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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western notices went out today. My kid will be there. All of friends are in as well. It says that they almost hit their target but doesn’t say if that is for 9th and 10th grade or just one grade.

Glad you mentioned this...my notice went to my spam folder. We are Floris-Westfield and our commutes take us in the opposite direction. This will make pickups from afternoon activities so much easier.

I figure Floris will have a lot of kids attending. I wish they would release the opt in numbers by ES, mainly because I am curious.

[Anonymous]

I can't wait until the boundary is set. This opt-in is nonsense. Kids shouldn't have to ask around and try to figure out what all their friend groups are doing to make a decision. I understand why they did it since the school doesn't offer all the activities of a traditional high school yet (sports, clubs) - but I still think they took the wrong approach. Should have set a firm boundary and bussed kids for sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western notices went out today. My kid will be there. All of friends are in as well. It says that they almost hit their target but doesn’t say if that is for 9th and 10th grade or just one grade.

I'm happy your child is satisfied with the option they received. Sadly, kids elsewhere in the county are being involuntarily redistricted, with families told there's "no money" for their schools and boundary changes are the only option, even though the School Board was able to find $200 million it hadn't expected to spend for years to pay for the new western HS.

Maybe at some point they'll take their commitment to equity seriously.

Please. The five HS who had kids who had the choice were all over crowded or they are close to being over crowded. The HS was needed and everyone knows that. The School Board choose the opt in option because they were too cowardly to set the boundaries for the new school and move kids there next year. This process has been an example of how poorly FCPS handles boundary changes. If the school boar had set boundaries and told families they had to send kids there you would be complaining about the mental health damage done to the kids.

No, it’s not needed.

If the overcrowding was so bad they would move kids out of Chantilly to the new school ASAP, not give kids the option to stay at Chantilly and then, on top of that, move dozens of Fairfax kids into Chantilly.

And according to the CIP draft they still plan to expand Centreville to 3000.

Meanwhile, birth rates are declining and other school systems (MCPS, PWCPS) are scrapping plans to open new high schools.

This was an impulse buy that will screw up the capital program for years to come.

[Anonymous]

Centreville has seen some big declines in enrollment over the past several years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western notices went out today. My kid will be there. All of friends are in as well. It says that they almost hit their target but doesn’t say if that is for 9th and 10th grade or just one grade.

I'm happy your child is satisfied with the option they received. Sadly, kids elsewhere in the county are being involuntarily redistricted, with families told there's "no money" for their schools and boundary changes are the only option, even though the School Board was able to find $200 million it hadn't expected to spend for years to pay for the new western HS.

Maybe at some point they'll take their commitment to equity seriously.

Please. The five HS who had kids who had the choice were all over crowded or they are close to being over crowded. The HS was needed and everyone knows that. The School Board choose the opt in option because they were too cowardly to set the boundaries for the new school and move kids there next year. This process has been an example of how poorly FCPS handles boundary changes. If the school boar had set boundaries and told families they had to send kids there you would be complaining about the mental health damage done to the kids.

No, it’s not needed.

If the overcrowding was so bad they would move kids out of Chantilly to the new school ASAP, not give kids the option to stay at Chantilly and then, on top of that, move dozens of Fairfax kids into Chantilly.

And according to the CIP draft they still plan to expand Centreville to 3000.

Meanwhile, birth rates are declining and other school systems (MCPS, PWCPS) are scrapping plans to open new high schools.

This was an impulse buy that will screw up the capital program for years to come.

Purchasing this school is one of the few things FCPS has done right. And, then Reid messed it up with her various comments and wishes.
They should have set boundaries before the "Comprehensive Boundary Study" was complete. People like certainty.

And, anyone who thinks a school of over 3000 is fine, has another think coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western notices went out today. My kid will be there. All of friends are in as well. It says that they almost hit their target but doesn’t say if that is for 9th and 10th grade or just one grade.

I'm happy your child is satisfied with the option they received. Sadly, kids elsewhere in the county are being involuntarily redistricted, with families told there's "no money" for their schools and boundary changes are the only option, even though the School Board was able to find $200 million it hadn't expected to spend for years to pay for the new western HS.

Maybe at some point they'll take their commitment to equity seriously.

Please. The five HS who had kids who had the choice were all over crowded or they are close to being over crowded. The HS was needed and everyone knows that. The School Board choose the opt in option because they were too cowardly to set the boundaries for the new school and move kids there next year. This process has been an example of how poorly FCPS handles boundary changes. If the school boar had set boundaries and told families they had to send kids there you would be complaining about the mental health damage done to the kids.

No, it’s not needed.

If the overcrowding was so bad they would move kids out of Chantilly to the new school ASAP, not give kids the option to stay at Chantilly and then, on top of that, move dozens of Fairfax kids into Chantilly.

And according to the CIP draft they still plan to expand Centreville to 3000.

