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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because my kids can not get in if it is a magnetic school. We want my kids to go to an AP program by opting in. Skyview AP will be so much better than Hendon AP. AAP parents want magnetic school, non-AAP want traditional school.

This is fair and true. And perhaps the middle ground is that it's an opt in magnet school without the entrance requirements of TJ but open to any kid who wants a stem-centric education in a non traditional model. I know kids who were not in AAP and did all honors and AP in high school and went to W&M and UVA - so non AAP kids can very much choose advanced tracks and succeed even beyond the AAP kids. I think interest and motivation is enough to define a "magnet" community, but an inclusive magnet provides the best of both worlds. Once they force parents and kids that don't want innovation or tech, it changes the culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because my kids can not get in if it is a magnetic school. We want my kids to go to an AP program by opting in. Skyview AP will be so much better than Hendon AP. AAP parents want magnetic school, non-AAP want traditional school.

This is fair and true. And perhaps the middle ground is that it's an opt in magnet school without the entrance requirements of TJ but open to any kid who wants a stem-centric education in a non traditional model. I know kids who were not in AAP and did all honors and AP in high school and went to W&M and UVA - so non AAP kids can very much choose advanced tracks and succeed even beyond the AAP kids. I think interest and motivation is enough to define a "magnet" community, but an inclusive magnet provides the best of both worlds. Once they force parents and kids that don't want innovation or tech, it changes the culture.

That’s not a middle ground. It’s a refusal to follow the school board’s clear direction to open Skyview as a traditional neighborhood school with fixed boundaries, even if it has some specialized courses. Turn it into a permanent opt-in magnet and you’re limiting the school’s ability to provide substantial overcrowding relief.

So you might as well stop trying to make fetch happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"We "need" a traditional high school"
Why? Maybe we "need" to alleviate temporary crowding (projected to decline) at some schools but if a magnet school draws from those schools it has the same effect.

The school is laid out like a magnet school and it's a crime to de-magnify it.

Stop telling me what Reid has decided like anyone knows what goes on in her head.

Most large communities have multiple magnet schools, why are some parents here so opposed?

Not opposed to an arts school but this the skills needed by the local workforce are technology and the school system should read the room.

There are so many families in this area who declined to send their kid to TJ because it is too far - my neighborhood alone would fill half of skyview as a magnet.

Because their children are being moved because their traditional school is overcrowded. And, no, a magnet school will not relieve it. The ones on here who seem most interested in placing at Skyview seem to come from a school that is not overcrowded.

Well, Im from Chantilly and can't get more overcrowded than that. And you know what - my older kids went there and never once did I realize it was technically overcrowded. Its got the style of a bomb shelter but every school my kids have been to has had modulars so I didnt think much of it. Meaning, the overcrowded stuff, what does it actually mean if the kids at Chantilly don't feel it?

Maybe your kids didn't feel it because like you said, every school they had ever been too was overcrowded. They didn't know what they were missing out on. As one of the wealthiest counties in the country it is shameful to pack the kids in like sardines instead of providing adequate facilities conducive to learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"We "need" a traditional high school"
Why? Maybe we "need" to alleviate temporary crowding (projected to decline) at some schools but if a magnet school draws from those schools it has the same effect.

The school is laid out like a magnet school and it's a crime to de-magnify it.

Stop telling me what Reid has decided like anyone knows what goes on in her head.

Most large communities have multiple magnet schools, why are some parents here so opposed?

Not opposed to an arts school but this the skills needed by the local workforce are technology and the school system should read the room.

There are so many families in this area who declined to send their kid to TJ because it is too far - my neighborhood alone would fill half of skyview as a magnet.

Because their children are being moved because their traditional school is overcrowded. And, no, a magnet school will not relieve it. The ones on here who seem most interested in placing at Skyview seem to come from a school that is not overcrowded.

Well, Im from Chantilly and can't get more overcrowded than that. And you know what - my older kids went there and never once did I realize it was technically overcrowded. Its got the style of a bomb shelter but every school my kids have been to has had modulars so I didnt think much of it. Meaning, the overcrowded stuff, what does it actually mean if the kids at Chantilly don't feel it?

Hah!

I went to Chantilly High School and I felt it!

And yes, it felt like a bomb shelter designed by Soviet architects.

I’m surprised there weren’t any Krushchevkas next to it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is from Carson AAP and from what I see at the parents meetings, the vibe will be TJ for at least this year. It will be a shame if they turn this into a traditional school that wlll be on the small side and will have two years of kids heavy into math and stem and then a general student body that is into a million things, but I can't control FCPS. To me, this region has a dire need for stem magnet schools and even if they drop it after this year, the magnet/stem vibe will persist for the 9/10th graders.

Reid was expressly directed to open Skyview as a traditional high school from day one. Get over yourselves with the TJ 2.0 nonsense.

Someone's clearly not a Carson parent!

I am a Carson parent and I am fine with it being a traditional HS, the area needs a traditional HS.

We've got 27 traditional high schools and 1 govenors school.

Surely we can use another because the demand is real

The vote has already been cast and you lost. Get over it already.

Queen Reid gets what she wants, SB votes are meaningless to her.

[Anonymous]

We know nothing about the building modifications yet.

And in the face of declining enrollment across the county, albeit unevenly distributed, and the new housing units being erected near the Herndon and Innovation Center stations, it is very unpredictble what will happen with High School enrollment at this current time.

FCPS has also not followed normal procedures for setting up a boundary change.

