Future Western High School

[Anonymous]

I just noticed one of school projects that the FCPS plans to fund with bond proceed is a site acquistion for the future western high school ($13.5 million). Assuming the voters apporve the school bond referendum, does this mean that the FCPS is finally starting to do something about the future high school?

[Anonymous]

This has been floated for a looooong time. Many people in what the deem are superior HS pyramids do not want this to happen. It will realign things such that many will have to commingle with people they support in theory but not when it comes to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has been floated for a looooong time. Many people in what the deem are superior HS pyramids do not want this to happen. It will realign things such that many will have to commingle with people they support in theory but not when it comes to schools.

True. But did the board every spend any money on the new high school? I don’t remeber this new high school project was ever on the bond referendum.

https://www.fcps.edu/node/43787

[Anonymous]

Are you suggesting the board has recently brought up this school? I assume they buried it.

[Anonymous]

Even if voters vote to fund something specific, one board member can bamboozle the others in shifting the funding elsewhere. See moving the Fairfax/Oakton new school money to renovating Dunn Loring School that hasn't been used since 1980. This does nothing for the overcrowding Fairfax /Oakton especially Mosaic (Formerly Mosby and Providence) and doesn't help Shrevewood for five years at least. Karl Firsch is incompetent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been floated for a looooong time. Many people in what the deem are superior HS pyramids do not want this to happen. It will realign things such that many will have to commingle with people they support in theory but not when it comes to schools.

True. But did the board every spend any money on the new high school? I don’t remeber this new high school project was ever on the bond referendum.

https://www.fcps.edu/node/43787

Discussions about this will be much more interesting now that they are actually moving forward with it.

[Anonymous]

At this point, they need two new western HS.

[Anonymous]

Whenever I hear discussion about a new HS in Fairfax, I think of Loudoun. I think they are now up to 17 compared to 23 in FX for less than half the number of kids?? I understand the availability of land, but still...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I hear discussion about a new HS in Fairfax, I think of Loudoun. I think they are now up to 17 compared to 23 in FX for less than half the number of kids?? I understand the availability of land, but still...

They need to add more than one and more than just Western area. Tyson’s is also getting overcrowded (Madison, McLean, Marshall).
They could also have a magnet arts/performing arts HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I hear discussion about a new HS in Fairfax, I think of Loudoun. I think they are now up to 17 compared to 23 in FX for less than half the number of kids?? I understand the availability of land, but still...

There are massive disparities in school quality in FCPS and those in schools they view as high quality or better than local alternatives will support the status quo rather than risk redistricting pushing them into a worse district

[Anonymous]

If the board moves forward with this plan and voters approve the spending for the site acquisition, when do you think it would get built at the earliest? In 10 years, 15 or 20 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you suggesting the board has recently brought up this school? I assume they buried it.

OP is pointing out the 2021 school bond specifically states that $13.5M of the bond proceeds would be used for site acquisition for new western high school.

It has been creeping up on the Capital Improvement Program for the last few years. The latest CIP indicates that they'd start spending money in SY 2026 (the year ended June 30, 2026) on the school. Obviously it would take years to build and open.

People will try and kill it, because it could pull in the Chantilly, Langley and/or Oakton boundaries. But FCPS has become an utter embarrassment when it comes to facilities. They add seats that aren't needed at under-enrolled schools, often to avoid shifting kids to poorer schools; fail to add seats where they are most needed; and sit by idly as Loudoun eats its lunch by regularly opening attractive new schools.

[Anonymous]

Land availability in Loudoun versus Fairfax is not a small difference. You can’t compare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the board moves forward with this plan and voters approve the spending for the site acquisition, when do you think it would get built at the earliest? In 10 years, 15 or 20 years?

I have heard that this mythical western school would be on the Hutchison ES campus. If true, then it’s a matter of building costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the board moves forward with this plan and voters approve the spending for the site acquisition, when do you think it would get built at the earliest? In 10 years, 15 or 20 years?

I have heard that this mythical western school would be on the Hutchison ES campus. If true, then it’s a matter of building costs.

I thought there was land by Rachel Carson MS for a new school?