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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to revisit the historical baggage, but Fox Mill seem always get what they want.

They had the Pinecrest overpass over FFX parkway that supposed to be a traffic light, and then they successfully stalled McLearen extension for 30 years.

Comparing the Fox mill housing block isolated to outside traffic to Franklin Farm which was dissected in half, I don't know...

I don’t know.

Fox Mill people didn’t want to be moved from Oakton to South Lakes in 2008, but they were forced to move.

I guess some people are still resentful of what the board did to the community back then, but most newer residents have embraced SLHS.

Now they have a potentially new option. Some people want to move to KAA, and some want to stay.

But Fox Mill people in general are not as vocal as people from some other areas and definitely they don’t always get what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP kept saying Fox Mill should leave SLHS for KAA, and making fun of crossdield os sending them to SLHS.

This is not attack? What you call this, Fox Mill?

Which PP made fun of sending Crossfield to SLHS?

The closest posting was:

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I don’t see any attack or mockery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP kept saying Fox Mill should leave SLHS for KAA, and making fun of crossdield os sending them to SLHS.

This is not attack? What you call this, Fox Mill?

Which PP made fun of sending Crossfield to SLHS?

The closest posting was:

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I don’t see any attack or mockery.

I am not Fox Mill or Crossfield. But, I remember when Fox Mill was sent from Oakton to South Lakes. So, I don't see why Crossfield could not be sent from Oakton to KAA. The reasons are the same: the distance. Fox Mill is in Hunter Mill and that is likely why it was sent to South Lakes rather than Crossfiedl. It is also closer to South Lakes.

But, there is a precedent for moving western Fairfax students out of Oakton because of the distance. That is a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP kept saying Fox Mill should leave SLHS for KAA, and making fun of crossdield os sending them to SLHS.

This is not attack? What you call this, Fox Mill?

Which PP made fun of sending Crossfield to SLHS?

The closest posting was:

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I don’t see any attack or mockery.

I am not Fox Mill or Crossfield. But, I remember when Fox Mill was sent from Oakton to South Lakes. So, I don't see why Crossfield could not be sent from Oakton to KAA. The reasons are the same: the distance. Fox Mill is in Hunter Mill and that is likely why it was sent to South Lakes rather than Crossfiedl. It is also closer to South Lakes.

But, there is a precedent for moving western Fairfax students out of Oakton because of the distance. That is a fact.

It was a very political process. And it will be a very political process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP kept saying Fox Mill should leave SLHS for KAA, and making fun of crossdield os sending them to SLHS.

This is not attack? What you call this, Fox Mill?

Which PP made fun of sending Crossfield to SLHS?

The closest posting was:

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I don’t see any attack or mockery.

I am not Fox Mill or Crossfield. But, I remember when Fox Mill was sent from Oakton to South Lakes. So, I don't see why Crossfield could not be sent from Oakton to KAA. The reasons are the same: the distance. Fox Mill is in Hunter Mill and that is likely why it was sent to South Lakes rather than Crossfiedl. It is also closer to South Lakes.

But, there is a precedent for moving western Fairfax students out of Oakton because of the distance. That is a fact.

Some homes from the part of Vienna close to Reston also got moved to SLHS at that time. I didn't have kids yet, but I remember hearing from people I knew in Reston that it was contentious. Their kids were already zoned to SLHS and they were shaking their head at how the Vienna people were freaking out. That part of Vienna is much closer to SLHS than Madison.

These people's kids are now highly successful adults, because they had good role models in their parents in terms of hard working and placing an importance on education. That matters a lot more than the school.

[Anonymous]

These people's kids are now highly successful adults, because they had good role models in their parents in terms of hard working and placing an importance on education. That matters a lot more than the school.

True. And, believe it or not, it is a lot easier to support your kids at their school if the school is close.

One parent said it didn't matter how long the bus took to get to Oakton because she would drive her child. Not everyone has that option. That limits after school activities for some kids.

If you've had a child in high school who participated in after school activities, you would understand. As for driving, do you really want your child driving that distance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question…why do people with kids already in Oakton HS care?

I don't have any high schoolers but perhaps property value concerns?

