One more thing to add, I really want to see McLearen extension built from FFX parkway to Money Corner to connect to lawyer's road, now that a lot of people are going to drive on McLearen Rd.

I know Fox Mill people hates it, but there are options, such as the road going under Viking Dr. instead of having a traffic light.

Anonymous wrote:There’s something quite insidious about pitching a school to kids without making any commitment to provide transportation for four years. They want kids asking their parents to attend the new school, but then they may leave it up to parents to pick up the slack if they don’t provide transportation or cease providing it at some point. This School Board sucks.

It's not that bad. Just drive to the last bus stop within the Western HS boundary and let kids take the bus there. If they are smart they'd add a transfer bus from SLHS to Western HS.

They're framing it as "letting everyone know" (for equity I guess), and I do get that it seems fair to make sure everyone knows about the option, but it feels more like a pitch and will no doubt raise interest far above capacity. (Farther than it already is.)

There’s something quite insidious about pitching a school to kids without making any commitment to provide transportation for four years. They want kids asking their parents to attend the new school, but then they may leave it up to parents to pick up the slack if they don’t provide transportation or cease providing it at some point. This School Board sucks.

Agree...had no idea kids from Hughes would have this choice. No chance they've considered impact on MS enrollment numbers, but wonder how those will be impacted too. The student session to pitch the new western HS to Hughes is next Monday and ALL 8th graders will attend. 😲

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

They have already had a mini session with the Carson kids, I would guess that they did something similar at Frankin and the other impacted MS. I am wondering how many kids at Hughes might be interested. I would guess that the Herndon HHS AAP kids at Hughes won’t have the option to attend the new school but I wonder about the kids at Sunrise Valley, Dogwood, and Lake Anne. Or are they keeping the option mainly to Carson since the potential ES impacted are at Carson.

I don’t think that they will get 500 for 10th grade but I won’t be surprised if they get 500 for 9th. I can see kids who had a rough freshman year maybe taking the option as a way to start over or if they didn’t get into the clubs they wanted or teams they wanted moving to be at a school where they could be in those programs, helping starting the programs.

see https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities/building-our-future-capital-projects/western-high-capital-project

"Our plan is to open the new high school for the 2026-27 school year for 9th and 10th graders who choose to opt in. ... These students reside within the following five high school pyramids: Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield." ("Enrollment") and
"In Year 1, enrollment will be "opt-in" for rising 9th and 10th graders from five specific overcrowded pyramids. Bus service will only be provided to students who live within the eventual boundary once it is drawn." ("Transportation")

Opt-in would likely not be available for current elementary students because "Boundaries for the new western high school will be determined by late spring 2026." ("Potential Boundary").

For example, if your 8th graer is currently in South Lake pyramid, she will be able to opt-in as rising 9th grader for 2026-2027. She could be zoned for Sunrise Valley ES and Hughes MS.

However, since Sunrise Valley was never considered for Western HS bounary, chances are your Sunrise Valley zoned student would need own transportation regardless how bounary are set.

I am going to be fascinated to see what happens with SLHS with this school. Herndon HS might not be the default AP school for SLHS students, which could mean more parents from SLHS pupil place because they prefer the Western HS to Herndon and it is closer then Westfield, Langley, and Oakton, where some of the SLHS pupil placed kids move to. Will the number of kids pupil placing increase because parents are more comfortable with Western then with SLHS.

The opt-in option could be more interesting then I thought.

FCPS is exhausting.....

Meren would be smart to pick the best option for her school now--rather than fighting to slow it down. Slowing it down could backfire on her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

They have already had a mini session with the Carson kids, I would guess that they did something similar at Frankin and the other impacted MS. I am wondering how many kids at Hughes might be interested. I would guess that the Herndon HHS AAP kids at Hughes won’t have the option to attend the new school but I wonder about the kids at Sunrise Valley, Dogwood, and Lake Anne. Or are they keeping the option mainly to Carson since the potential ES impacted are at Carson.

I don’t think that they will get 500 for 10th grade but I won’t be surprised if they get 500 for 9th. I can see kids who had a rough freshman year maybe taking the option as a way to start over or if they didn’t get into the clubs they wanted or teams they wanted moving to be at a school where they could be in those programs, helping starting the programs.

see https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities/building-our-future-capital-projects/western-high-capital-project

"Our plan is to open the new high school for the 2026-27 school year for 9th and 10th graders who choose to opt in. ... These students reside within the following five high school pyramids: Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield." ("Enrollment") and
"In Year 1, enrollment will be "opt-in" for rising 9th and 10th graders from five specific overcrowded pyramids. Bus service will only be provided to students who live within the eventual boundary once it is drawn." ("Transportation")

Opt-in would likely not be available for current elementary students because "Boundaries for the new western high school will be determined by late spring 2026." ("Potential Boundary").

