Anonymous
02/17/2026 18:48
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
I thought that was county land that they let the school use?
It's been part of the W-L campus since before any of us were born. APS has contemplated building on the Quincy Park site before to expand W-L. Note that eastern portion of the Quincy Park site is county property. The fields closest to the school are owned by APS.
It looks like Quincy Park is county owned not APS owned according to what I'm finding online (and what I've always understood)
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Locations/Parks/Quincy-Park
The W-L baseball diamond and adjacent soccer field is owned by APS. The entire site however is "Quincy Park".
I believe it may be called the "Washington-Liberty combination field" at Quincy Park, for reservation purposes, when the school is not using it. Unlike Greenbrier Park at Yorktown--the athletic fields at Yorktown HS are county owned not APS--the combi fields at Quincy Park are owned by APS for W-L use.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 18:41
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
I thought that was county land that they let the school use?
It's been part of the W-L campus since before any of us were born. APS has contemplated building on the Quincy Park site before to expand W-L. Note that eastern portion of the Quincy Park site is county property. The fields closest to the school are owned by APS.
It looks like Quincy Park is county owned not APS owned according to what I'm finding online (and what I've always understood)
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Locations/Parks/Quincy-Park
The W-L baseball diamond and adjacent soccer field is owned by APS. The entire site however is "Quincy Park".
Anonymous
02/17/2026 18:23
Subject: Re:Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/07/HS_Boundaries_LgFormat_SY25_26.pdf
OP here - Oooh thanks this is super helpful! I did not know that the boundary map was gerrymandered in that way to include that little chunk of Clarendon in Yorktown. Since I need to metro to commute I don’t think Wakefield is the best option (looks too far to walk to metro in most spots). I think I am still strongly leaning to WL since I really think my kid could benefit from the walkability (seems easier to foster independence and friendships) and it looks like there are no places zoned for Yorktown that are metro accessible AND walkable to the school.
The YHS kids in that area ride the ART bus for free. Many kids around Arlington do before they get their license.
But you're correct, unless you move near East Falls Church Metro (YHS zone), there's not many spots walkable to metro in YHS zone.
We live near EFC metro (walking distance) and my kid metros all over
We are in walk zone for YHS and EFC metro is walkable too.
Huh. OP here. It does look like there are a handful of houses for rent that are about a 25-30 min walk from Yorktown and EFC metro, or maybe a quick bike ride, which is not too far for us. But probably not enough rentals to count on inventory being there, and we don’t need a whole house (just 3 of us). Definitely an interesting option for a bigger family though!
Yep it's a bit of a walk to either one but doable. My kid doesn't mind the walk at all. I have seen a few people in our neighborhood walking to the EFC metro too.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 18:21
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
I thought that was county land that they let the school use?
It's been part of the W-L campus since before any of us were born. APS has contemplated building on the Quincy Park site before to expand W-L. Note that eastern portion of the Quincy Park site is county property. The fields closest to the school are owned by APS.
It looks like Quincy Park is county owned not APS owned according to what I'm finding online (and what I've always understood)
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Locations/Parks/Quincy-Park
Anonymous
02/17/2026 18:08
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
So its possibly only just as dense as ACHS. Maybe. Have to see how much field vs building space for the two campuses to know how dense schools are day to day.
But its clear APS hired Duncan because of his experience with a huge school population, do you not remember the uproar at his announcement? How much was he able to improve performance at ACHS? APS plans to maximize that capacity at WL.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 16:14
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
I thought that was county land that they let the school use?
It's been part of the W-L campus since before any of us were born. APS has contemplated building on the Quincy Park site before to expand W-L. Note that eastern portion of the Quincy Park site is county property. The fields closest to the school are owned by APS.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 16:01
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
I thought that was county land that they let the school use?
Anonymous
02/17/2026 12:48
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
The W-L campus also includes APS owned land across the street in Quincy Park. That adds to the acreage. Students use those fields for PE and sports. There are plenty of urban or older suburban high schools on smaller sites all around the country.
A "Multi-building" approach is different from Alexandria. The W-L annex was gutted and renovated to provide a cost savings and to preserve the unique, historic, architecture and planetarium. Moreover, the community and neighborhood opposed an option that would've built a brand new building directly connected to the main W-L building.
The model used at W-L is nothing like the academy model of ACPS which has two separate campuses that requires a bus ride.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 12:26
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
^^ I'm groaning now.
Anonymous
02/17/2026 01:00
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Alexandria has 4500 students, across two high school campuses (with two large campuses each with their own administrator/principal) on 38 acres.
WL is 2500 (but aiming to head to capacity of 2700), on its one 20 acre campus.
