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:I emailed the school board and administration. They told me that this will absolutely not be a magnet school. The intent is to alleviate overcrowding at western high schools.

\

this person is trying to keep everyone from emailing

No, please, I encourage you to email them, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an aviation program is a good idea (and I don’t think most of FCPS ideas are good ideas). We have a nationwide shortage of pilots and air traffic control and this is a good market. Why the hate about this? Seems better than some sports marketing or journalism magnet??

What about medicine? We also have a shortage of doctors and nurses. My question is why aviation? Whose idea was it and why was there no public discussion of priorities?

There is a nursing program in FCPS.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/career-and-technical-education/academies-and-specialized-programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I emailed the school board and administration. They told me that this will absolutely not be a magnet school. The intent is to alleviate overcrowding at western high schools.

Then why are almost all the documents posted on Board Docs for the August 26 work session about FCPS plan to make the new high school an Aviation magnet? The plans are quite detailed, down to specific curriculum. There are multiple documents posted in board docs by FCPS outlining the detailed plans. The plans already discuss their chosen corporate sponsors (Amazon for example) not simply a general statement of how they are going to set up bidding for corporate sponsors.

It sounds like our school board reps need to familiarize themselves with Board Docs.

The plans talk about an Academy program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:another group that is lobbying for a magnet--letter regarding it:

https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/_files/ugd/8bf868_d128de909f284981a476bef5d4429396.pdf

The Education committee of the Fairfax Federation is meeting with Reid next month. They have a meeting at Gatehouse prior to that (at least I think that is what it says.)
https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/education

Wait they want to make it another GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL? Would it be just part of the school, like some of the other academic year governor's schools, or are they really recommending we create a second TJ that takes the entire building??

It's an endeavor to avoid base school boundary changes. Elephant in the room is open capacity at Herndon HS. Similar to what MacKay called open capacity at Mount Vernon prior to the BOS approving the West Potomac expansion for a bond referendum. Surf the Fed of Citizens association site for names, look up addresses where possible, FCPS committee or BRAC membership. Eastern FX has Edison Global STEM [ how did it end up there and not Lewis?] so there's not a comp product in the western part of the county. https://edisonhs.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/GSCP%20FAQs%2011.2022_0.pdf

3 years full time, 90/grade, transfer, no transportation, senior year transfer reg or apply for IB. That letter is NOT about a 60 [2 classrooms] or 90 [3 classrooms] program co-existing with the base school POS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are more schools int he area that would want to move then there is space, the idea of using this as a magnate school is ridiculous.

I know parents at Oakhill, Navy, Crossfield, and Fox Mill who would love to be at KAA. I don't know parents at McNair or Coates so I won't speak for them. The "space" for an academy would only be there because they will be adding classes as the kids move into the building. They could easily fill the capacity by the time all four grades are in to school.

The academy feels like a project to make one school board member happy, and I guess that happened at Lewis with the leadership academy so why not an aviation academy? It also strikes me as a way to try and tell parents that there is no space for their kid to move from SLHS or Westfields to the new academy, knowing that there are parents who would be happy to have their kids moved from SLHS or Westfield. It is an excuse to keep MC and UMC at moderatly high FARMS schools to keep test scores in an ok place at those schools.

It’s Coates, Floris, McNair, and Oak Hill that have first dibs on KAA, not Fox Mill or Crossfield, much less Navy. I know some have this fantasy of creating Langley 2.0 next door to Carson, but that was never going to happen with or without an aviation program part of the picture.

PP from 09:47, arguing that aviation academy may not be a conspiracy. I live no more than 2 miles from KAA, I am familiar with the local school boundaries.

Currently ES enrollment: see https://www.fcpsboundaryreview.org/
McNair 531
Coats: 983
Floris: 666
Oak Hill: 639

Total ES students above: 2819 for 7 grades.
Estimated HS students: 2819 * 4 grades / 7 grades = 1610.

Compare to HS enrollment from other nearby HSs: Chantilly: 2916, Herndon: 2230, Westfield: 2710. It's reasonable to expect the new HS target student body would be around 2000.

As you can see, the new HS either needs 400-500 students from ES feeders like Fox Mill, Xfield and/or Lee Corners, The problem with getting students from other ES is that that will turn those ES into split feeders, something FCPS is trying to avoid.