For example, if your 8th graer is currently in South Lake pyramid, she will be able to opt-in as rising 9th grader for 2026-2027. She could be zoned for Sunrise Valley ES and Hughes MS.

However, since Sunrise Valley was never considered for Western HS bounary, chances are your Sunrise Valley zoned student would need own transportation regardless how bounary are set.

I am going to be fascinated to see what happens with SLHS with this school. Herndon HS might not be the default AP school for SLHS students, which could mean more parents from SLHS pupil place because they prefer the Western HS to Herndon and it is closer then Westfield, Langley, and Oakton, where some of the SLHS pupil placed kids move to. Will the number of kids pupil placing increase because parents are more comfortable with Western then with SLHS.

The opt-in option could be more interesting then I thought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

They have already had a mini session with the Carson kids, I would guess that they did something similar at Frankin and the other impacted MS. I am wondering how many kids at Hughes might be interested. I would guess that the Herndon HHS AAP kids at Hughes won’t have the option to attend the new school but I wonder about the kids at Sunrise Valley, Dogwood, and Lake Anne. Or are they keeping the option mainly to Carson since the potential ES impacted are at Carson.

I don’t think that they will get 500 for 10th grade but I won’t be surprised if they get 500 for 9th. I can see kids who had a rough freshman year maybe taking the option as a way to start over or if they didn’t get into the clubs they wanted or teams they wanted moving to be at a school where they could be in those programs, helping starting the programs.

see https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities/building-our-future-capital-projects/western-high-capital-project

"Our plan is to open the new high school for the 2026-27 school year for 9th and 10th graders who choose to opt in. ... These students reside within the following five high school pyramids: Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield." ("Enrollment") and
"In Year 1, enrollment will be "opt-in" for rising 9th and 10th graders from five specific overcrowded pyramids. Bus service will only be provided to students who live within the eventual boundary once it is drawn." ("Transportation")

Opt-in would likely not be available for current elementary students because "Boundaries for the new western high school will be determined by late spring 2026." ("Potential Boundary").

For example, if your 8th graer is currently in South Lake pyramid, she will be able to opt-in as rising 9th grader for 2026-2027. She could be zoned for Sunrise Valley ES and Hughes MS.

However, since Sunrise Valley was never considered for Western HS bounary, chances are your Sunrise Valley zoned student would need own transportation regardless how bounary are set.

And this is why they need to determine boundaries before "opt in".

Sounds like they are hoping kids who will live outside the final boundaries will opt in to prop up the initial enrollment and make Western seem more desirable in its early years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

They have already had a mini session with the Carson kids, I would guess that they did something similar at Frankin and the other impacted MS. I am wondering how many kids at Hughes might be interested. I would guess that the Herndon HHS AAP kids at Hughes won’t have the option to attend the new school but I wonder about the kids at Sunrise Valley, Dogwood, and Lake Anne. Or are they keeping the option mainly to Carson since the potential ES impacted are at Carson.

I don’t think that they will get 500 for 10th grade but I won’t be surprised if they get 500 for 9th. I can see kids who had a rough freshman year maybe taking the option as a way to start over or if they didn’t get into the clubs they wanted or teams they wanted moving to be at a school where they could be in those programs, helping starting the programs.

see https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities/building-our-future-capital-projects/western-high-capital-project

"Our plan is to open the new high school for the 2026-27 school year for 9th and 10th graders who choose to opt in. ... These students reside within the following five high school pyramids: Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield." ("Enrollment") and
"In Year 1, enrollment will be "opt-in" for rising 9th and 10th graders from five specific overcrowded pyramids. Bus service will only be provided to students who live within the eventual boundary once it is drawn." ("Transportation")

Opt-in would likely not be available for current elementary students because "Boundaries for the new western high school will be determined by late spring 2026." ("Potential Boundary").

For example, if your 8th graer is currently in South Lake pyramid, she will be able to opt-in as rising 9th grader for 2026-2027. She could be zoned for Sunrise Valley ES and Hughes MS.

However, since Sunrise Valley was never considered for Western HS bounary, chances are your Sunrise Valley zoned student would need own transportation regardless how bounary are set.

And this is why they need to determine boundaries before "opt in".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

They have already had a mini session with the Carson kids, I would guess that they did something similar at Frankin and the other impacted MS. I am wondering how many kids at Hughes might be interested. I would guess that the Herndon HHS AAP kids at Hughes won’t have the option to attend the new school but I wonder about the kids at Sunrise Valley, Dogwood, and Lake Anne. Or are they keeping the option mainly to Carson since the potential ES impacted are at Carson.

