FCPS HS Boundary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gambrill to Lewis is not a long commute. Gambrill to WSHS is very similar. They are both still shorter than many kids in FCPS.

Gambrill to SCHS is about 3 miles, whereas to Lewis, it is about 6 miles. SCHS is currently under capacity by a similar percentage as Lewis.

True.

Lewis is the longest commute of the 4 schools.

WSHS is the fastest.

SoCo is a little longer.

Lewis is the longest by a lot, and involves crossing the worst rush hour traffic spot in that part of northern Virginia.

This is simply not the case. Check Google maps. Yes, probably a little longer to Lewis, but many children in FCPS have much longer trips. Fringe Great Falls, parts of Mason Neck, Lake Braddock, Robinson. Some small difference in distance or time is not going to sway the board.

That being said, there are some conflicting goals in their policies - split feeders being the biggest one. Hard to see them sending all of Hunt Valley to Lewis and it doesn't make sense to send the South Hunt Valley children to Saratoga Elementary to solve the split that way. So if they send South Hunt Valley to Lewis that will bring back an old split feeder.

You are not from the area.

Lewis is a twice as long commute than WSHS or SoCo.

The road types and traffic patterns to get to each school are completely different.

I have lived here for years and years and years. You are simply in denial. Yes, it is a bit longer to Lewis, but not any type of difference that would sway the School Board.

All of that said, in the end they will not end up moving any of WS to Lewis. They just won't do it. They will come up with some other wild-eyed scheme they think will help - but it won't.

If they do not move kids to Lewis but they make other HS boundary changes they are inviting litigation they will likely lose. They have a lot of flexibility but at some point it becomes arbitrary and capricious to change some HS boundaries but not others simply because they don’t want to piss off the noisiest parents.

Lol no they aren’t “inviting litigation,” that’s crazy talk. There is more development slated in Springfield. Lewis and its feeders will (eventually) be fine in terms of enrollment if all the Springfield development comes to happen.

I agree legal action would probably not work in either direction (for or against redistricting). The School Board has that responsibility. But also, the projections for Lewis do show a drop off in enrollment and the currently in works apartments will not make a dent in the student numbers.

Their projections are off IMO. They also don’t account for the development currently slated in areas zoned for Edison, which has basically no room for expansion on its current site. The old Top Golf site, last I checked, was set to get not a bunch of 1-2 bedroom apartments, but townhomes where families would live.

This is a major problem in VA the school boards and the county board don’t work together. In MD new communities like this would to one of two things:
1- demand the developer build another school
2- make this a 55+ community

Why don’t these two boards co-operate?

[Anonymous]

Where is the empathy for high performing students in the Lewis pyramid who have been dealing with and patiently waiting for the board to address our issues for years now? Those parents are clearly not represented on this board, because all I’m hearing from the WSHS parents are

“but my property values” and
“you should have known when you purchased in that pyramid” OR
“just take away their transfer option entirely, that’ll fix it”

I emphasize with parents who are concerned about the impact to their current high schoolers and personally hope that all those students are grandfathered in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Hunt Valley Parents south of FFX county parkway: As a result of updating policy 8130 to prioritize transportation and reduce travel times, your children will now travel a longer, more dangerous route to Key Middle and Lewis HS. The SB promises this boundary change will provide improved transportation and a better educational experience for all.
P.S. Please ensure you teach your high schoolers defensive driving maneuvers to avoid erratic Maryland drivers making last second changes out of the FFX County Parkway/Gambrill exit only lane.

+1 as a resident of this area, oh but it’s “ToO CoMpLiCaTeD” according to an equity troll who clearly has no idea about the area, to eliminate the Sangster split feeder and send all its kids to Lake Braddock, thus reducing enrollment at Irving and WSHS.

Sorry, maybe I missed it in your weird post but, how exactly does this help Lewis? This might help balance once side of the equation but not the other, and both are needed, ASAP.

It doesn’t and I’m not understanding why everything has to be to “help Lewis.” You can fix some of the (actually fairly slight) crowding at WSHS without shuttling kids down the parkway and actually giving them a longer school commute.

Ensuring that Lewis has a sufficiently large enrollment to support the activities and opportunities available at other high schools ought to be the only boundary change FCPS is currently treating as a priority. Everything else is just noise intended to cancel out the parents who’ll complain if moved to Lewis.

If 230 kids are transferring out of Lewis currently, you will have 500 kids transferring out of Lewis following rezoning.

