An Open Discussion on Split Feeders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Middle School is not needed in this state of FCPS with the enrollment drop.

But Franklin might be the first 4 way feeder for high schools.

Chantilly, Oakton, Western, and Westfield.

With the rise of Social Media, kids can connect via parties and such.

And with the phone ban they can communicate over their @fcpsschools.net emails!

This is cool

I bet that after they determine Western boundaries, they fix the boundaries for Carson/Franklin/Hughes accordingly if necessary.

Hughes won’t be touched I don’t think.

As I read in another forum, Fox Mill woods (the neighborhood behind Crossfield, wants to remain at South Lakes).

I also read that Michelle won’t include Fox Mill and Crossfield in other options because she wants to either focus on relieving Westfield and Chantilly overcrowding, or b) creating a hybrid comprehensive HS with a magnet side.

And while I think we could benefit from full stem schools outside of comprehensive academies as “Academies,” this shouldn’t be the focus for Western.

They could have spent the $150-200 million they are spending on Western on a lot of other schools.

The pitch is that there was a critical need to relieve overcrowding and reduce commutes for kids in western Fairfax, so people have a right to expect they'll draw sensible boundaries for a TRADITIONAL high school (not Reid's "Space Camp" fantasy BS) that relieves overcrowding, shortens student commutes, and makes good use of the roughly 2000 seats planned for Western.

The more they drag this out, the more disgusted people will get with Reid and this School Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Middle School is not needed in this state of FCPS with the enrollment drop.

But Franklin might be the first 4 way feeder for high schools.

Chantilly, Oakton, Western, and Westfield.

With the rise of Social Media, kids can connect via parties and such.

And with the phone ban they can communicate over their @fcpsschools.net emails!

This is cool

I bet that after they determine Western boundaries, they fix the boundaries for Carson/Franklin/Hughes accordingly if necessary.

Hughes won’t be touched I don’t think.

As I read in another forum, Fox Mill woods (the neighborhood behind Crossfield, wants to remain at South Lakes).

I also read that Michelle won’t include Fox Mill and Crossfield in other options because she wants to either focus on relieving Westfield and Chantilly overcrowding, or b) creating a hybrid comprehensive HS with a magnet side.

And while I think we could benefit from full stem schools outside of comprehensive academies as “Academies,” this shouldn’t be the focus for Western.

They could have spent the $150-200 million they are spending on Western on a lot of other schools.

The pitch is that there was a critical need to relieve overcrowding and reduce commutes for kids in western Fairfax, so people have a right to expect they'll draw sensible boundaries for a TRADITIONAL high school (not Reid's "Space Camp" fantasy BS) that relieves overcrowding, shortens student commutes, and makes good use of the roughly 2000 seats planned for Western.

The more they drag this out, the more disgusted people will get with Reid and this School Board.

They say 2000+, but yes I agree that people will get tired.

You lost me at “Space Camp" fantasy BS”though LOL!

[Anonymous]

Okay, but FCPS does have a large elephant in the room addressed in a now deleted forum.

The lack of an Oakton Middle School, and I think it’s time to make waves happen with it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Middle School is not needed in this state of FCPS with the enrollment drop.

But Franklin might be the first 4 way feeder for high schools.

Chantilly, Oakton, Western, and Westfield.

With the rise of Social Media, kids can connect via parties and such.

And with the phone ban they can communicate over their @fcpsschools.net emails!

This is cool

I bet that after they determine Western boundaries, they fix the boundaries for Carson/Franklin/Hughes accordingly if necessary.

Hughes won’t be touched I don’t think.

As I read in another forum, Fox Mill woods (the neighborhood behind Crossfield, wants to remain at South Lakes).

I also read that Michelle won’t include Fox Mill and Crossfield in other options because she wants to either focus on relieving Westfield and Chantilly overcrowding, or b) creating a hybrid comprehensive HS with a magnet side.

And while I think we could benefit from full stem schools outside of comprehensive academies as “Academies,” this shouldn’t be the focus for Western.

They could have spent the $150-200 million they are spending on Western on a lot of other schools.

