FCPS is turning the new high school purchased to fix crowding into an Aviation magnet school instead of a high school??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.


Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

You or your neighbors are the ones complaining magnets are bad, yet the data shows your pyramids send lots of kids to TJ.

So basically they’re good so long as they are in a building that had been and could be someone else’s neighborhood school, and bad if they get in the way of a neighborhood school you desire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

You or your neighbors are the ones complaining magnets are bad, yet the data shows your pyramids send lots of kids to TJ.

So basically they’re good so long as they are in a building that had been and could be someone else’s neighborhood school, and bad if they get in the way of a neighborhood school you desire.

There is a 30+ year difference between these two decisions…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

You or your neighbors are the ones complaining magnets are bad, yet the data shows your pyramids send lots of kids to TJ.

So basically they’re good so long as they are in a building that had been and could be someone else’s neighborhood school, and bad if they get in the way of a neighborhood school you desire.

Well, have you lived there for over forty years? That's how long TJ has been a governor's school.

And, honestly, I see no need for ANY magnets, but I guess it is good if my neighbors go there. Our schools are already quite overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to see a english/performing arts centered magnet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

You or your neighbors are the ones complaining magnets are bad, yet the data shows your pyramids send lots of kids to TJ.

So basically they’re good so long as they are in a building that had been and could be someone else’s neighborhood school, and bad if they get in the way of a neighborhood school you desire.

Well, have you lived there for over forty years? That's how long TJ has been a governor's school.

And, honestly, I see no need for ANY magnets, but I guess it is good if my neighbors go there. Our schools are already quite overcrowded.

Over 500 empty seats at Herndon. Adjustments could have been made already to move kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this ridiculous sniping back and forth and what I want to know is: why was an aviation academy even suggested? Seems like a completely frivolous idea that NO ONE wants or needs and is the very antithesis of a neighborhood school providing relief for that area. I feel like someone suggested it (one of the idiot SB members) and everyone's fighting over it. It should never have been suggested.

And btw - I live nowhere near this area, so a new western high school won't affect my kids at all. Just chiming in as a FC resident that the idea of a "specialty school" where none is needed is totally absurd. Right up there with the Lewis "leadership academy".

It seems to have gotten some traction because of concerns that the KAA building is not large enough or currently configured to support a traditional high school with a normal enrollment, at least not without a big additional investment.

They were in a big hurry to acquire this property so perhaps their due diligence was less than should have been undertaken.

The Lewis program is a different animal because they were trying to attract more students to a school that, while on the smaller end, has an adequate facility to support a traditional HS.

No one at the school board has said this. Only some NextDoor posters and their alter egos on here are trying to push this narrative.

DP, you should go watch last week’s work session before you make a claim about why some school board members think the school should be a magnet/academy. Because they do think the configuration is a big issue. I think many actually think an academy or magnet is genuinely a good idea too.

What does staff do? No plan at all for how to make the space work?
Lady's comment was that she did not want to destroy those "beautiful small spaces" or something like that. This after she praised the purchase the night they voted because Chantilly needs relief.

What happened in the meantime? She has talked in the past about how Chantilly took every space--closets included and used it in some way. Why not the same at KAA?

The school was built for 1300--certainly it could be adjusted for more--and there are additional buildings available that could easily be utilized for additional space or an academy later.
But, our School Board likes the "extras" not the "basics."

It sounds like staff was just told initially to find a way to buy the building. Then the School Board was told it was beautiful and heard about all the special amenities. They got stars in their eyes.

Only later did they come to earth and focus on the fact that it wasn’t constructed as a public 9-12 school. It was built to hold a maximum 1230 K-12 kids, not 1300 or more high school kids.

So they have to figure out whether to use it for a smaller magnet or tell the public they actually need to spend many millions more to modify and expand the school and outside facilities so it can be a traditional HS.

These aren’t people who’ve shown any ability to approach a challenge of any sort and come up with sensible solutions. So they are floundering. They are already wasting $85 million on Dunn Loring, and now it looks like they may have dug themselves into a hole with KAA. They’ll piss people off if they make it a magnet and they’ll piss off others if they end up having to plow many millions more into the school before it can open as a traditional school. They’ve told others for years there was no money for their schools yet KAA could suck up a large percentage of the capital budget for years.

And we haven’t even started to consider the reaction if it opens as a traditional high school and, due to its small size, can’t offer the same breadth of courses and electives as Oakton or Chantilly.

With a stronger superintendent and better School Board we’d have people who can plan appropriately, develop a sound business case for a major expenditure, commit to a clear vision for a new school, and communicate with transparency to the public. Sadly, all this is lacking.

Well said! All of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to see a english/performing arts centered magnet

+1
It's too late for my kids, but we so wanted a humanities magnet high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to see a english/performing arts centered magnet

+1
It's too late for my kids, but we so wanted a humanities magnet high school.

PP again - I meant in the past, not the KAA school. That should be a traditional high school.