It’s impossible to account for siblings forever - I had a kid in elementary when others were in college. If they follow through with the AI sub school (robotics, computer vision, machine learning) Western will be THE coveted school, full stop. God knows leaving that in FCPS hands is risky but if it happens it will be national news. The demographics are always mixed in this area - we have lots of immigrant families - by the same token there are lots of parents who are serious about academics. Personally I’d like to see Fox Mill in there since they send the kids to Carson with the Oak Hill AAP kids - it’s be nice to keep them together. I also feel bad for Emerald Chase who is at Oak Hill then cast off elsewhere. The neighborhood is often visited by Chantilly Highlands kids via the woods and basketball courts. That said if I were in charge I’d draw a demographic radius circle around neighborhoods and that is who would be going. Forget agendas- public high school are intended to be primarily proximity. The lobbying to stay or go is next level. We go in all scenarios so Let’s go Western! Stop spending time on personal agendas and property value woes and get the AI and AE programs going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question…why do people with kids already in Oakton HS care?

I don't have any high schoolers but perhaps property value concerns?

It’s impossible to account for siblings forever - I had a kid in elementary when others were in college. If they follow through with the AI sub school (robotics, computer vision, machine learning) Western will be THE coveted school, full stop. God knows leaving that in FCPS hands is risky but if it happens it will be national news. The demographics are always mixed in this area - we have lots of immigrant families - by the same token there are lots of parents who are serious about academics. Personally I’d like to see Fox Mill in there since they send the kids to Carson with the Oak Hill AAP kids - it’s be nice to keep them together. I also feel bad for Emerald Chase who is at Oak Hill then cast off elsewhere. The neighborhood is often visited by Chantilly Highlands kids via the woods and basketball courts. That said if I were in charge I’d draw a demographic radius circle around neighborhoods and that is who would be going. Forget agendas- public high school are intended to be primarily proximity. The lobbying to stay or go is next level. We go in all scenarios so Let’s go Western! Stop spending time on personal agendas and property value woes and get the AI and AE programs going.

Thank you. Too many people forgetting this. It's one thing to argue that you don't want your kids attending a school that won't have access to the same programming as others while it's still very new. It's another thing to say your neighborhood should always get to be zoned for a school far away when several others are closer, just because you like that school better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

I think Oakton families are very attached to their relative ranking (slightly above Chantilly) and their wealthy students - sort of like getting a private school vibe, tuition free. Range Rovers for everyone! It’s a fine school but I don’t see the difference in outcomes as opposed to other schools like Chantilly. If you account for demographics and income it makes you wonder why they aren’t stronger. My kids went to Chantilly and went to colleges which were top 10 and top 4 for their majors and both got 4.0s their first year (ie- they were academically prepared). That to me, is a scorecard. Hand wringing is not. I hear a lot of talk about spending years competing to get on Oakton sport teams - which I haven’t even heard as being that good lately?? And even if they were most people will find what I have observed in the last 20 years - sports almost never lead to coveted d1 spots/admission. Parents are crazed over it until the kid goes to college and sports never comes up again - internships and job offers do. In other words, most FCPS high schools have pathways to success for motivated students. If the vibe is so important go to a private school but don’t condemn your future neighbors to drive 45 minutes to high school. That is fear, not facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

These people's kids are now highly successful adults, because they had good role models in their parents in terms of hard working and placing an importance on education. That matters a lot more than the school.

True. And, believe it or not, it is a lot easier to support your kids at their school if the school is close.

One parent said it didn't matter how long the bus took to get to Oakton because she would drive her child. Not everyone has that option. That limits after school activities for some kids.

If you've had a child in high school who participated in after school activities, you would understand. As for driving, do you really want your child driving that distance?

It 's not that far, not like they're driving out to Mount Weather or Summit Point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

#6 in Virginia High Schools (660+ public and 300 private)
#9 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools (64 metropolitan DC HS)
#4 in Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools (FCPS has 30 HS)

So, you basically have one of the top high schools in the area. It's number 3 in FCPS if you don't count the crown jewel of the DC area, Thomas Jefferson which is a govenor's school. If given the option, why wouldn't you want to attend a top high school? Generally top high schools have a combination of a high performing student body coupled with outstanding teachers. This combination pushes the students to achieve higher and provides additonal opportunites for excellence.

To downplay it means you're either unaware of its excellence, or your kids are mediorcre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question…why do people with kids already in Oakton HS care?

I don't have any high schoolers but perhaps property value concerns?

It’s impossible to account for siblings forever - I had a kid in elementary when others were in college. If they follow through with the AI sub school (robotics, computer vision, machine learning) Western will be THE coveted school, full stop. God knows leaving that in FCPS hands is risky but if it happens it will be national news. The demographics are always mixed in this area - we have lots of immigrant families - by the same token there are lots of parents who are serious about academics. Personally I’d like to see Fox Mill in there since they send the kids to Carson with the Oak Hill AAP kids - it’s be nice to keep them together. I also feel bad for Emerald Chase who is at Oak Hill then cast off elsewhere. The neighborhood is often visited by Chantilly Highlands kids via the woods and basketball courts. That said if I were in charge I’d draw a demographic radius circle around neighborhoods and that is who would be going. Forget agendas- public high school are intended to be primarily proximity. The lobbying to stay or go is next level. We go in all scenarios so Let’s go Western! Stop spending time on personal agendas and property value woes and get the AI and AE programs going.