Meanwhile, birth rates are declining and other school systems (MCPS, PWCPS) are scrapping plans to open new high schools.

This was an impulse buy that will screw up the capital program for years to come.

Purchasing this school is one of the few things FCPS has done right. And, then Reid messed it up with her various comments and wishes.
They should have set boundaries before the "Comprehensive Boundary Study" was complete. People like certainty.

And, anyone who thinks a school of over 3000 is fine, has another think coming.

Chantilly has done fine with 2800 but the main issue with Centreville at this point is that its enrollment is dropping but it’s still going to have to backfill Westfield when Western opens. So on what planet does it make ANY sense to still budget in the CIP for an expansion of that school to 3000?

Birth rates are coming down and Western was not needed but they can at least not double down on the stupidity by further misallocating resources to Centreville beyond what’s needed for a renovation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western notices went out today. My kid will be there. All of friends are in as well. It says that they almost hit their target but doesn’t say if that is for 9th and 10th grade or just one grade.

I'm happy your child is satisfied with the option they received. Sadly, kids elsewhere in the county are being involuntarily redistricted, with families told there's "no money" for their schools and boundary changes are the only option, even though the School Board was able to find $200 million it hadn't expected to spend for years to pay for the new western HS.

Maybe at some point they'll take their commitment to equity seriously.

Please. The five HS who had kids who had the choice were all over crowded or they are close to being over crowded. The HS was needed and everyone knows that. The School Board choose the opt in option because they were too cowardly to set the boundaries for the new school and move kids there next year. This process has been an example of how poorly FCPS handles boundary changes. If the school boar had set boundaries and told families they had to send kids there you would be complaining about the mental health damage done to the kids.

No, it’s not needed.

If the overcrowding was so bad they would move kids out of Chantilly to the new school ASAP, not give kids the option to stay at Chantilly and then, on top of that, move dozens of Fairfax kids into Chantilly.

And according to the CIP draft they still plan to expand Centreville to 3000.

Meanwhile, birth rates are declining and other school systems (MCPS, PWCPS) are scrapping plans to open new high schools.

This was an impulse buy that will screw up the capital program for years to come.

Purchasing this school is one of the few things FCPS has done right. And, then Reid messed it up with her various comments and wishes.
They should have set boundaries before the "Comprehensive Boundary Study" was complete. People like certainty.

And, anyone who thinks a school of over 3000 is fine, has another think coming.

Chantilly has done fine with 2800 but the main issue with Centreville at this point is that its enrollment is dropping but it’s still going to have to backfill Westfield when Western opens. So on what planet does it make ANY sense to still budget in the CIP for an expansion of that school to 3000?

Birth rates are coming down and Western was not needed but they can at least not double down on the stupidity by further misallocating resources to Centreville beyond what’s needed for a renovation.

Western IS needed. Oakton is growing, Westfield is over 2800, Chantilly is approaching 3000. Does Centreville need to be expanded to 3000? I would say "no," but these kids have to go somewhere--and the boundary study added kids to Chantilly. Westfield has grown since last year and there is new construction presently in progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Birth rates are coming down...

You need to get new material. There are parts of the county that are growing and other parts that are shrinking. The western part of the county and the part around Tysons are still growing, regardless of birth rate trends nationally. That is not a good argument against buying the new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Western notices went out today. My kid will be there. All of friends are in as well. It says that they almost hit their target but doesn’t say if that is for 9th and 10th grade or just one grade.

I'm happy your child is satisfied with the option they received. Sadly, kids elsewhere in the county are being involuntarily redistricted, with families told there's "no money" for their schools and boundary changes are the only option, even though the School Board was able to find $200 million it hadn't expected to spend for years to pay for the new western HS.

Maybe at some point they'll take their commitment to equity seriously.

Please. The five HS who had kids who had the choice were all over crowded or they are close to being over crowded. The HS was needed and everyone knows that. The School Board choose the opt in option because they were too cowardly to set the boundaries for the new school and move kids there next year. This process has been an example of how poorly FCPS handles boundary changes. If the school boar had set boundaries and told families they had to send kids there you would be complaining about the mental health damage done to the kids.

No, it’s not needed.

If the overcrowding was so bad they would move kids out of Chantilly to the new school ASAP, not give kids the option to stay at Chantilly and then, on top of that, move dozens of Fairfax kids into Chantilly.

And according to the CIP draft they still plan to expand Centreville to 3000.

Meanwhile, birth rates are declining and other school systems (MCPS, PWCPS) are scrapping plans to open new high schools.

This was an impulse buy that will screw up the capital program for years to come.

Purchasing this school is one of the few things FCPS has done right. And, then Reid messed it up with her various comments and wishes.
They should have set boundaries before the "Comprehensive Boundary Study" was complete. People like certainty.

And, anyone who thinks a school of over 3000 is fine, has another think coming.