I don’t think that they will get 500 for 10th grade but I won’t be surprised if they get 500 for 9th. I can see kids who had a rough freshman year maybe taking the option as a way to start over or if they didn’t get into the clubs they wanted or teams they wanted moving to be at a school where they could be in those programs, helping starting the programs.

see https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities/building-our-future-capital-projects/western-high-capital-project

"Our plan is to open the new high school for the 2026-27 school year for 9th and 10th graders who choose to opt in. ... These students reside within the following five high school pyramids: Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield." ("Enrollment") and
"In Year 1, enrollment will be "opt-in" for rising 9th and 10th graders from five specific overcrowded pyramids. Bus service will only be provided to students who live within the eventual boundary once it is drawn." ("Transportation")

Opt-in would likely not be available for current elementary students because "Boundaries for the new western high school will be determined by late spring 2026." ("Potential Boundary").

For example, if your 8th graer is currently in South Lake pyramid, she will be able to opt-in as rising 9th grader for 2026-2027. She could be zoned for Sunrise Valley ES and Hughes MS.

However, since Sunrise Valley was never considered for Western HS bounary, chances are your Sunrise Valley zoned student would need own transportation regardless how bounary are set.

There is an article in WAPO today about Montgomery County and magnets. And, the common thread there and in FCPS is that families do not appreciate UNCERTAINTY.

I do not understand how the leadership of FCPS cannot understand that --especially in a changing world--people want CERTAINTY for their kids.

I don't know the Crossfield people--but, I see the desire for CERTAINTY on the part of the Crossfield parents--both those that want to stay at Oakton and those who want the new school. I understand the arguments on both sides, but this is not a popularity contest--and it appears FCPS set it up for that.

The BRAC committee members may be great--but, it is not that hard to understand that they volunteered to be on the committee in order to represent their own community interests. And their communities are likely their own neighborhoods and the elementary school they are in. Most likely want to stay where they are.

A good measuring stick might be to see how many BRAC members have their schools change--and, if it is for what is judged to be "better" or "worse." I suspect that there are very few whose schools will change. That is just common sense. You look at things from your own point of view. No better illustration that our well- known SB supporter who is the third person on BRAC from her school. She wants to stay in boundary for the current school and expressed this publicly. Yet, she has expressed great support for the process and "equity"--i.e. supporting moves for others.

People in the Western school area want certainty, as well. Dragging boundary decisions until Spring makes absolutely no sense.

The School Board should draw the boundaries on what makes sense. There is one option that makes perfect sense. It may not be the most popular. There is one neighborhood that appears to very much want to be sent there--but the objective view is that they should stay put. There is another that appears divided. It appears the most vocal does not want to move, but many others see that they would be much better off with a move. There would likely be more who would support it if the leadership would outline what the plan is for the traditional, comprehensive high school and less plans for the "career path." The "career path" should not be the lead. The boundary should be the lead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

They have already had a mini session with the Carson kids, I would guess that they did something similar at Frankin and the other impacted MS. I am wondering how many kids at Hughes might be interested. I would guess that the Herndon HHS AAP kids at Hughes won’t have the option to attend the new school but I wonder about the kids at Sunrise Valley, Dogwood, and Lake Anne. Or are they keeping the option mainly to Carson since the potential ES impacted are at Carson.

I don’t think that they will get 500 for 10th grade but I won’t be surprised if they get 500 for 9th. I can see kids who had a rough freshman year maybe taking the option as a way to start over or if they didn’t get into the clubs they wanted or teams they wanted moving to be at a school where they could be in those programs, helping starting the programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well May is better than June, I guess.

And the opt in is due in January.

Hopefully they fully develop this program pathway to encourage enrollment. It’s all still ambiguous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Online bully to Crossfield parents = in person bully to crossfield kids. I hope all those crossfield kids who will be at the new school enjoy their new HS.

Nope, the bully is the woman leading this effort. She bullies the kids and she bullies other parents. IYKYK - lots of people have piped up on this board about her.

DP without a dog in the fight here. You guys have been bashing this woman relentlessly. I think you’re turning a lot of people off of your cause.

May want to dial it back. Approach it from a standpoint that people are looking out for their kids and will doggedly fight for them, just like you are.

Yeah, also no dog in the fight and it seems like this is almost becoming more of a personalities fight than one over school assignments.

I think what you’re seeing is pent up frustration in how this person acts across many settings, this just being another example but of course a bit higher stakes. I haven’t been posting repeatedly but am familiar with some of what goes on. I don’t think bossing other adults around and talking trash about other kids and parents (which this person does, and I think where the bitterness is coming from) is part of fighting for your kid.

One thing I think we can all agree on is that Reid and the school board have royally screwed up the rollout, and that dragging out uncertainty for months is a terrible way to treat families.

I just don't like that they are using their role on the PTO to further their own agenda. They can have their own opinions but it's not right to claim you represent the whole school.

Question: has the PTO taken an official stand on this. Are they using PTO communication?

With the PTO hosting a meeting with a school board member where they are pre screening the questions that can be asked? Yeah I’d say so!

+1 Write letters, guys. The PTO doesn't speak for all of us.