The pitch is that there was a critical need to relieve overcrowding and reduce commutes for kids in western Fairfax, so people have a right to expect they'll draw sensible boundaries for a TRADITIONAL high school (not Reid's "Space Camp" fantasy BS) that relieves overcrowding, shortens student commutes, and makes good use of the roughly 2000 seats planned for Western.

The more they drag this out, the more disgusted people will get with Reid and this School Board.

they have literally said that this is going to be a comprehensive high school when it opens and any pathways/academies/etc are a few years off. The focus is on opening a regular high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, but FCPS does have a large elephant in the room addressed in a now deleted forum.

The lack of an Oakton Middle School, and I think it’s time to make waves happen with it!

Stop trying to make Fetch happen, Gretchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakton Middle School is not needed in this state of FCPS with the enrollment drop.

But Franklin might be the first 4 way feeder for high schools.

Chantilly, Oakton, Western, and Westfield.

With the rise of Social Media, kids can connect via parties and such.

And with the phone ban they can communicate over their @fcpsschools.net emails!

This is cool

I bet that after they determine Western boundaries, they fix the boundaries for Carson/Franklin/Hughes accordingly if necessary.

Hughes won’t be touched I don’t think.

As I read in another forum, Fox Mill woods (the neighborhood behind Crossfield, wants to remain at South Lakes).

I also read that Michelle won’t include Fox Mill and Crossfield in other options because she wants to either focus on relieving Westfield and Chantilly overcrowding, or b) creating a hybrid comprehensive HS with a magnet side.

And while I think we could benefit from full stem schools outside of comprehensive academies as “Academies,” this shouldn’t be the focus for Western.

They could have spent the $150-200 million they are spending on Western on a lot of other schools.

The pitch is that there was a critical need to relieve overcrowding and reduce commutes for kids in western Fairfax, so people have a right to expect they'll draw sensible boundaries for a TRADITIONAL high school (not Reid's "Space Camp" fantasy BS) that relieves overcrowding, shortens student commutes, and makes good use of the roughly 2000 seats planned for Western.

The more they drag this out, the more disgusted people will get with Reid and this School Board.

they have literally said that this is going to be a comprehensive high school when it opens and any pathways/academies/etc are a few years off. The focus is on opening a regular high school.

And you would think Reid would have gotten that message by now, and not make comments implying Western’s boundaries will be drawn to have about 1400-1500 kids, with another 500 pupil placing for her desired “pathways” program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Demanding AAP at all middle schools so kids don’t leave to go to centers is such a tiring trope. They aren’t doing this anytime soon folks. And they are still going to have centers in elementary schools too. I don’t know why everyone gets so worked up over it.

When I grew up (here in Fairfax county), we didnt have AAP centers. Every school had. Gifted and talented program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, but FCPS does have a large elephant in the room addressed in a now deleted forum.

The lack of an Oakton Middle School, and I think it’s time to make waves happen with it!

Stop trying to make Fetch happen, Gretchen.

No, Regina George!

That will never happen.

[Anonymous]

I do see the point in a separate Oakton Middle School.

Land for one could be purchased at the site of the Flint Hill Hazel Lower School, adjacent to Oakton Elementary.

It would be perfect if it were compact at 2-3 stories tall, with a nice Academics Wing (7th and 8th separate), Science Labs, a central library above the main doors, the Cafeteria and Kitchen off of the main entrance, the auditorium and fine arts classrooms near that, with the Gym facing the track (currently a softball field), with a weigh room behind it.

It would cost 120-150 million dollars to build, with however much the site costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do see the point in a separate Oakton Middle School.

Land for one could be purchased at the site of the Flint Hill Hazel Lower School, adjacent to Oakton Elementary.

It would be perfect if it were compact at 2-3 stories tall, with a nice Academics Wing (7th and 8th separate), Science Labs, a central library above the main doors, the Cafeteria and Kitchen off of the main entrance, the auditorium and fine arts classrooms near that, with the Gym facing the track (currently a softball field), with a weigh room behind it.

It would cost 120-150 million dollars to build, with however much the site costs.