They should have planned building modifications, such as enlarging classrooms, finding space for a library, creating an expanded cafeteria.

Most importantly, building a proper HS football stadium; tennis courts; baseball and softball diamonds; a track, a soccer field; and an exterior recreational basketball court.

Pretty much making it a high school.

They should have discussed programming first, modifications second, and boundaries third (after modifications are near or at completion, that is).

In Montgomery county, they have figured out the buildings before the boundaries (Northwood and Woodward; Wootton and Crown).

I believe this is how it will work in Loudoun County when HS-14 at the Watson Mountain site is erect.

This is typical planning protocol conducted by other counties/school districts, but not ours after 2005.

I don't care if its land or a pre-existing building, the protocols should be indiscriminant and uniform, and not as ludicrously bemusing as it has been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know nothing about the building modifications yet.

And in the face of declining enrollment across the county, albeit unevenly distributed, and the new housing units being erected near the Herndon and Innovation Center stations, it is very unpredictble what will happen with High School enrollment at this current time.

FCPS has also not followed normal procedures for setting up a boundary change.

They should have planned building modifications, such as enlarging classrooms, finding space for a library, creating an expanded cafeteria.

Most importantly, building a proper HS football stadium; tennis courts; baseball and softball diamonds; a track, a soccer field; and an exterior recreational basketball court.

Pretty much making it a high school.

They should have discussed programming first, modifications second, and boundaries third (after modifications are near or at completion, that is).

In Montgomery county, they have figured out the buildings before the boundaries (Northwood and Woodward; Wootton and Crown).

I believe this is how it will work in Loudoun County when HS-14 at the Watson Mountain site is erect.

This is typical planning protocol conducted by other counties/school districts, but not ours after 2005.

I don't care if its land or a pre-existing building, the protocols should be indiscriminant and uniform, and not as ludicrously bemusing as it has been.

FCPS Facilities planning has long been the worst in the region, and it's particularly egregious given FCPS's size.

They don't really plan; they either slavishly adhere to a renovation queue created 18 years ago (so schools get expanded simply because they are in the queue, regardless of their need or the needs elsewhere) or react to a perceived opportunity (such as the opportunity to buy KAA when it became available).

Even if the KAA purchase was a good decision, the roll-out still sucks, which is exactly what you'd expect from FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know nothing about the building modifications yet.

And in the face of declining enrollment across the county, albeit unevenly distributed, and the new housing units being erected near the Herndon and Innovation Center stations, it is very unpredictble what will happen with High School enrollment at this current time.

FCPS has also not followed normal procedures for setting up a boundary change.

They should have planned building modifications, such as enlarging classrooms, finding space for a library, creating an expanded cafeteria.

Most importantly, building a proper HS football stadium; tennis courts; baseball and softball diamonds; a track, a soccer field; and an exterior recreational basketball court.

Pretty much making it a high school.

They should have discussed programming first, modifications second, and boundaries third (after modifications are near or at completion, that is).

In Montgomery county, they have figured out the buildings before the boundaries (Northwood and Woodward; Wootton and Crown).

I believe this is how it will work in Loudoun County when HS-14 at the Watson Mountain site is erect.

This is typical planning protocol conducted by other counties/school districts, but not ours after 2005.

I don't care if its land or a pre-existing building, the protocols should be indiscriminant and uniform, and not as ludicrously bemusing as it has been.

FCPS Facilities planning has long been the worst in the region, and it's particularly egregious given FCPS's size.

They don't really plan; they either slavishly adhere to a renovation queue created 18 years ago (so schools get expanded simply because they are in the queue, regardless of their need or the needs elsewhere) or react to a perceived opportunity (such as the opportunity to buy KAA when it became available).

Even if the KAA purchase was a good decision, the roll-out still sucks, which is exactly what you'd expect from FCPS.

Yeah, true.

I wish the state would help fix/reform FPAC.

[Anonymous]

Who's excited about next week's boundary meetings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who's excited about next week's boundary meetings?

Yeah, I’m thrilled.

Have my prescription ready that night.

[Anonymous]

Will next week's boundary meeting reveal the most-likely finalized boundary?

[Anonymous]

We would like to remind you that our next round of community meetings regarding the Skyview High School and Western Pyramids Boundary Study will be held next week. At the meetings, we will share initial draft scenarios and gather your feedback. You may attend in person at Skyview High School or virtually via Zoom. To register, please click “in person” or “virtual” based on your preference:
• Tuesday, April 28, 6 to 8 p.m. (in person | virtual)
• Thursday, April 30, 6 to 8 p.m. (in person | virtual)

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they're not sharing the maps ahead of the first meeting on Tuesday, is that correct? If so, I think to no surprise that's a change from what they previously communicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like they're not sharing the maps ahead of the first meeting on Tuesday, is that correct? If so, I think to no surprise that's a change from what they previously communicated.

They don't want people coming to the meeting prepared with their complaints and talking points in response to what is on the maps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like they're not sharing the maps ahead of the first meeting on Tuesday, is that correct? If so, I think to no surprise that's a change from what they previously communicated.

They don't want people coming to the meeting prepared with their complaints and talking points in response to what is on the maps.

Thats wrong because preemptive feedback should be able to be given by attendees, because the options they share might be atrocious and/or blatantly awful.

FCPS has shown at a preponderance of the evidence, that they are grossly incompetent in the operations of schools; staffing of schools, centers, and offices; constructions, modifications, and renovations of school facilities; openings and closings of schools; and in boundary decisions.