who their children’s peers are and saying, their peers are Navy and Waples Mill kids, not kids they have been at middle school with. Crossfield AAP parents at Navy may be part of the opposition to KAA but they’re not the ones leading the rooted in Oakton stuff.

It’s about sports and wanting to be around a certain demographic while avoiding another. It’s one thing to say you love Oakton and want to be a part of it, it’s another to say that other kids living in your own zip code are not your child’s peers. I think that’s a really gross thing to say, especially to people who live right across the parkway from you in your own neighborhood.

If crossfield went to Franklin but your child is in AAP then they'd still have to go to Carson right? Talk about isolating kids. Crossfield AAP kids would only have each other going into Oakton. Is that correct?

No, that is not correct. Franklin has an excellent AAP program already, and FCPS is also eliminating middle school AAP centers, so for two reasons, no Franklin-assigned student has to go to Carson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You sound confused, sweetie. This school WILL have sports. It just won't have them the first year. Stop making up this false narrative that this school won't have sports. It just won't have varsity sports the first year, maybe the first two years. But it WILL have sports.

1) Nothing worse than this condescending douche calling everyone "sweetie."

2) I'd love to see how they plan to add an athletic complex like other high schools. They don't have enough land to build it IMO

Whatever, sweetie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crossfield/Carson moms freaking out about a meeting apparently being held with 8th graders about the new high school. Are their kids so fragile that they can’t hear about the possibility of there being a new school that some kids might choose to attend? Afraid their kids will actually want to go there? I’m baffled by the freakout. 8th graders from all over the country make choices along with their parents about where to attend high school in areas with they have school choice or if they attend a private/Catholic school. They are old enough to weigh pros and cons and talk with parents about their choices. Why are we acting like kids can’t handle anything that might be stressful for them? If this is their biggest concern I’d say life is pretty cushy.

What is really funny is the the RootedinOakton website claims that sending them to KAA will separate them from their peers? Aren't their peers at Carson? What other Oakton kids go to Crossfield?

Is this being orchestrated by the Crossfield AAP parents at Navy? Makes no sense at all.

Crossfield moms were at Meren’s community meeting. They said Crossfield kids should go to Franklin.

Of course they did. They are cherry picking who their children’s peers are and saying, their peers are Navy and Waples Mill kids, not kids they have been at middle school with. Crossfield AAP parents at Navy may be part of the opposition to KAA but they’re not the ones leading the rooted in Oakton stuff.

It’s about sports and wanting to be around a certain demographic while avoiding another. It’s one thing to say you love Oakton and want to be a part of it, it’s another to say that other kids living in your own zip code are not your child’s peers. I think that’s a really gross thing to say, especially to people who live right across the parkway from you in your own neighborhood.

If crossfield went to Franklin but your child is in AAP then they'd still have to go to Carson right? Talk about isolating kids. Crossfield AAP kids would only have each other going into Oakton. Is that correct?

No, that is not correct. Franklin has an excellent AAP program already, and FCPS is also eliminating middle school AAP centers, so for two reasons, no Franklin-assigned student has to go to Carson.

The AAP mom that is running Rooted in Oakton and advocating for moving Crossfield to Franklin intends to keep her AAP child at Carson next year. Kids talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit, having seen the video (thank you to the poster!) I am very impressed and my son will likely be attending. I am a little concerned about the lack of conversation around AP courses but once they confirm that, for my kid - a STEM kid - its a good fit. I also work as a c-level technology executive in the defense industry and the demand for machine learning, drone, hard and soft robotics and AI is off the charts. I understand their is uncertainty around the classical high school experience (sports etc) but it's not that big of a deal for us. I can see this won't get full steam for a couple years but it will be exciting if this actually comes to be- possibly a national model.

Some U.S. school districts are in fact taking a hard look at the European model of secondary education. Schools there are more focused on developing future skills for work or university, and students choose an educational track. Sports and extracurriculars are sponsored by the local jurisdiction and not the schools themselves. There are also publicly funded sports academies throughout Europe for more athletically-inclined students. While we can only speculate, the future Western HS might be some version of the European model. FCPS is clearly interested in exploring novel educational trends based on proven models.