[Anonymous]

Michelle Reid needs to GO. Let's get a roll-up-your-sleeves, smart manager who can make some sensible decisions and do the work to implement them for the benefit of students, not just do endless photos opps around the county. Not impressed .. anyone can get driven around to site visits and avoid actual hard work. Meanwhile she's making hundreds of thousands of dollars... disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michelle Reid needs to GO. Let's get a roll-up-your-sleeves, smart manager who can make some sensible decisions and do the work to implement them for the benefit of students, not just do endless photos opps around the county. Not impressed .. anyone can get driven around to site visits and avoid actual hard work. Meanwhile she's making hundreds of thousands of dollars... disgusting.

She also writes very long emails.for the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to see a english/performing arts centered magnet

+1
It's too late for my kids, but we so wanted a humanities magnet high school.

+2
Would love to see kaa as a humanities magnet or at least academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

You or your neighbors are the ones complaining magnets are bad, yet the data shows your pyramids send lots of kids to TJ.

So basically they’re good so long as they are in a building that had been and could be someone else’s neighborhood school, and bad if they get in the way of a neighborhood school you desire.

Well, have you lived there for over forty years? That's how long TJ has been a governor's school.

And, honestly, I see no need for ANY magnets, but I guess it is good if my neighbors go there. Our schools are already quite overcrowded.

Over 500 empty seats at Herndon. Adjustments could have been made already to move kids there.

Then Herndon can get the airline mechanic academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michelle Reid needs to GO. Let's get a roll-up-your-sleeves, smart manager who can make some sensible decisions and do the work to implement them for the benefit of students, not just do endless photos opps around the county. Not impressed .. anyone can get driven around to site visits and avoid actual hard work. Meanwhile she's making hundreds of thousands of dollars... disgusting.

She also writes very long emails.for the website.

Some have suggested that her aides compose these long emails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.

Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive.

If it were so simple and cost so little, why wouldn’t we have heard about that already?

If it were so difficult and would cost so much, wouldn't we have heard about that already?

Of course not. FCPS would delay that news as long as possible. At this looking they haven’t even managed to put out a release that the sale closed, much less clarified how the facility will be used or the total costs.

The purchase has already been widely publicized. Why are you so mad that an official press release didn’t go out? Who cares?

https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

Melanie Meren took Reid to task at the work session for not getting a press release out. She said the communications had been poor and that as a result she wasn’t able to answer basic questions from her constituents.

That report is from June. You would think they would put out a presser.

Some people would love for it to be a magnet: The Fairfax Federation, for one. They have lobbied for one for years--never mind that the role of a school system is to educate all students. And, honestly, shouldn't they at least attempt to educate them in their locality as much as possible?

Notice that they give huge lip service to equity, yet claim that high school kids are not watching younger siblings after school. Maybe, that is true, but it seems likely to me that it does fall on older siblings to help out in these poorer families.

They also do not pay attention to the fact that some kids want--and need--after school jobs. Good luck with that in Fairfax County.

Are you saying TJHSST should be returned to community use?

Because Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that sent the most kids to TJ last year (McLean - 133; Chantilly - 119; Langley - 116; Oakton - 101).

Jefferson was a community high school once. It inconvenienced some when their neighborhood school got closed but it was deemed to be in the greater good. It seems a bit hypocritical to criticize magnet schools but then be among the top pyramids for TJ.

TJ is right by Annandale HS — 3.5 miles away. So the transportation isn’t that far for kids in what would be the neighborhood lines of TJ.

If they make KAA a magnet, then they’re shipping the kids who live right there off to South Lakes, Westfield or Oakton which are all significantly farther. Chantilly is closer but is already overcrowded and is already (and proposed to) turn close neighborhoods away because of capacity.

There are kids in neighborhoods that used to attend Jefferson who now have to cross both 395 and 495 to get to Edison. That’s arguably more problematic than the commute for any kids in western Fairfax.

But you never cared about that. Your pyramids send lots of your kids to TJ and now you want a new neighborhood school that will cost a lot and increase the excess capacity at some western high schools as well.

Do you have any idea how many schools have been built since TJ was formed? It opened, according to Wikipedia in 1985. Do you really think I had anything to do with it? You really think anyone in this area had anything to do with that?

If some of my neighbors want their kids to go there, that has nothing to do with my desire for my kids to have a normal high school education in a school where they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Why don't you lobby to go to Annandale?

You or your neighbors are the ones complaining magnets are bad, yet the data shows your pyramids send lots of kids to TJ.

So basically they’re good so long as they are in a building that had been and could be someone else’s neighborhood school, and bad if they get in the way of a neighborhood school you desire.

Well, have you lived there for over forty years? That's how long TJ has been a governor's school.

And, honestly, I see no need for ANY magnets, but I guess it is good if my neighbors go there. Our schools are already quite overcrowded.

Over 500 empty seats at Herndon. Adjustments could have been made already to move kids there.

Then Herndon can get the airline mechanic academy.

Herndon is configured as a traditional FCPS high school. KAA currently is not.