Almost all of the kids in the fringe neighborhoods take German...

And what makes you think they won't add German to Lewis? Or go Nuclear and remove it from WSHS, lol.

What is wrong with you.

Such mirth over jacking around people's kids.

Do you know any high school teens?

To rezone kids in high school over politics is awful.

To take glee over it is vindictive and cruel.

Kids will be grandfathered. Duh.

They can promise to grandfather and it still would enough. This is about protecting THEIR property values and THEIR kids. It’s selfish AF and I for one am happy that the SB is finally taking corrective action to address these longstanding issues.

People paid $100,000 or more on their houses to buy in the WSHS zone.

Older people in the neighborhood have worked hard to support WSHS to help keep the school strong to keep up their property values. There is very robust retiree and empty nester support in the WSHS zone for the schools.

To callously wipe out hundreds of thousands of dollars in hard earned equity overnight, by an unnecessary, vindictive rezoning is criminal.

Please contact your SB members to let them know your thoughts.

Please give it a rest! The SB is hearing from everyone, on both sides of this side.

[Anonymous]

While Lewis is under capacity, why doesn't FCPS take that as an opportunity to move Lewis up in the renovation queue, and tackle their full renovation now?

That would allow FCPS to renovate the school with as little disruption as possible.

Then, in 3-4 years, when Lewis has an updated facility, update the programs at the school to bring them in line with other high schools, and reassess rezoning then?

If they must do something to WSHS soon, go the simplest, least controversial route and close the Sangster split feeder, sending all of the Sangster kids to LB


That would fix the WSHS enrollment simply, with no disruption to students, and give Lewis a full renovation in the most ideal way possible, without needing trailers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Hunt Valley Parents south of FFX county parkway: As a result of updating policy 8130 to prioritize transportation and reduce travel times, your children will now travel a longer, more dangerous route to Key Middle and Lewis HS. The SB promises this boundary change will provide improved transportation and a better educational experience for all.
P.S. Please ensure you teach your high schoolers defensive driving maneuvers to avoid erratic Maryland drivers making last second changes out of the FFX County Parkway/Gambrill exit only lane.

+1 as a resident of this area, oh but it’s “ToO CoMpLiCaTeD” according to an equity troll who clearly has no idea about the area, to eliminate the Sangster split feeder and send all its kids to Lake Braddock, thus reducing enrollment at Irving and WSHS.

Sorry, maybe I missed it in your weird post but, how exactly does this help Lewis? This might help balance once side of the equation but not the other, and both are needed, ASAP.

It doesn’t and I’m not understanding why everything has to be to “help Lewis.” You can fix some of the (actually fairly slight) crowding at WSHS without shuttling kids down the parkway and actually giving them a longer school commute.

Ensuring that Lewis has a sufficiently large enrollment to support the activities and opportunities available at other high schools ought to be the only boundary change FCPS is currently treating as a priority. Everything else is just noise intended to cancel out the parents who’ll complain if moved to Lewis.

If 230 kids are transferring out of Lewis currently, you will have 500 kids transferring out of Lewis following rezoning.

Almost all of the kids in the fringe neighborhoods take German...

And what makes you think they won't add German to Lewis? Or go Nuclear and remove it from WSHS, lol.

What is wrong with you.

Such mirth over jacking around people's kids.

Do you know any high school teens?

To rezone kids in high school over politics is awful.

To take glee over it is vindictive and cruel.

Kids will be grandfathered. Duh.

They can promise to grandfather and it still would enough. This is about protecting THEIR property values and THEIR kids. It’s selfish AF and I for one am happy that the SB is finally taking corrective action to address these longstanding issues.

People paid $100,000 or more on their houses to buy in the WSHS zone.

Older people in the neighborhood have worked hard to support WSHS to help keep the school strong to keep up their property values. There is very robust retiree and empty nester support in the WSHS zone for the schools.

To callously wipe out hundreds of thousands of dollars in hard earned equity overnight, by an unnecessary, vindictive rezoning is criminal.

Please contact your SB members to let them know your thoughts.

Please give it a rest! The SB is hearing from everyone, on both sides of this side.

Please- they are the ones provoking this. They are green and dumb. I’m sorry you as their staff person has to deal with this, but talk to your boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Hunt Valley Parents south of FFX county parkway: As a result of updating policy 8130 to prioritize transportation and reduce travel times, your children will now travel a longer, more dangerous route to Key Middle and Lewis HS. The SB promises this boundary change will provide improved transportation and a better educational experience for all.
P.S. Please ensure you teach your high schoolers defensive driving maneuvers to avoid erratic Maryland drivers making last second changes out of the FFX County Parkway/Gambrill exit only lane.