Chantilly has done fine with 2800 but the main issue with Centreville at this point is that its enrollment is dropping but it’s still going to have to backfill Westfield when Western opens. So on what planet does it make ANY sense to still budget in the CIP for an expansion of that school to 3000?

Birth rates are coming down and Western was not needed but they can at least not double down on the stupidity by further misallocating resources to Centreville beyond what’s needed for a renovation.

Western IS needed. Oakton is growing, Westfield is over 2800, Chantilly is approaching 3000. Does Centreville need to be expanded to 3000? I would say "no," but these kids have to go somewhere--and the boundary study added kids to Chantilly. Westfield has grown since last year and there is new construction presently in progress.

Westfield is not over 2800. Centreville's enrollment is down over 400 kids over the past three years. South Lakes is below capacity. Herndon has hundreds of empty seats. Oakton is now over capacity but nearby Madison is not.

Buying Western was an indulgence, not a necessity, and expanding Centreville - with a current enrollment below 2200 - to 3000 would just further misallocate capital resources and delay needed renovations elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

They love to waste money and then plead poverty.

No sane School Board would be building a new Dunn Loring ES either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know any rising sophomores opting in?
Our base school is not great, but I don’t know any sophomores opting in to Western. They just don’t seem interested about attending a school with limited clases and activities and having to go to the base school for sports.
And the fewer that opt in, the fewer others want to follow.
I wish they had just settled the boundaries and made everyone go.

Yes, I know a bunch are from SLHS. I have neighbors whose kids will be moving and they told me that many of their kids friends opted in. Honestly, I know rising Juniors who are annoyed that they don't have the choice.

I would be surprised if they get 500 sophomores but they will have a decent number.

There were only 40-45 kids out of approx. 607 students from SLHS that asked to be at Western for ninth grade as reported at last SLHS PTSA meeting when SB rep. shared data. That’s only about 15% of ninth graders and some have changed their minds and spoken with counselors to deselect after the deadline. The percentage will most likely decrease again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know any rising sophomores opting in?
Our base school is not great, but I don’t know any sophomores opting in to Western. They just don’t seem interested about attending a school with limited clases and activities and having to go to the base school for sports.
And the fewer that opt in, the fewer others want to follow.
I wish they had just settled the boundaries and made everyone go.

Yes, I know a bunch are from SLHS. I have neighbors whose kids will be moving and they told me that many of their kids friends opted in. Honestly, I know rising Juniors who are annoyed that they don't have the choice.

I would be surprised if they get 500 sophomores but they will have a decent number.

There were only 40-45 kids out of approx. 607 students from SLHS that asked to be at Western for ninth grade as reported at last SLHS PTSA meeting when SB rep. shared data. That’s only about 15% of ninth graders and some have changed their minds and spoken with counselors to deselect after the deadline. The percentage will most likely decrease again.

*meant approx 7%. Typed too fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know any rising sophomores opting in?
Our base school is not great, but I don’t know any sophomores opting in to Western. They just don’t seem interested about attending a school with limited clases and activities and having to go to the base school for sports.
And the fewer that opt in, the fewer others want to follow.
I wish they had just settled the boundaries and made everyone go.

Yes, I know a bunch are from SLHS. I have neighbors whose kids will be moving and they told me that many of their kids friends opted in. Honestly, I know rising Juniors who are annoyed that they don't have the choice.

I would be surprised if they get 500 sophomores but they will have a decent number.

There were only 40-45 kids out of approx. 607 students from SLHS that asked to be at Western for ninth grade as reported at last SLHS PTSA meeting when SB rep. shared data. That’s only about 15% of ninth graders and some have changed their minds and spoken with counselors to deselect after the deadline. The percentage will most likely decrease again.

Most of South Lakes is not going to be in boundary. What percentage of those kids are Fox Mill? They need to break the numbers down by the ES not the HS. The Non-Fox Mill kids that pupil place for AP will go to whatever school is taking AP this year. I am not sure if you can pupil place for AP and a language or if Herndon is the only AP allowable now based on space and distance. The normal number of kids pupil placing out of SLHS for TJ and AP is already at something like 35 kids per grade, now toss on another 40. So SLHS loses 75 of its 9th graders next year.

[Anonymous]

I would take anything from Meren with a grain of salt. Her agenda is not well hidden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They love to waste money and then plead poverty.

No sane School Board would be building a new Dunn Loring ES either.

I think everyone agrees on Dunn Loring.

Centerville should not be expanded. People have been complaining about Chantilly, they just want other kids to be moved and not be moved themselves. Oakton and Westfield are at capacity. SLHS is at something like 95% capacity, granted some of that is coming from Herndon which is leaving Herndon under capacity.

The area is crowded. We know that you want your school renovated, there are schools in desperate need of renovation, I get that. But that doesn't mean that this HS was not needed. It doesn't serve your direct purpose so you are upset. I can't do anything about that.