FCPS Boundary Review Updates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t McNair 2x as far to Westfield as Herndon? Is there a chance in the boundary review that more of Coates goes to McNair and then McNair shifts to Herndon pyramid? McNair to Westfield is 8 miles versus four to Herndon. That’s like the distance people are angry about for Langley versus Herndon . Both Coates and McNair are so far from Westfield

Except kids over 10 miles from Langley are going there when Herndon is less than half the distance.

Also, McNair is the only AAP Center ES in the Westfield pyramid. Clearview is already an AAP Center ES in the Herndon pyramid.

There you are again, pretending like distance equates to savings. A reminder to everyone who reads this posters frequent posts on distance, it’s two minutes difference between HMS and cooper and 9 between hhs and Langley. Even less for folks to the East and North of Forestville.

It doesn’t save any transportation costs, but this poster repeats it because that’s all she’s got.

The two situations aren’t similar, and moving McNair to Herndon leaves Westfield without any AAP center at the ES level.

Of course that doesn’t matter to Langley families who will defend their 10 mile or more commutes to the death and already have two ES AAP centers and a MS AAP center.

Seems quite similar. Forestvilles center school is out of the pyramid. For middle school Herndon goes to Hughes. McNair and Coates are far away from Westfield. Much much closer to Herndon. Same argument that people throw at Langley families. You just don’t like it because it either affects you or doesn’t fix the problem they want Langley families to fix in Herndon

These are the types of situations they are trying to clean up, not perpetuate, much less create.

And the distance of these Westfield feeders to Westfield is not as great as the distance of Forestville to Langley.

Neither the facts nor the goals of the boundary review are on your side here.

I don’t think you’re right. Coates is overcrowded. McNair is not. Coates already partially goes to Herndon. Herndon is under capacity. Westfield is almost at 100%. If they are going to shift Chantilly anywhere it’s Westfield. So Westfield needs more room. The distance between the schools is not much different than the forestville homes to Langley or Herndon. It’s a great disparity when you compare forestville families to Herndon middle instead of cooper. You’re just seeing what you want to see

I agree with a previous poster that centers need to go away. If you want to save on transportation stop bussing kids to centers when almost every school has level 4 AAP. Just put level 4 in the schools that don’t currently have it. Get rid of centers. Stop bussing kids out of pyramids and away from schools close to them. Save money.

Obviously Coates is overcrowded, but PP is probably correct that they likely will move part of both Coates and Forestville to Herndon feeders.

In any event, you've given away your bias with the bolded sentence. Regardless of distance, they can't possibly move Forestville families to Herndon MS/HS because there's a "great disparity" with Cooper/Langley? Sure they can, and they likely will.

As for getting rid of AAP centers, IB, etc., you can wish for that all you like, but until they actually commit to doing it you're tilting at windmills. People in the wealthier areas tend to argue in favor of getting rid of centers, but if your ES wouldn't have many LLIV-eligible kids the centers may be all that's keeping you in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

When is the next FCPS BRAC meeting?

[Anonymous]

I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

Cooper and Longfellow are a wash from there, but significantly longer to Langley than McLean, especially with traffic.

Moving Spring Hill in and Forestville out is largely wash. But don’t just take my word for it. Look for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

Cooper and Longfellow are a wash from there, but significantly longer to Langley than McLean, especially with traffic.

Moving Spring Hill in and Forestville out is largely wash. But don’t just take my word for it. Look for yourself.

DP. I thought the argument was that Langley could take on the Spring Hill island from McLean and still keep Forestville by eliminating the 100 or so pupil placements to Langley. Under that scenario, the only kids who likely get moved out of the Langley pyramid are the Forestville kids who live on the other side of Route 7 and have Herndon or Reston mailing addresses. They'd get moved to other Herndon feeders, but Forestville would still feed to Cooper/Langley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

Cooper and Longfellow are a wash from there, but significantly longer to Langley than McLean, especially with traffic.

Moving Spring Hill in and Forestville out is largely wash. But don’t just take my word for it. Look for yourself.

DP. I thought the argument was that Langley could take on the Spring Hill island from McLean and still keep Forestville by eliminating the 100 or so pupil placements to Langley. Under that scenario, the only kids who likely get moved out of the Langley pyramid are the Forestville kids who live on the other side of Route 7 and have Herndon or Reston mailing addresses. They'd get moved to other Herndon feeders, but Forestville would still feed to Cooper/Langley

Just looking into the actual numbers and data, since we all seem to gloss over that. I think it’s primarily that Langley is in a bad spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

Cooper and Longfellow are a wash from there, but significantly longer to Langley than McLean, especially with traffic.

Moving Spring Hill in and Forestville out is largely wash. But don’t just take my word for it. Look for yourself.

DP. I thought the argument was that Langley could take on the Spring Hill island from McLean and still keep Forestville by eliminating the 100 or so pupil placements to Langley. Under that scenario, the only kids who likely get moved out of the Langley pyramid are the Forestville kids who live on the other side of Route 7 and have Herndon or Reston mailing addresses. They'd get moved to other Herndon feeders, but Forestville would still feed to Cooper/Langley

Just looking into the actual numbers and data, since we all seem to gloss over that. I think it’s primarily that Langley is in a bad spot.