+1 as a resident of this area, oh but it’s “ToO CoMpLiCaTeD” according to an equity troll who clearly has no idea about the area, to eliminate the Sangster split feeder and send all its kids to Lake Braddock, thus reducing enrollment at Irving and WSHS.

Sorry, maybe I missed it in your weird post but, how exactly does this help Lewis? This might help balance once side of the equation but not the other, and both are needed, ASAP.

It doesn’t and I’m not understanding why everything has to be to “help Lewis.” You can fix some of the (actually fairly slight) crowding at WSHS without shuttling kids down the parkway and actually giving them a longer school commute.

Ensuring that Lewis has a sufficiently large enrollment to support the activities and opportunities available at other high schools ought to be the only boundary change FCPS is currently treating as a priority. Everything else is just noise intended to cancel out the parents who’ll complain if moved to Lewis.

If 230 kids are transferring out of Lewis currently, you will have 500 kids transferring out of Lewis following rezoning.

Almost all of the kids in the fringe neighborhoods take German...

And what makes you think they won't add German to Lewis? Or go Nuclear and remove it from WSHS, lol.

What is wrong with you.

Such mirth over jacking around people's kids.

Do you know any high school teens?

To rezone kids in high school over politics is awful.

To take glee over it is vindictive and cruel.

Kids will be grandfathered. Duh.

They can promise to grandfather and it still would enough. This is about protecting THEIR property values and THEIR kids. It’s selfish AF and I for one am happy that the SB is finally taking corrective action to address these longstanding issues.

People paid $100,000 or more on their houses to buy in the WSHS zone.

Older people in the neighborhood have worked hard to support WSHS to help keep the school strong to keep up their property values. There is very robust retiree and empty nester support in the WSHS zone for the schools.

To callously wipe out hundreds of thousands of dollars in hard earned equity overnight, by an unnecessary, vindictive rezoning is criminal.

It’s not the responsibility of the School Board to create, maintain, or impair equity in real estate. Their job is to oversee the functioning of the school system, and a situation that results in a projected 2900-student high school next to one half that size requires action. They have redistricted many schools in the past when the disparities were nowhere near that large.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near Gambrills and I can’t even believe going to WSHS is 15 mins. Shorter, in my estimation.

15 minutes is the morning with traffic.

The 2 posters not from the area arguing that the commutes are the same do not understand the commutes.

From the Hunt Valley neighborhoods inside the pkwy, commuting with traffic to WSHS is around 7 minutes, and maybe 5 minutes during down time. Kids actually walk from the HV neighborhoods to WSHS when the weather is nice.

The Gambrill people get to WSHS in under 15 minutes when the traffic is bad, and around 10 minutes otherwise.

HV to Lewis is 20 minutes during slow times, evenings and Saturday afternoons. It is much longer during rush hour.

Literally on Google Maps right now:

Gambrill and the Parkway to Lewis via the Parkway - 8 minutes (4.4 miles)
Gambrill and the Parkway to WS via Sydenstricker and Hillside - 10 minutes (4.1 miles)

Sure, during rush hour traffic will be heavier, but since Covid and telework the traffic on the Parkway to Springfield has not been bad at all.

School does not occur on Sunday mornings...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The section of the county parkway between Gambrill and the parkway split has a lot of accidents, sometimes fatal and severe. I wouldn’t want any more buses than absolutely necessary on that stretch of road. I’m assuming if the Gambrill neighborhoods were bussed to Lewis that they would need to take the parkway all the way to Frontier by the mall and then to Franconia Road. That is a busy and unpredictable drive at 7-8 am.

And yes, I know kids living in West Bramblef*** Clifton and Great Falls have forever long bus rides but that’s because nothing is out there. Springfield and West Springfield aren’t like that at all.

That is a rough stretch to add a bunch of teen drivers and busses to.

The Gambrill kids avoid that area altogether by taking back roads to WSHS.

If they wanted to avoid the parkway that would mean heading up I guess Sydenstricker to Huntsman to Old Keene and THAT is its own hot mess with a ton of traffic lights. They’d have to do it this way because if they took Rolling up to Old Keene/Franconia, they would still be on the worst sections of the parkway and would then be stuck in the Rolling Road widening project traffic.