Yes. Let's give them all a test when they are ten years old that determines their future. Great idea!
We are not Europe. This is not a good idea.

They don't take a test at 10 years old, they take A-levels at 18 and that score alone essentially determines what colleges they get into. Unfortunately Europe has no economy once they get out but this approach to college admissions makes complete and total sense. It's not a beauty pagent, it's an academic progression. Kids in Europe reportedly have better mental health than their US counterparts, and maybe not trying to be Elon Musk in high school or joining 60 activities to look well rounded is easier on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know kids who are opting in. I know that many people in this thread don't want to believe it but we are opting in. The loudest voices are the ones not wanting to move, but there are others who have been saying that they are excited to move. I am not sure how many more times we have to say the same thing.

Not everyone is sold on the idea that the community at a specific HS is so amazing that they have to go there.

Not everyone thinks that the old schools will have better teachers or classes.

Not everyone thinks that you have to have a football team or varsity sports to make a school a good school.

There are those of us who know that freshman and sophomores are not likely to make the varsity or take on lead roles in plays so the lack of varsity sports or a established theatre program is less of an issue. Heck, there are opportunities that come with the new school.

There are those of us who know that new schools open and kids form clubs and teams and bands and it works out just fine.

And there will be parents who will not be all that aware of anything happening and their kids will go to the school indifferent, but they would have been indifferent at their old school.

Choose to go to your current school, that is fine. I get it. But we are making a different choice and are excited for the opportunity. And we know others doing the same. The class might be smaller than normal but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Well said. We are opting in because it has the potential to be great. We have already done the traditional high school things with our older kids and guess what- they didn't want to do them, aside from 1 club and a sport. They didnt even go to the football games (except when they were on the team!). So I think our kids are very wow'ed by traditional high schools and our next child will be a frontiersman and see how he can shape a new school focused on cutting edge technology. But the beauty is, it seems like no one is going to be forced to go ever - and they restricted admission to this secret magnet to the Western area schools that are most in need of relief. So everyone saying this sounds horrible can relax, they are going to fill this school very quickly and it will all be opt in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Good grief. They already have several soccer fields. How many fields do you need? Carson has a baseball field. They do need a stadium. But, that can wait and they can use one from other schools for a while.
There are also park fields nearby.

Do you have any idea how little space Chantilly has?

The issue is, there's not nearly enough parking. So they'll need to figure that out and if you look at google maps you'll see the only place to add parking is where the soccer field is, so they'll need to tear that up. Unlike Chantilly they are surrounded by residential housing. There's a little wooded area, not sure if it's protected. How much do they need? Baseball (regulation size), softball, tennis courts, track and field, soccer, football stadium, and most schools have an extra auxiliary field or LAX field. I realize in the short term they can go somewhere else but long term I don't see that all fitting

There a wooded area between WSH and Carson, looks like at least two soccer field sized. I would think it is public land that can be used for something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it turns out to be a traditional neighborhood high school with all the traditions and sports like football, dance team, homecoming, musical production, etc., but with a unique program focus in AI, Aviation, Aerospace, Robotocs, and STEM, I think most people would be happy. The specialized program would only be open to students in the school's attendance zone, and a limited number of transfers who provide their own transportation. We already have AP focused schools, IB oriented schools, so now we'll have an aviation/aerospace/ai/robotics/stem focused school.

The superintendent will get her unique program to boost her CV, and the neighborhood will get their long awaited western high school.

So much for equitable programming, I guess.

There is no equitable programing, plenty of schools have specialty programs. . The equity is supposed to come from kids being allowed to pupil place to gain access. Is there a reason your upset this school might have a specialty program? Heck, they are inviting people to opt-in to the school, equity.

No problem with that as long as they set up a real traditional high school with boundaries. The delay in setting boundaries--particularly in light of the Comprehensive Boundary Study--makes me wonder if this is a deceptive way of making the school a magnet instead. It would appear that would be "easier" for Reid and seems to be her preference.

Unfortunately, the area needs a real school--not a "model."