Bingo! Bordered on one side by Arlington. On the other by the Potomac River. McLean High is pretty close. No where to go but NW. That is why the boundary was drawn that way in the beginning. And, Herndon was full anyway.
No good alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

Cooper and Longfellow are a wash from there, but significantly longer to Langley than McLean, especially with traffic.

Moving Spring Hill in and Forestville out is largely wash. But don’t just take my word for it. Look for yourself.

DP. I thought the argument was that Langley could take on the Spring Hill island from McLean and still keep Forestville by eliminating the 100 or so pupil placements to Langley. Under that scenario, the only kids who likely get moved out of the Langley pyramid are the Forestville kids who live on the other side of Route 7 and have Herndon or Reston mailing addresses. They'd get moved to other Herndon feeders, but Forestville would still feed to Cooper/Langley

Just looking into the actual numbers and data, since we all seem to gloss over that. I think it’s primarily that Langley is in a bad spot.

Bingo! Bordered on one side by Arlington. On the other by the Potomac River. McLean High is pretty close. No where to go but NW. That is why the boundary was drawn that way in the beginning. And, Herndon was full anyway.
No good alternative.

And re: transportation costs, it’s robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that even some of the closer-in places that might get moved to Langley would be hit with commutes to cooper and Langley that would be much longer than what they are for their current schools.

It turns out that Langley is just not a great spot geographically to be in.

Any claims of transportation savings are a mirage, when you look at the extra time on the bus for students moved to Langley.

The drive from Spring Hill attendance island to Langley is nearly the same as to McLean and it’s actually closer to Cooper than Longfellow!

Cooper and Longfellow are a wash from there, but significantly longer to Langley than McLean, especially with traffic.

Moving Spring Hill in and Forestville out is largely wash. But don’t just take my word for it. Look for yourself.

DP. I thought the argument was that Langley could take on the Spring Hill island from McLean and still keep Forestville by eliminating the 100 or so pupil placements to Langley. Under that scenario, the only kids who likely get moved out of the Langley pyramid are the Forestville kids who live on the other side of Route 7 and have Herndon or Reston mailing addresses. They'd get moved to other Herndon feeders, but Forestville would still feed to Cooper/Langley

Just looking into the actual numbers and data, since we all seem to gloss over that. I think it’s primarily that Langley is in a bad spot.

Bingo! Bordered on one side by Arlington. On the other by the Potomac River. McLean High is pretty close. No where to go but NW. That is why the boundary was drawn that way in the beginning. And, Herndon was full anyway.
No good alternative.

And re: transportation costs, it’s robbing Peter to pay Paul.

But in terms of capacity utilization, it could relieve overcrowding at McLean to move more McLean kids into Langley and some Langley kids into Herndon.

FCPS has made clear they aren't going to invest in McLean so maybe you need to take up a collection to build an addition there. That would keep the kids closer to where they live.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who reads this thread knows that NO ONE wants to move out of their current school. The only ones in favor of this mess are the ones who want others to MOVE IN their school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who reads this thread knows that NO ONE wants to move out of their current school. The only ones in favor of this mess are the ones who want others to MOVE IN their school.

That may be true, but anyone who has read FCPS's descriptions of the goals of the boundary review knows they are highlighting the elimination of attendance islands. And the Tysons island at McLean, even if closer to McLean than Langley, is closer to Langley than many current Langley neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When is the next FCPS BRAC meeting?

They’re supposed to meet every 2 weeks, and last met Feb 21, so it should be this week. Wonder how long it will take the scenarios presented to leak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Before any discussion of changing boundaries, the SB needs to eliminate ALL AAP centers and just ensure every school has AAP classes. The skewing and confusion of borders is due in large part to the absurd busing of certain students to center schools. At this point, the center model is redundant and wasteful and needs to end.

Boundaries should only be addressed if there is a need to do so AFTER all kids are back in their community schools.

Agreed. At the next BRAC meeting, they are reviewing a scenario of everyone returning to their zoned school. So many of these inflated schools are influenced by those they allow attend from other zone, and often those over-achievers looking for more!

Bring students back to their home zones, offer fair and enticing programming within all pyramids and then assess capacity issues. See how testing and scores level out before their next equity brigade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Before any discussion of changing boundaries, the SB needs to eliminate ALL AAP centers and just ensure every school has AAP classes. The skewing and confusion of borders is due in large part to the absurd busing of certain students to center schools. At this point, the center model is redundant and wasteful and needs to end.

Boundaries should only be addressed if there is a need to do so AFTER all kids are back in their community schools.

Agreed. At the next BRAC meeting, they are reviewing a scenario of everyone returning to their zoned school. So many of these inflated schools are influenced by those they allow attend from other zone, and often those over-achievers looking for more!

Bring students back to their home zones, offer fair and enticing programming within all pyramids and then assess capacity issues. See how testing and scores level out before their next equity brigade.

Was not aware this option was being considered (returning everyone to their zoned school). I think this is what many of us wanted as a start point for this whole review process, very pleased it's being presented to the BRAC.