There are 3 stoplights with minimal traffic.

Gambrill
Huntsman/OKM
OKM/Hillside.

10-15 minutes tops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Hunt Valley Parents south of FFX county parkway: As a result of updating policy 8130 to prioritize transportation and reduce travel times, your children will now travel a longer, more dangerous route to Key Middle and Lewis HS. The SB promises this boundary change will provide improved transportation and a better educational experience for all.
P.S. Please ensure you teach your high schoolers defensive driving maneuvers to avoid erratic Maryland drivers making last second changes out of the FFX County Parkway/Gambrill exit only lane.

+1 as a resident of this area, oh but it’s “ToO CoMpLiCaTeD” according to an equity troll who clearly has no idea about the area, to eliminate the Sangster split feeder and send all its kids to Lake Braddock, thus reducing enrollment at Irving and WSHS.

Sorry, maybe I missed it in your weird post but, how exactly does this help Lewis? This might help balance once side of the equation but not the other, and both are needed, ASAP.

It doesn’t and I’m not understanding why everything has to be to “help Lewis.” You can fix some of the (actually fairly slight) crowding at WSHS without shuttling kids down the parkway and actually giving them a longer school commute.

Ensuring that Lewis has a sufficiently large enrollment to support the activities and opportunities available at other high schools ought to be the only boundary change FCPS is currently treating as a priority. Everything else is just noise intended to cancel out the parents who’ll complain if moved to Lewis.

If 230 kids are transferring out of Lewis currently, you will have 500 kids transferring out of Lewis following rezoning.

Almost all of the kids in the fringe neighborhoods take German...

And what makes you think they won't add German to Lewis? Or go Nuclear and remove it from WSHS, lol.

What is wrong with you.

Such mirth over jacking around people's kids.

Do you know any high school teens?

To rezone kids in high school over politics is awful.

To take glee over it is vindictive and cruel.

Kids will be grandfathered. Duh.

They can promise to grandfather and it still would enough. This is about protecting THEIR property values and THEIR kids. It’s selfish AF and I for one am happy that the SB is finally taking corrective action to address these longstanding issues.

Eww. Your true colors are really showing here.

And what colors would those be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is the empathy for high performing students in the Lewis pyramid who have been dealing with and patiently waiting for the board to address our issues for years now? Those parents are clearly not represented on this board, because all I’m hearing from the WSHS parents are

“but my property values” and
“you should have known when you purchased in that pyramid” OR
“just take away their transfer option entirely, that’ll fix it”

I emphasize with parents who are concerned about the impact to their current high schoolers and personally hope that all those students are grandfathered in.

As has been mentioned several times by WSHS posters. Turn Lewis into a trade school/community center. See arlington’s investment in the career center site or Alexandria city’s new VA tech hybrid program as options with Mason. The placement of the school and traffic patterns are making it obsolete. We have empathy for you and your kids as well as the other students at Lewis. Turn it into a forestry/landscaping (with accotink park nearby, dental school with NOVA medical campus down the street and early childhood career center. Or even culinary center with the mall restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gambrill to Lewis is not a long commute. Gambrill to WSHS is very similar. They are both still shorter than many kids in FCPS.

Gambrill to SCHS is about 3 miles, whereas to Lewis, it is about 6 miles. SCHS is currently under capacity by a similar percentage as Lewis.

True.

Lewis is the longest commute of the 4 schools.

WSHS is the fastest.

SoCo is a little longer.

Lewis is the longest by a lot, and involves crossing the worst rush hour traffic spot in that part of northern Virginia.

This is simply not the case. Check Google maps. Yes, probably a little longer to Lewis, but many children in FCPS have much longer trips. Fringe Great Falls, parts of Mason Neck, Lake Braddock, Robinson. Some small difference in distance or time is not going to sway the board.

That being said, there are some conflicting goals in their policies - split feeders being the biggest one. Hard to see them sending all of Hunt Valley to Lewis and it doesn't make sense to send the South Hunt Valley children to Saratoga Elementary to solve the split that way. So if they send South Hunt Valley to Lewis that will bring back an old split feeder.

You are not from the area.

Lewis is a twice as long commute than WSHS or SoCo.

The road types and traffic patterns to get to each school are completely different.

I have lived here for years and years and years. You are simply in denial. Yes, it is a bit longer to Lewis, but not any type of difference that would sway the School Board.