Why does the area need a real school and not a magnet if the magnet is restricted to the overcrowded schools? Those preferring a real school can go to one (their zoned school) and those preferring a magnet can go to one. The school footprint screamed for magnet anyway as do our general demographics. There are a ton of STEM kids in this area - having TJ so far away makes it inaccessible to many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it turns out to be a traditional neighborhood high school with all the traditions and sports like football, dance team, homecoming, musical production, etc., but with a unique program focus in AI, Aviation, Aerospace, Robotocs, and STEM, I think most people would be happy. The specialized program would only be open to students in the school's attendance zone, and a limited number of transfers who provide their own transportation. We already have AP focused schools, IB oriented schools, so now we'll have an aviation/aerospace/ai/robotics/stem focused school.

The superintendent will get her unique program to boost her CV, and the neighborhood will get their long awaited western high school.

So much for equitable programming, I guess.

There is no equitable programing, plenty of schools have specialty programs. . The equity is supposed to come from kids being allowed to pupil place to gain access. Is there a reason your upset this school might have a specialty program? Heck, they are inviting people to opt-in to the school, equity.

No problem with that as long as they set up a real traditional high school with boundaries. The delay in setting boundaries--particularly in light of the Comprehensive Boundary Study--makes me wonder if this is a deceptive way of making the school a magnet instead. It would appear that would be "easier" for Reid and seems to be her preference.

Unfortunately, the area needs a real school--not a "model."

Why does the area need a real school and not a magnet if the magnet is restricted to the overcrowded schools? Those preferring a real school can go to one (their zoned school) and those preferring a magnet can go to one. The school footprint screamed for magnet anyway as do our general demographics. There are a ton of STEM kids in this area - having TJ so far away makes it inaccessible to many.

Give it a rest. The magnet is not happening. The school board voted. It is going to be a real community school with defined boundaries, not a split-feeding magnet that separates kids from their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is no one else concerned with the push to adopt a flight school with this guy on the school board.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/1jtn7n5/updatefairfax_county_school_board_member_kyle/

I wonder how much he'll profit by selling his program to fcps.

Loser face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it turns out to be a traditional neighborhood high school with all the traditions and sports like football, dance team, homecoming, musical production, etc., but with a unique program focus in AI, Aviation, Aerospace, Robotocs, and STEM, I think most people would be happy. The specialized program would only be open to students in the school's attendance zone, and a limited number of transfers who provide their own transportation. We already have AP focused schools, IB oriented schools, so now we'll have an aviation/aerospace/ai/robotics/stem focused school.

The superintendent will get her unique program to boost her CV, and the neighborhood will get their long awaited western high school.

So much for equitable programming, I guess.

There is no equitable programing, plenty of schools have specialty programs. . The equity is supposed to come from kids being allowed to pupil place to gain access. Is there a reason your upset this school might have a specialty program? Heck, they are inviting people to opt-in to the school, equity.

No problem with that as long as they set up a real traditional high school with boundaries. The delay in setting boundaries--particularly in light of the Comprehensive Boundary Study--makes me wonder if this is a deceptive way of making the school a magnet instead. It would appear that would be "easier" for Reid and seems to be her preference.

Unfortunately, the area needs a real school--not a "model."

Why does the area need a real school and not a magnet if the magnet is restricted to the overcrowded schools? Those preferring a real school can go to one (their zoned school) and those preferring a magnet can go to one. The school footprint screamed for magnet anyway as do our general demographics. There are a ton of STEM kids in this area - having TJ so far away makes it inaccessible to many.

It won't be a TJ 2. From what we know, it's setting up to be more like the Chantilly and Edison vocational technology academies where they offer a variety of applied elective courses. Practically none of these types of courses are accepted by 4-year universities for meaningful Gen Ed. credit like AP/IB is. The option for new aviation and AI courses is still a plus I suppose, but parents have shown time and again they prefer AP credit above all else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids who are opting in. I know that many people in this thread don't want to believe it but we are opting in. The loudest voices are the ones not wanting to move, but there are others who have been saying that they are excited to move. I am not sure how many more times we have to say the same thing.

Not everyone is sold on the idea that the community at a specific HS is so amazing that they have to go there.

Not everyone thinks that the old schools will have better teachers or classes.

Not everyone thinks that you have to have a football team or varsity sports to make a school a good school.