OR they can start an academy program to get that 400-500 kids to fill up the space. Note this is not a magnet school, it's academy similar to vocational academy in Chantilly, Marshalls etc. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/career-and-technical-education/academies-and-specialized-programs

That’s a bizarre analysis unless your assumption is that we’re supposed to pour whatever additional money is required to bring KAA up to the capacity of a school with 2000 or more kids.

If the actual capacity is closer to 1600, that’s how many kids should go there. They aren’t expanding other schools that could use additional seats, so they sure as hell shouldn’t be building an addition to KAA. Lewis has 1600 kids and that should be enough as well for KAA if that’s the number of kids it can accommodate. You can go play sports against smaller Loudoun schools, but investing even more money in this facility is ridiculous when others are repeatedly told there’s no money for them.

My analysis is based on facts, not emotion.

"The property consists of 325,000 square feet of internal space, as well as 30 acres of land at 2949, 2950, and 2954 Education Dr., Herndon. " https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

I cannot find sqft number for westfield/Chantilly or Lewis, but Oakton HS currently have 410,036 square feet, and official capacity is 2625. https://www.fcps.edu/oakton-high-capital-project

If you do the math, that makes the KAA capacity around 2080.

I try to argue based on evidences, not half truth.

[Anonymous]

Or they see the writing on the wall re: the future of college education and how many students are deciding to forgo it bc it’s no longer a guarantee of a job. It wouldn’t surprise me if school districts start having more academies within regular high schools with the aim of getting kids ready for a job in addition to/instead of college. Whether that is a good idea goes beyond FCPS.

[Anonymous]

The building size is similar to CVHS which also has a capacity of around 2100-2200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are more schools int he area that would want to move then there is space, the idea of using this as a magnate school is ridiculous.

I know parents at Oakhill, Navy, Crossfield, and Fox Mill who would love to be at KAA. I don't know parents at McNair or Coates so I won't speak for them. The "space" for an academy would only be there because they will be adding classes as the kids move into the building. They could easily fill the capacity by the time all four grades are in to school.

The academy feels like a project to make one school board member happy, and I guess that happened at Lewis with the leadership academy so why not an aviation academy? It also strikes me as a way to try and tell parents that there is no space for their kid to move from SLHS or Westfields to the new academy, knowing that there are parents who would be happy to have their kids moved from SLHS or Westfield. It is an excuse to keep MC and UMC at moderatly high FARMS schools to keep test scores in an ok place at those schools.

It’s Coates, Floris, McNair, and Oak Hill that have first dibs on KAA, not Fox Mill or Crossfield, much less Navy. I know some have this fantasy of creating Langley 2.0 next door to Carson, but that was never going to happen with or without an aviation program part of the picture.

PP from 09:47, arguing that aviation academy may not be a conspiracy. I live no more than 2 miles from KAA, I am familiar with the local school boundaries.

Currently ES enrollment: see https://www.fcpsboundaryreview.org/
McNair 531
Coats: 983
Floris: 666
Oak Hill: 639

Total ES students above: 2819 for 7 grades.
Estimated HS students: 2819 * 4 grades / 7 grades = 1610.

Compare to HS enrollment from other nearby HSs: Chantilly: 2916, Herndon: 2230, Westfield: 2710. It's reasonable to expect the new HS target student body would be around 2000.

As you can see, the new HS either needs 400-500 students from ES feeders like Fox Mill, Xfield and/or Lee Corners, The problem with getting students from other ES is that that will turn those ES into split feeders, something FCPS is trying to avoid.

OR they can start an academy program to get that 400-500 kids to fill up the space. Note this is not a magnet school, it's academy similar to vocational academy in Chantilly, Marshalls etc. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/career-and-technical-education/academies-and-specialized-programs

That’s a bizarre analysis unless your assumption is that we’re supposed to pour whatever additional money is required to bring KAA up to the capacity of a school with 2000 or more kids.

If the actual capacity is closer to 1600, that’s how many kids should go there. They aren’t expanding other schools that could use additional seats, so they sure as hell shouldn’t be building an addition to KAA. Lewis has 1600 kids and that should be enough as well for KAA if that’s the number of kids it can accommodate. You can go play sports against smaller Loudoun schools, but investing even more money in this facility is ridiculous when others are repeatedly told there’s no money for them.

My analysis is based on facts, not emotion.

"The property consists of 325,000 square feet of internal space, as well as 30 acres of land at 2949, 2950, and 2954 Education Dr., Herndon. " https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

I cannot find sqft number for westfield/Chantilly or Lewis, but Oakton HS currently have 410,036 square feet, and official capacity is 2625. https://www.fcps.edu/oakton-high-capital-project

If you do the math, that makes the KAA capacity around 2080.

