FCPS HS Boundary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

There is no reason to force kids into a failing school with no plans to fix the school.

But you are pushing to rezone kids from a very successful high school to fill the spot of your kid who is zoned for Lewis so they can transfer someplace else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

There aren't that many WSHS/Irving kids going to Lake Braddock for AAP any more.

At least half, if not more of them now choose Irving over Lake Braddock.

There were over 100 last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

The overcrowded schools are not overcrowded due to pupil placements. Keeping students at Lewis isn’t going to make West Springfield less crowded.

[Anonymous]

It takes over 10 minutes to get through the muxing bowl into Lewis' parking lot and out of Lewis' parking lot at 3:15 in the summer with zero school student driver or bus traffic.

This time is roughly equivalent whether you are driving Old Keene Mill Rd or the Ffx Cty Parkway.

10 minutes to get through the mixing bowl with low midday traffic and zero school traffic means that it will take at least 20 minutes to get through the mixing bowl during dismissal when high school is insession, and longer than 20 minutes in the morning with rush hour commuters trying to get on the highway, past the new slug lot parking garage, and past the metro.

Based on traffic patterns alone, not a single WSHS neighbohood should be rezoned to Lewis.

With the mixing bowl traffic, plus pick up routes, you are looking at swapping a 15 minute bus ride to a 30-40 minute bus ride.

Any rezoning to Lewis should come from the other side of the mixing bowl. Period.

And quite frankly, Saratoga should be rezoned to South County to decrease traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

There is no reason to force kids into a failing school with no plans to fix the school.

But you are pushing to rezone kids from a very successful high school to fill the spot of your kid who is zoned for Lewis so they can transfer someplace else?

My kids don't go to Lewis. I think Lewis should either be closed or enough kids from WSHS moved in to make it a viable option for parents who care. Forcing 200 kids just puts them in a failing school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

There is no reason to force kids into a failing school with no plans to fix the school.

But you are pushing to rezone kids from a very successful high school to fill the spot of your kid who is zoned for Lewis so they can transfer someplace else?

My kids don't go to Lewis. I think Lewis should either be closed or enough kids from WSHS moved in to make it a viable option for parents who care. Forcing 200 kids just puts them in a failing school

That's why they will move all of Hunt Valley AND close the transfer loopholes to Hayfield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes over 10 minutes to get through the muxing bowl into Lewis' parking lot and out of Lewis' parking lot at 3:15 in the summer with zero school student driver or bus traffic.

This time is roughly equivalent whether you are driving Old Keene Mill Rd or the Ffx Cty Parkway.

10 minutes to get through the mixing bowl with low midday traffic and zero school traffic means that it will take at least 20 minutes to get through the mixing bowl during dismissal when high school is insession, and longer than 20 minutes in the morning with rush hour commuters trying to get on the highway, past the new slug lot parking garage, and past the metro.

Based on traffic patterns alone, not a single WSHS neighbohood should be rezoned to Lewis.

With the mixing bowl traffic, plus pick up routes, you are looking at swapping a 15 minute bus ride to a 30-40 minute bus ride.

Any rezoning to Lewis should come from the other side of the mixing bowl. Period.

And quite frankly, Saratoga should be rezoned to South County to decrease traffic.

As much as I despise Saratoga Mom, I agree with you re: Saratoga. South County is a lot closer. Saratoga residents petitioned to stay with then-Lee 19 years ago when they were changing boundaries because South County was opening. But it always made sense for them to go to South County, which is a lot closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

There is no reason to force kids into a failing school with no plans to fix the school.

When students must be moved based on capacity then yes, the first step is stopping transfers from an under enrolled school to an over enrolled school. Then you pause to examine if there is still a capacity issue. Then, you look at boundary adjustments as a last resort. The same applies for moves based on equitable access to programming because presumably the transfers out of an under enrolled school are the same kids who will help build its academic offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

There aren't that many WSHS/Irving kids going to Lake Braddock for AAP any more.

At least half, if not more of them now choose Irving over Lake Braddock.

There were over 100 last year.

So roughly 50-60 per grade?

I believe Irving has 3 very full AAP classes per grade, which means that there are 50% more to double the amount of Irving zoned AAP kids chosing Irving over Lake Braddock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

There is no reason to force kids into a failing school with no plans to fix the school.

But you are pushing to rezone kids from a very successful high school to fill the spot of your kid who is zoned for Lewis so they can transfer someplace else?

My kids don't go to Lewis. I think Lewis should either be closed or enough kids from WSHS moved in to make it a viable option for parents who care. Forcing 200 kids just puts them in a failing school

That's why they will move all of Hunt Valley AND close the transfer loopholes to Hayfield.

Your trolling is tiresome.