All of that said, in the end they will not end up moving any of WS to Lewis. They just won't do it. They will come up with some other wild-eyed scheme they think will help - but it won't.

If they do not move kids to Lewis but they make other HS boundary changes they are inviting litigation they will likely lose. They have a lot of flexibility but at some point it becomes arbitrary and capricious to change some HS boundaries but not others simply because they don’t want to piss off the noisiest parents.

Lol no they aren’t “inviting litigation,” that’s crazy talk. There is more development slated in Springfield. Lewis and its feeders will (eventually) be fine in terms of enrollment if all the Springfield development comes to happen.

I agree legal action would probably not work in either direction (for or against redistricting). The School Board has that responsibility. But also, the projections for Lewis do show a drop off in enrollment and the currently in works apartments will not make a dent in the student numbers.

If they mention race anywhere, then yes, they open tgemselves to lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gambrill to Lewis is not a long commute. Gambrill to WSHS is very similar. They are both still shorter than many kids in FCPS.

Gambrill to SCHS is about 3 miles, whereas to Lewis, it is about 6 miles. SCHS is currently under capacity by a similar percentage as Lewis.

True.

Lewis is the longest commute of the 4 schools.

WSHS is the fastest.

SoCo is a little longer.

Lewis is the longest by a lot, and involves crossing the worst rush hour traffic spot in that part of northern Virginia.

This is simply not the case. Check Google maps. Yes, probably a little longer to Lewis, but many children in FCPS have much longer trips. Fringe Great Falls, parts of Mason Neck, Lake Braddock, Robinson. Some small difference in distance or time is not going to sway the board.

That being said, there are some conflicting goals in their policies - split feeders being the biggest one. Hard to see them sending all of Hunt Valley to Lewis and it doesn't make sense to send the South Hunt Valley children to Saratoga Elementary to solve the split that way. So if they send South Hunt Valley to Lewis that will bring back an old split feeder.

You are not from the area.

Lewis is a twice as long commute than WSHS or SoCo.

The road types and traffic patterns to get to each school are completely different.

I have lived here for years and years and years. You are simply in denial. Yes, it is a bit longer to Lewis, but not any type of difference that would sway the School Board.

All of that said, in the end they will not end up moving any of WS to Lewis. They just won't do it. They will come up with some other wild-eyed scheme they think will help - but it won't.

If they do not move kids to Lewis but they make other HS boundary changes they are inviting litigation they will likely lose. They have a lot of flexibility but at some point it becomes arbitrary and capricious to change some HS boundaries but not others simply because they don’t want to piss off the noisiest parents.

Lol no they aren’t “inviting litigation,” that’s crazy talk. There is more development slated in Springfield. Lewis and its feeders will (eventually) be fine in terms of enrollment if all the Springfield development comes to happen.

If you want to challenge their enrollment projections for Lewis, come armed with facts, but they have Lewis at 1425 or so by 2028. You can’t say the enrollment will rebound simply because you don’t want to be redistricted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Hunt Valley Parents south of FFX county parkway: As a result of updating policy 8130 to prioritize transportation and reduce travel times, your children will now travel a longer, more dangerous route to Key Middle and Lewis HS. The SB promises this boundary change will provide improved transportation and a better educational experience for all.
P.S. Please ensure you teach your high schoolers defensive driving maneuvers to avoid erratic Maryland drivers making last second changes out of the FFX County Parkway/Gambrill exit only lane.

+1 as a resident of this area, oh but it’s “ToO CoMpLiCaTeD” according to an equity troll who clearly has no idea about the area, to eliminate the Sangster split feeder and send all its kids to Lake Braddock, thus reducing enrollment at Irving and WSHS.

Sorry, maybe I missed it in your weird post but, how exactly does this help Lewis? This might help balance once side of the equation but not the other, and both are needed, ASAP.

It doesn’t and I’m not understanding why everything has to be to “help Lewis.” You can fix some of the (actually fairly slight) crowding at WSHS without shuttling kids down the parkway and actually giving them a longer school commute.

Ensuring that Lewis has a sufficiently large enrollment to support the activities and opportunities available at other high schools ought to be the only boundary change FCPS is currently treating as a priority. Everything else is just noise intended to cancel out the parents who’ll complain if moved to Lewis.

If 230 kids are transferring out of Lewis currently, you will have 500 kids transferring out of Lewis following rezoning.

Almost all of the kids in the fringe neighborhoods take German...