I try to argue based on evidences, not half truth.

The square footage does not tell you what the capacity may be without understanding how the building is actually configured. Or are you assuming we’ll just keep plowing tens of millions into this facility, without figuring out first how we’re going to take advantage of the hundreds of empty seats at another high school in western Fairfax?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:another group that is lobbying for a magnet--letter regarding it:

https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/_files/ugd/8bf868_d128de909f284981a476bef5d4429396.pdf

The Education committee of the Fairfax Federation is meeting with Reid next month. They have a meeting at Gatehouse prior to that (at least I think that is what it says.)
https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/education

Wait they want to make it another GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL? Would it be just part of the school, like some of the other academic year governor's schools, or are they really recommending we create a second TJ that takes the entire building??

It's an endeavor to avoid base school boundary changes. Elephant in the room is open capacity at Herndon HS. Similar to what MacKay called open capacity at Mount Vernon prior to the BOS approving the West Potomac expansion for a bond referendum. Surf the Fed of Citizens association site for names, look up addresses where possible, FCPS committee or BRAC membership. Eastern FX has Edison Global STEM [ how did it end up there and not Lewis?] so there's not a comp product in the western part of the county. https://edisonhs.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/GSCP%20FAQs%2011.2022_0.pdf

3 years full time, 90/grade, transfer, no transportation, senior year transfer reg or apply for IB. That letter is NOT about a 60 [2 classrooms] or 90 [3 classrooms] program co-existing with the base school POS.

There are people who want to go to the new school (Fox Mills people from South Lake) or their school frees up space (Centreville/Chantilly indirect adjustment) , there are people who don't want to move to this new school (Xfield people from Oakton to new HS) or don't want to move into space freed up from this school (Langley to Herndon for space freed up). But nobody actually say what they want, all they say is this is boondoggle, and that is corruption, and SB are bad/ugly etc.

Guys, say what you want and chances are SB could accomodate you. Outside Coats/FLoris/McNair/Oakhill core areas, there are flexibilities to adjust some boundary to fit what you need. You just need to say it out loud so SB hear you. No accusation, at least keep some good faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an aviation program is a good idea (and I don’t think most of FCPS ideas are good ideas). We have a nationwide shortage of pilots and air traffic control and this is a good market. Why the hate about this? Seems better than some sports marketing or journalism magnet??

What about medicine? We also have a shortage of doctors and nurses. My question is why aviation? Whose idea was it and why was there no public discussion of priorities?

FYI-I’m a nurse. If the country wants to alleviate the shortage of nursing, it needs to improve the retention of nurses by paying them better in certain states and not purposefully understaffing hospitals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are more schools int he area that would want to move then there is space, the idea of using this as a magnate school is ridiculous.

I know parents at Oakhill, Navy, Crossfield, and Fox Mill who would love to be at KAA. I don't know parents at McNair or Coates so I won't speak for them. The "space" for an academy would only be there because they will be adding classes as the kids move into the building. They could easily fill the capacity by the time all four grades are in to school.

The academy feels like a project to make one school board member happy, and I guess that happened at Lewis with the leadership academy so why not an aviation academy? It also strikes me as a way to try and tell parents that there is no space for their kid to move from SLHS or Westfields to the new academy, knowing that there are parents who would be happy to have their kids moved from SLHS or Westfield. It is an excuse to keep MC and UMC at moderatly high FARMS schools to keep test scores in an ok place at those schools.

It’s Coates, Floris, McNair, and Oak Hill that have first dibs on KAA, not Fox Mill or Crossfield, much less Navy. I know some have this fantasy of creating Langley 2.0 next door to Carson, but that was never going to happen with or without an aviation program part of the picture.

PP from 09:47, arguing that aviation academy may not be a conspiracy. I live no more than 2 miles from KAA, I am familiar with the local school boundaries.

Currently ES enrollment: see https://www.fcpsboundaryreview.org/
McNair 531
Coats: 983
Floris: 666
Oak Hill: 639

Total ES students above: 2819 for 7 grades.
Estimated HS students: 2819 * 4 grades / 7 grades = 1610.

Compare to HS enrollment from other nearby HSs: Chantilly: 2916, Herndon: 2230, Westfield: 2710. It's reasonable to expect the new HS target student body would be around 2000.

As you can see, the new HS either needs 400-500 students from ES feeders like Fox Mill, Xfield and/or Lee Corners, The problem with getting students from other ES is that that will turn those ES into split feeders, something FCPS is trying to avoid.