Thank you. Too many people forgetting this. It's one thing to argue that you don't want your kids attending a school that won't have access to the same programming as others while it's still very new. It's another thing to say your neighborhood should always get to be zoned for a school far away when several others are closer, just because you like that school better.

People want stability. This isn’t that hard, but you don’t ever seem to get that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it is not crossfield issue then, it is Franklin Farm issue.

Franklin Farm does not need to persuade anybody else that they want to go to KAA because of a shorter commute.

Franklin farm just needs to figure out what your whole community needs.

I'm a Franklin Farm resident. My neighbors need to get a grip. Western HS/KAA is going to be a dream school.

The only thing that might be crappy is for elite athletes who could be Varsity starters all four years of high school but who might not have access to Varsity-level sports at the new school in the first year or two.

Otherwise, it's a dream! New schools often draw top talent with regard to teachers and admin, the resources (e.g., robotics lab, ceramics lab, pool, and auditorium) available are top-tier, and the commute is significantly less scary for a teen driver.

Oakton has been great, as has Chantilly for the other side of Franklin Farm. I'm sure Western/KAA will be just as good.

Academy-wise, the best Western HS could do is perform close to Chantilly. I don't see Western HS coming out of the gate (next 10 years) and getting even close to Oakton level. There is no incentive for Oakton people to leave an excellent school and go to an unknown.

I see there are gains from quality of education for Fox Mills moving to Western HS. Let's go Option B.

I'm so confused about what is just sooooo amazing about Oakton. Please share.

I think Oakton families are very attached to their relative ranking (slightly above Chantilly) and their wealthy students - sort of like getting a private school vibe, tuition free. Range Rovers for everyone! It’s a fine school but I don’t see the difference in outcomes as opposed to other schools like Chantilly. If you account for demographics and income it makes you wonder why they aren’t stronger. My kids went to Chantilly and went to colleges which were top 10 and top 4 for their majors and both got 4.0s their first year (ie- they were academically prepared). That to me, is a scorecard. Hand wringing is not. I hear a lot of talk about spending years competing to get on Oakton sport teams - which I haven’t even heard as being that good lately?? And even if they were most people will find what I have observed in the last 20 years - sports almost never lead to coveted d1 spots/admission. Parents are crazed over it until the kid goes to college and sports never comes up again - internships and job offers do. In other words, most FCPS high schools have pathways to success for motivated students. If the vibe is so important go to a private school but don’t condemn your future neighbors to drive 45 minutes to high school. That is fear, not facts.

What parent's are driving 45 minutes to schools? It doesn't even take 45 minutes to downtown DC from the Oakton area unless you're piling down columbia pike rather than sluggin it to DC.

Bus routes can be 40 min to any local school. My kid gets on a middle school bus at 6:20 while his buddy gets picked up at 7:05 and we're about the same distance to an oakton feeder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question…why do people with kids already in Oakton HS care?

I don't have any high schoolers but perhaps property value concerns?

It’s impossible to account for siblings forever - I had a kid in elementary when others were in college. If they follow through with the AI sub school (robotics, computer vision, machine learning) Western will be THE coveted school, full stop. God knows leaving that in FCPS hands is risky but if it happens it will be national news. The demographics are always mixed in this area - we have lots of immigrant families - by the same token there are lots of parents who are serious about academics. Personally I’d like to see Fox Mill in there since they send the kids to Carson with the Oak Hill AAP kids - it’s be nice to keep them together. I also feel bad for Emerald Chase who is at Oak Hill then cast off elsewhere. The neighborhood is often visited by Chantilly Highlands kids via the woods and basketball courts. That said if I were in charge I’d draw a demographic radius circle around neighborhoods and that is who would be going. Forget agendas- public high school are intended to be primarily proximity. The lobbying to stay or go is next level. We go in all scenarios so Let’s go Western! Stop spending time on personal agendas and property value woes and get the AI and AE programs going.

Thank you. Too many people forgetting this. It's one thing to argue that you don't want your kids attending a school that won't have access to the same programming as others while it's still very new. It's another thing to say your neighborhood should always get to be zoned for a school far away when several others are closer, just because you like that school better.

That is part of the wacky county model we have down south.

If you go to the north east, schools are town based so people just move to whatever town's high schools they want to go to.