There are those of us who know that freshman and sophomores are not likely to make the varsity or take on lead roles in plays so the lack of varsity sports or a established theatre program is less of an issue. Heck, there are opportunities that come with the new school.

There are those of us who know that new schools open and kids form clubs and teams and bands and it works out just fine.

And there will be parents who will not be all that aware of anything happening and their kids will go to the school indifferent, but they would have been indifferent at their old school.

Choose to go to your current school, that is fine. I get it. But we are making a different choice and are excited for the opportunity. And we know others doing the same. The class might be smaller than normal but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Well said. We are opting in because it has the potential to be great. We have already done the traditional high school things with our older kids and guess what- they didn't want to do them, aside from 1 club and a sport. They didnt even go to the football games (except when they were on the team!). So I think our kids are very wow'ed by traditional high schools and our next child will be a frontiersman and see how he can shape a new school focused on cutting edge technology. But the beauty is, it seems like no one is going to be forced to go ever - and they restricted admission to this secret magnet to the Western area schools that are most in need of relief. So everyone saying this sounds horrible can relax, they are going to fill this school very quickly and it will all be opt in.

I like to gamble too! It’s fun and exciting!

Hope it works out for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it turns out to be a traditional neighborhood high school with all the traditions and sports like football, dance team, homecoming, musical production, etc., but with a unique program focus in AI, Aviation, Aerospace, Robotocs, and STEM, I think most people would be happy. The specialized program would only be open to students in the school's attendance zone, and a limited number of transfers who provide their own transportation. We already have AP focused schools, IB oriented schools, so now we'll have an aviation/aerospace/ai/robotics/stem focused school.

The superintendent will get her unique program to boost her CV, and the neighborhood will get their long awaited western high school.

So much for equitable programming, I guess.

There is no equitable programing, plenty of schools have specialty programs. . The equity is supposed to come from kids being allowed to pupil place to gain access. Is there a reason your upset this school might have a specialty program? Heck, they are inviting people to opt-in to the school, equity.

No problem with that as long as they set up a real traditional high school with boundaries. The delay in setting boundaries--particularly in light of the Comprehensive Boundary Study--makes me wonder if this is a deceptive way of making the school a magnet instead. It would appear that would be "easier" for Reid and seems to be her preference.

Unfortunately, the area needs a real school--not a "model."

Why does the area need a real school and not a magnet if the magnet is restricted to the overcrowded schools? Those preferring a real school can go to one (their zoned school) and those preferring a magnet can go to one. The school footprint screamed for magnet anyway as do our general demographics. There are a ton of STEM kids in this area - having TJ so far away makes it inaccessible to many.

Sadly. I bet if they could; they would convert TJ to a regular school too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it turns out to be a traditional neighborhood high school with all the traditions and sports like football, dance team, homecoming, musical production, etc., but with a unique program focus in AI, Aviation, Aerospace, Robotocs, and STEM, I think most people would be happy. The specialized program would only be open to students in the school's attendance zone, and a limited number of transfers who provide their own transportation. We already have AP focused schools, IB oriented schools, so now we'll have an aviation/aerospace/ai/robotics/stem focused school.

The superintendent will get her unique program to boost her CV, and the neighborhood will get their long awaited western high school.

So much for equitable programming, I guess.

There is no equitable programing, plenty of schools have specialty programs. . The equity is supposed to come from kids being allowed to pupil place to gain access. Is there a reason your upset this school might have a specialty program? Heck, they are inviting people to opt-in to the school, equity.

No problem with that as long as they set up a real traditional high school with boundaries. The delay in setting boundaries--particularly in light of the Comprehensive Boundary Study--makes me wonder if this is a deceptive way of making the school a magnet instead. It would appear that would be "easier" for Reid and seems to be her preference.

Unfortunately, the area needs a real school--not a "model."

Why does the area need a real school and not a magnet if the magnet is restricted to the overcrowded schools? Those preferring a real school can go to one (their zoned school) and those preferring a magnet can go to one. The school footprint screamed for magnet anyway as do our general demographics. There are a ton of STEM kids in this area - having TJ so far away makes it inaccessible to many.