OR they can start an academy program to get that 400-500 kids to fill up the space. Note this is not a magnet school, it's academy similar to vocational academy in Chantilly, Marshalls etc. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/career-and-technical-education/academies-and-specialized-programs

That’s a bizarre analysis unless your assumption is that we’re supposed to pour whatever additional money is required to bring KAA up to the capacity of a school with 2000 or more kids.

If the actual capacity is closer to 1600, that’s how many kids should go there. They aren’t expanding other schools that could use additional seats, so they sure as hell shouldn’t be building an addition to KAA. Lewis has 1600 kids and that should be enough as well for KAA if that’s the number of kids it can accommodate. You can go play sports against smaller Loudoun schools, but investing even more money in this facility is ridiculous when others are repeatedly told there’s no money for them.

My analysis is based on facts, not emotion.

"The property consists of 325,000 square feet of internal space, as well as 30 acres of land at 2949, 2950, and 2954 Education Dr., Herndon. " https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/06/17/fcps-approves-150m-purchase-of-king-abdullah-academy-private-school-in-herndon/

I cannot find sqft number for westfield/Chantilly or Lewis, but Oakton HS currently have 410,036 square feet, and official capacity is 2625. https://www.fcps.edu/oakton-high-capital-project

If you do the math, that makes the KAA capacity around 2080.

I try to argue based on evidences, not half truth.

The square footage does not tell you what the capacity may be without understanding how the building is actually configured. Or are you assuming we’ll just keep plowing tens of millions into this facility, without figuring out first how we’re going to take advantage of the hundreds of empty seats at another high school in western Fairfax?

Well, we'll just have to wait on some new data, shouldn't we? I understand KAA has two big pools and that would certainly reduce some comparable capacity with other HS. Need more data, not more anger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an aviation program is a good idea (and I don’t think most of FCPS ideas are good ideas). We have a nationwide shortage of pilots and air traffic control and this is a good market. Why the hate about this? Seems better than some sports marketing or journalism magnet??

What about medicine? We also have a shortage of doctors and nurses. My question is why aviation? Whose idea was it and why was there no public discussion of priorities?

FYI-I’m a nurse. If the country wants to alleviate the shortage of nursing, it needs to improve the retention of nurses by paying them better in certain states and not purposefully understaffing hospitals.

Does Fairfax own hospitals or the pay scales are up to the private hospital groups like INOVA and HCA?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they should have had - and shared - the data before they agreed to spend our tax dollars on this facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I emailed the school board and administration. They told me that this will absolutely not be a magnet school. The intent is to alleviate overcrowding at western high schools.

I don’t believe you.

Why would I lie? Why don't you try sending emails yourself and ask the question so you can see that I'm not lying.

I’m not sure why you would lie, but what you are saying is wholly inconsistent with the school board’s materials for tomorrow’s work session. I’m also skeptical of someone who says that they emailed the school board and administration rather than specific board members or specific staff. I would not have accused you of lying if you told me that member X or Y told you that they don’t plan to make it a magnet, but the school board has not come out with a position on this and in fact appears to be considering the exact opposite of what you claim.

In a nutshell, your claim doesn’t pass muster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:another group that is lobbying for a magnet--letter regarding it:

https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/_files/ugd/8bf868_d128de909f284981a476bef5d4429396.pdf

The Education committee of the Fairfax Federation is meeting with Reid next month. They have a meeting at Gatehouse prior to that (at least I think that is what it says.)
https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/education

Wait they want to make it another GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL? Would it be just part of the school, like some of the other academic year governor's schools, or are they really recommending we create a second TJ that takes the entire building??

It's an endeavor to avoid base school boundary changes. Elephant in the room is open capacity at Herndon HS. Similar to what MacKay called open capacity at Mount Vernon prior to the BOS approving the West Potomac expansion for a bond referendum. Surf the Fed of Citizens association site for names, look up addresses where possible, FCPS committee or BRAC membership. Eastern FX has Edison Global STEM [ how did it end up there and not Lewis?] so there's not a comp product in the western part of the county. https://edisonhs.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/GSCP%20FAQs%2011.2022_0.pdf

3 years full time, 90/grade, transfer, no transportation, senior year transfer reg or apply for IB. That letter is NOT about a 60 [2 classrooms] or 90 [3 classrooms] program co-existing with the base school POS.

JFC, not everything is about great falls, lady.