[Anonymous]

If it’s just about overcrowding at the WS elementaries/Irving/WSHS, then those kids need to go wherever is closest that isn’t also overcrowded. Which for most students in West Springfield on the edges of the (already compact) boundaries, would be Lake Braddock or South County. BOTH of which are under enrolled. Some students at the north end of WS’s boundaries may be closer to Annandale, but WSHS, itself, is on the north end of its own boundary and those kids have the shortest commute to the HS so are less likely to be moved.

The problem is reading between the lines of this school board, they will want to prop up enrollment at certain schools at the expense of others. If their own long term projections are to be believed, in 10-15 years it may be more cost effective to close a HS on the eastern end of the county entirely. Could be Lewis, could be Mount Vernon, both are projected to be well under capacity eventually. Then someone will have to accurately and without prejudice, run the numbers on whether it’s best to keep a 60%-65% capacity school running or to shift those students to nearby schools even if that necessitates expansions at nearby schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you folks take the AAP talk to another thread unless you’re specifically tying it to a discussion of boundaries? Thanks.

AAP programs influence boundaries just like any other program. AAP centers cause some schools to have a good number more kids and lead to near or over capacity ES. Returning kids to the base school could cause an ES to become over crowded. It is a part of the conversation. How the program is adminstered is not a part of the conversation except for the fact that the Center devotees swear that Center AAP is better then LLIV.

On the other hand, Irving is an example of an overcrowded middle school that is not an AAP center and that would be significantly more overcrowded if the AAP kids at Lake Braddock were at Irving instead.

Which is why we need a boundary study across the County so that over crowded schools are relieved of those issues and under enrolled schools are used to their full capacity.

The starting point is finding a way to keep the roughly 230 kids actually living in homes zoned for Lewis at Lewis.

This should be fixed before any discussion of rezoning.

There is no reason to force kids into a failing school with no plans to fix the school.

When students must be moved based on capacity then yes, the first step is stopping transfers from an under enrolled school to an over enrolled school. Then you pause to examine if there is still a capacity issue. Then, you look at boundary adjustments as a last resort. The same applies for moves based on equitable access to programming because presumably the transfers out of an under enrolled school are the same kids who will help build its academic offerings.

Not addressing the root issues won't help capacity issues. Those students will not be enough to justify adding the courses that the are leaving to get

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s just about overcrowding at the WS elementaries/Irving/WSHS, then those kids need to go wherever is closest that isn’t also overcrowded. Which for most students in West Springfield on the edges of the (already compact) boundaries, would be Lake Braddock or South County. BOTH of which are under enrolled. Some students at the north end of WS’s boundaries may be closer to Annandale, but WSHS, itself, is on the north end of its own boundary and those kids have the shortest commute to the HS so are less likely to be moved.

The problem is reading between the lines of this school board, they will want to prop up enrollment at certain schools at the expense of others. If their own long term projections are to be believed, in 10-15 years it may be more cost effective to close a HS on the eastern end of the county entirely. Could be Lewis, could be Mount Vernon, both are projected to be well under capacity eventually. Then someone will have to accurately and without prejudice, run the numbers on whether it’s best to keep a 60%-65% capacity school running or to shift those students to nearby schools even if that necessitates expansions at nearby schools.

Mount Vernon isn't closing. Neither Hayfield nor West Potomac can absorb that many students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s just about overcrowding at the WS elementaries/Irving/WSHS, then those kids need to go wherever is closest that isn’t also overcrowded. Which for most students in West Springfield on the edges of the (already compact) boundaries, would be Lake Braddock or South County. BOTH of which are under enrolled. Some students at the north end of WS’s boundaries may be closer to Annandale, but WSHS, itself, is on the north end of its own boundary and those kids have the shortest commute to the HS so are less likely to be moved.

The problem is reading between the lines of this school board, they will want to prop up enrollment at certain schools at the expense of others. If their own long term projections are to be believed, in 10-15 years it may be more cost effective to close a HS on the eastern end of the county entirely. Could be Lewis, could be Mount Vernon, both are projected to be well under capacity eventually. Then someone will have to accurately and without prejudice, run the numbers on whether it’s best to keep a 60%-65% capacity school running or to shift those students to nearby schools even if that necessitates expansions at nearby schools.

Mount Vernon isn't closing. Neither Hayfield nor West Potomac can absorb that many students

Probably not, but in 10, 15, 20 years, what will the landscape look like? The birth rate is getting lower, and it doesn’t seem like the school population is increasing. More staying flat overall but uneven across the county. And you can’t use Lewis and Mount Vernon to relieve capacity at Chantilly and Centreville.

[Anonymous]

They kept Marshall open years ago when its enrollment was around 1200 and now it’s around 2200. Had they closed it, who knows what they would have been forced to do to handle the later growth in and around Tysons.

I don’t see them closing Lewis even if its enrollment continues to decline as projected over the next 5 years. More likely they’ll move some kids there just like they did at South Lakes 15 years ago.