It won't be a TJ 2. From what we know, it's setting up to be more like the Chantilly and Edison vocational technology academies where they offer a variety of applied elective courses. Practically none of these types of courses are accepted by 4-year universities for meaningful Gen Ed. credit like AP/IB is. The option for new aviation and AI courses is still a plus I suppose, but parents have shown time and again they prefer AP credit above all else.

You don't think it will have AP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids who are opting in. I know that many people in this thread don't want to believe it but we are opting in. The loudest voices are the ones not wanting to move, but there are others who have been saying that they are excited to move. I am not sure how many more times we have to say the same thing.

Not everyone is sold on the idea that the community at a specific HS is so amazing that they have to go there.

Not everyone thinks that the old schools will have better teachers or classes.

Not everyone thinks that you have to have a football team or varsity sports to make a school a good school.

There are those of us who know that freshman and sophomores are not likely to make the varsity or take on lead roles in plays so the lack of varsity sports or a established theatre program is less of an issue. Heck, there are opportunities that come with the new school.

There are those of us who know that new schools open and kids form clubs and teams and bands and it works out just fine.

And there will be parents who will not be all that aware of anything happening and their kids will go to the school indifferent, but they would have been indifferent at their old school.

Choose to go to your current school, that is fine. I get it. But we are making a different choice and are excited for the opportunity. And we know others doing the same. The class might be smaller than normal but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Well said. We are opting in because it has the potential to be great. We have already done the traditional high school things with our older kids and guess what- they didn't want to do them, aside from 1 club and a sport. They didnt even go to the football games (except when they were on the team!). So I think our kids are very wow'ed by traditional high schools and our next child will be a frontiersman and see how he can shape a new school focused on cutting edge technology. But the beauty is, it seems like no one is going to be forced to go ever - and they restricted admission to this secret magnet to the Western area schools that are most in need of relief. So everyone saying this sounds horrible can relax, they are going to fill this school very quickly and it will all be opt in.

I like to gamble too! It’s fun and exciting!

Hope it works out for your kid.

We have 2 kids at or now graduated from top 10 universities and 1 at a top 15 university so I think we understand the risks and opportunities for our 4th, but thank you for your well wishes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it turns out to be a traditional neighborhood high school with all the traditions and sports like football, dance team, homecoming, musical production, etc., but with a unique program focus in AI, Aviation, Aerospace, Robotocs, and STEM, I think most people would be happy. The specialized program would only be open to students in the school's attendance zone, and a limited number of transfers who provide their own transportation. We already have AP focused schools, IB oriented schools, so now we'll have an aviation/aerospace/ai/robotics/stem focused school.

The superintendent will get her unique program to boost her CV, and the neighborhood will get their long awaited western high school.

So much for equitable programming, I guess.

There is no equitable programing, plenty of schools have specialty programs. . The equity is supposed to come from kids being allowed to pupil place to gain access. Is there a reason your upset this school might have a specialty program? Heck, they are inviting people to opt-in to the school, equity.

No problem with that as long as they set up a real traditional high school with boundaries. The delay in setting boundaries--particularly in light of the Comprehensive Boundary Study--makes me wonder if this is a deceptive way of making the school a magnet instead. It would appear that would be "easier" for Reid and seems to be her preference.

Unfortunately, the area needs a real school--not a "model."

Why does the area need a real school and not a magnet if the magnet is restricted to the overcrowded schools? Those preferring a real school can go to one (their zoned school) and those preferring a magnet can go to one. The school footprint screamed for magnet anyway as do our general demographics. There are a ton of STEM kids in this area - having TJ so far away makes it inaccessible to many.

It won't be a TJ 2. From what we know, it's setting up to be more like the Chantilly and Edison vocational technology academies where they offer a variety of applied elective courses. Practically none of these types of courses are accepted by 4-year universities for meaningful Gen Ed. credit like AP/IB is. The option for new aviation and AI courses is still a plus I suppose, but parents have shown time and again they prefer AP credit above all else.

You don't think it will have AP?

Chantilly has AP. They just have the tech academies that are geared toward a career path. The AI/Aeronautics/drone classes will be electives. Kids will take AP or honors or gen ed math that will compliment the academy electives. Think Robotics instead of engineering or AI instead of coding, something like that. I am speculating on the electives but guessing what they might be based on the programs they are discussing.