You are dreaming. There is no way that buying the land and building a new school costs that much. There is no need for another MS, there is plenty of space in the existing MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do see the point in a separate Oakton Middle School.

Land for one could be purchased at the site of the Flint Hill Hazel Lower School, adjacent to Oakton Elementary.

It would be perfect if it were compact at 2-3 stories tall, with a nice Academics Wing (7th and 8th separate), Science Labs, a central library above the main doors, the Cafeteria and Kitchen off of the main entrance, the auditorium and fine arts classrooms near that, with the Gym facing the track (currently a softball field), with a weigh room behind it.

It would cost 120-150 million dollars to build, with however much the site costs.

You are dreaming. There is no way that buying the land and building a new school costs that much. There is no need for another MS, there is plenty of space in the existing MS.

It will eliminate Split Feeders.

[Anonymous]

I love split feeders. Gives my kids more options for a better school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love split feeders. Gives my kids more options for a better school.

Oakton is the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love split feeders. Gives my kids more options for a better school.

Oakton is the best.

It's ranking just went up didn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would fix the middle schools in Reston/Oak Hill/Chantilly. There's no reason for Carson, Franklin, Rocky run to be split feeders.

Rocky Run is not a split feeder, but it does have AAP students which feed to other schools like Westfield and Centreville.

AAP is over half the school, and around half of AAP comes from other pyramids. So around 25% of the school is transferring from other pyramids. We are in boundary for Rocky. I'm seriously considering having my AAP kid drop to honors in MS if it's not fixed by then because the kids in those classes should all continue to Chantilly, vs only approx half of the AAP cohort.

You should learn more about MS scheduling before making your decision. My RR student is in AAP and has very few classes with students who were in their ES program. There are just so many students that the mix is much greater. And it doesn’t matter for HS - AAP ends after 8th. If what you’re saying is you think it would be better for your student’s friends too move along with him to high school, I don’t disagree but also see value in having friends at other nearby schools.

Pp here, yes, I would prefer my kid not spend 2 years making friends and then half of them do not continue on to the same school. I think it makes the transition to 9th grade a little more difficult.

If your kid is at a MS that splits fairly evenly to two high schools, that's no big deal. They'll have a large cohort of kids going to the same high school yet the chance to make new friends. It's the really uneven split feeders that can be more of an issue but as PP pointed out you get people like the parents at Kilmer who fight to stay at Madison even though only 15% or so of Kilmer feeds there rather than Marshall.

This is why I’m fighting for the idea of an Oakton Area Middle School.

They should get Oakton down to two feeders eventually, probably Franklin and Jackson (again). No need for a new MS.

We have more middle schools than high schools.

When the new high-school opens, we will have one more middle school than high schools.

We should have no more than one or two middle school split feeders, and those midfle schools should not split to more than 2 high schools.

What you want and what other people want and FCPS will do are not the same thing.

I agree that Middle-High School alignment is important, but here’s the thing.

Scenario 4 boundary changes illustrate Bren Mar Park moving back to Annandale from Edison, with all of Parklawn moving to Justice.

The issue lies with Mason Crest.

I propose moving Justice Bound Mason Crest Students to Beech Tree or Belvedere, and with them out, adding 6th grade to Mason Crest, zoning it for Jackson to align with Falls Church, or also rezoning it completely to Glasgow/Justice.

...

Interesting. Mason Crest is listed under Falls Church Pyramid for regions which have administrative purpose in FCPS. It should definitely get grade 6 and so should the rest of the K-5 schools. What % of Mason Crest students are Falls Church? All those BRAC breakouts by Region - ludicrous for Marshall.

If you add up the preK-5 membership at those schools utilization is 96% without modulars and 89% without modulars. Add back in grade 6 from Glasgow, Poe, Holmes and it's 109% and 101% but Holmes could become a K-6.

Timber Lane is under Mclean Pyramid. Should be Marshall or Falls Church. That should have part moved to Shrevewood/Kilmer/Marshall and the part moved to Shrevewood by Thru be Timber Lane/Jackson/Falls Church.