WL has more student density; 125 vs 118 students/acre, and will eventually jump to 135 vs 118 when 2700 reached.
APS actually view ACPS as a model to emulate, that’s why they hired Duncan who served as administrator on one campus and executive principal. APS views him as the ideal leader to manage W-L's own transition into a more "urban," multi-building high school model.
Anonymous
02/16/2026 22:52
Subject: Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:*Reads this thread and cries in Alexandrian.*
No one knows what this means.
I understood it. Alexandria has the largest high school in the state, way larger than Arlington ones.
Yep. These folks don’t know what a large high school really is…
And that’s good!
Anonymous
02/14/2026 16:49
Subject: Re:Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/07/HS_Boundaries_LgFormat_SY25_26.pdf
OP here - Oooh thanks this is super helpful! I did not know that the boundary map was gerrymandered in that way to include that little chunk of Clarendon in Yorktown. Since I need to metro to commute I don’t think Wakefield is the best option (looks too far to walk to metro in most spots). I think I am still strongly leaning to WL since I really think my kid could benefit from the walkability (seems easier to foster independence and friendships) and it looks like there are no places zoned for Yorktown that are metro accessible AND walkable to the school.
The YHS kids in that area ride the ART bus for free. Many kids around Arlington do before they get their license.
But you're correct, unless you move near East Falls Church Metro (YHS zone), there's not many spots walkable to metro in YHS zone.
We live near EFC metro (walking distance) and my kid metros all over
We are in walk zone for YHS and EFC metro is walkable too.
Huh. OP here. It does look like there are a handful of houses for rent that are about a 25-30 min walk from Yorktown and EFC metro, or maybe a quick bike ride, which is not too far for us. But probably not enough rentals to count on inventory being there, and we don’t need a whole house (just 3 of us). Definitely an interesting option for a bigger family though!
Anonymous
02/12/2026 19:40
Subject: Re:Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/07/HS_Boundaries_LgFormat_SY25_26.pdf
OP here - Oooh thanks this is super helpful! I did not know that the boundary map was gerrymandered in that way to include that little chunk of Clarendon in Yorktown. Since I need to metro to commute I don’t think Wakefield is the best option (looks too far to walk to metro in most spots). I think I am still strongly leaning to WL since I really think my kid could benefit from the walkability (seems easier to foster independence and friendships) and it looks like there are no places zoned for Yorktown that are metro accessible AND walkable to the school.
The YHS kids in that area ride the ART bus for free. Many kids around Arlington do before they get their license.
But you're correct, unless you move near East Falls Church Metro (YHS zone), there's not many spots walkable to metro in YHS zone.
We live near EFC metro (walking distance) and my kid metros all over
We are in walk zone for YHS and EFC metro is walkable too.
Anonymous
02/12/2026 17:25
Subject: Re:Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/07/HS_Boundaries_LgFormat_SY25_26.pdf
OP here - Oooh thanks this is super helpful! I did not know that the boundary map was gerrymandered in that way to include that little chunk of Clarendon in Yorktown. Since I need to metro to commute I don’t think Wakefield is the best option (looks too far to walk to metro in most spots). I think I am still strongly leaning to WL since I really think my kid could benefit from the walkability (seems easier to foster independence and friendships) and it looks like there are no places zoned for Yorktown that are metro accessible AND walkable to the school.
The YHS kids in that area ride the ART bus for free. Many kids around Arlington do before they get their license.
But you're correct, unless you move near East Falls Church Metro (YHS zone), there's not many spots walkable to metro in YHS zone.
We live near EFC metro (walking distance) and my kid metros all over
I think OP meant walkable to both a Metro station and the school. Within reason. So probably an under 20 min leisurely walk.
Anonymous
02/12/2026 16:25
Subject: Re:Which APS high school manages its huge size best?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/07/HS_Boundaries_LgFormat_SY25_26.pdf
OP here - Oooh thanks this is super helpful! I did not know that the boundary map was gerrymandered in that way to include that little chunk of Clarendon in Yorktown. Since I need to metro to commute I don’t think Wakefield is the best option (looks too far to walk to metro in most spots). I think I am still strongly leaning to WL since I really think my kid could benefit from the walkability (seems easier to foster independence and friendships) and it looks like there are no places zoned for Yorktown that are metro accessible AND walkable to the school.
The YHS kids in that area ride the ART bus for free. Many kids around Arlington do before they get their license.
But you're correct, unless you move near East Falls Church Metro (YHS zone), there's not many spots walkable to metro in YHS zone.
We live near EFC metro (walking distance) and my kid metros all over