And what makes you think they won't add German to Lewis? Or go Nuclear and remove it from WSHS, lol.

What is wrong with you.

Such mirth over jacking around people's kids.

Do you know any high school teens?

To rezone kids in high school over politics is awful.

To take glee over it is vindictive and cruel.

Kids will be grandfathered. Duh.

They can promise to grandfather and it still would enough. This is about protecting THEIR property values and THEIR kids. It’s selfish AF and I for one am happy that the SB is finally taking corrective action to address these longstanding issues.

People paid $100,000 or more on their houses to buy in the WSHS zone.

Older people in the neighborhood have worked hard to support WSHS to help keep the school strong to keep up their property values. There is very robust retiree and empty nester support in the WSHS zone for the schools.

To callously wipe out hundreds of thousands of dollars in hard earned equity overnight, by an unnecessary, vindictive rezoning is criminal.

Please contact your SB members to let them know your thoughts.

Please give it a rest! The SB is hearing from everyone, on both sides of this side.

Please- they are the ones provoking this. They are green and dumb. I’m sorry you as their staff person has to deal with this, but talk to your boss.

Please, go touch grass today. This can’t be good for your mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is the empathy for high performing students in the Lewis pyramid who have been dealing with and patiently waiting for the board to address our issues for years now? Those parents are clearly not represented on this board, because all I’m hearing from the WSHS parents are

“but my property values” and
“you should have known when you purchased in that pyramid” OR
“just take away their transfer option entirely, that’ll fix it”

I emphasize with parents who are concerned about the impact to their current high schoolers and personally hope that all those students are grandfathered in.

As has been mentioned several times by WSHS posters. Turn Lewis into a trade school/community center. See arlington’s investment in the career center site or Alexandria city’s new VA tech hybrid program as options with Mason. The placement of the school and traffic patterns are making it obsolete. We have empathy for you and your kids as well as the other students at Lewis. Turn it into a forestry/landscaping (with accotink park nearby, dental school with NOVA medical campus down the street and early childhood career center. Or even culinary center with the mall restaurants.

Wow so all of this just to avoid rezoning a few additional kids there?

And I guess we should also be okay with waiting a few more years for all this to come to fruition?

Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gambrill to Lewis is not a long commute. Gambrill to WSHS is very similar. They are both still shorter than many kids in FCPS.

Gambrill to SCHS is about 3 miles, whereas to Lewis, it is about 6 miles. SCHS is currently under capacity by a similar percentage as Lewis.

True.

Lewis is the longest commute of the 4 schools.

WSHS is the fastest.

SoCo is a little longer.

Lewis is the longest by a lot, and involves crossing the worst rush hour traffic spot in that part of northern Virginia.

This is simply not the case. Check Google maps. Yes, probably a little longer to Lewis, but many children in FCPS have much longer trips. Fringe Great Falls, parts of Mason Neck, Lake Braddock, Robinson. Some small difference in distance or time is not going to sway the board.

That being said, there are some conflicting goals in their policies - split feeders being the biggest one. Hard to see them sending all of Hunt Valley to Lewis and it doesn't make sense to send the South Hunt Valley children to Saratoga Elementary to solve the split that way. So if they send South Hunt Valley to Lewis that will bring back an old split feeder.

You are not from the area.

Lewis is a twice as long commute than WSHS or SoCo.

The road types and traffic patterns to get to each school are completely different.

I have lived here for years and years and years. You are simply in denial. Yes, it is a bit longer to Lewis, but not any type of difference that would sway the School Board.

All of that said, in the end they will not end up moving any of WS to Lewis. They just won't do it. They will come up with some other wild-eyed scheme they think will help - but it won't.

If they do not move kids to Lewis but they make other HS boundary changes they are inviting litigation they will likely lose. They have a lot of flexibility but at some point it becomes arbitrary and capricious to change some HS boundaries but not others simply because they don’t want to piss off the noisiest parents.

Lol no they aren’t “inviting litigation,” that’s crazy talk. There is more development slated in Springfield. Lewis and its feeders will (eventually) be fine in terms of enrollment if all the Springfield development comes to happen.

I agree legal action would probably not work in either direction (for or against redistricting). The School Board has that responsibility. But also, the projections for Lewis do show a drop off in enrollment and the currently in works apartments will not make a dent in the student numbers.

If they mention race anywhere, then yes, they open tgemselves to lawsuits.

They won’t mention race because it’s not about race. It’s about balancing enrollment and SES to improve educational opportunities.