Anonymous
04/15/2026 21:44
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
DP. Just pointing out that there is a big difference between poor students being concentrated in particular areas versus FCPS concentrating them in a particular area. The latter implies a segregation intent, which doesn’t exist in modern day Fairfax. The school system does not go about trying to move poor students into schools together.
They may not do that but they concentrate poverty by moving kids from higher income neighborhoods into wealthier schools. Repeatedly. The effect is the same.
I disagree with the premise. See, e.g., the McLean island moving to Langley. That’s the opposite of what you just claimed. And see they didn’t move timberlane island out of McLean because it would’ve reduced economic diversity at McLean. Two examples from the boundary review from January, yet people still baselessly gripe that the school board is trying to stick it to the poor.
Daventry from Lewis to West Springfield.
Wakefield Forest from Annandale to Woodson.
Colvin Run island from McLean to Langley.
Wolftrap from Marshall to Madison.
Etc.
Lots more examples of them concentrating poverty than trying to accomplish the opposite.
I count one of your examples in support - just daventry. The other moves are between equal caliber schools. You think the school board is concentrating poverty at McLean? Be serious.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 21:37
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
DP. Just pointing out that there is a big difference between poor students being concentrated in particular areas versus FCPS concentrating them in a particular area. The latter implies a segregation intent, which doesn’t exist in modern day Fairfax. The school system does not go about trying to move poor students into schools together.
They may not do that but they concentrate poverty by moving kids from higher income neighborhoods into wealthier schools. Repeatedly. The effect is the same.
I disagree with the premise. See, e.g., the McLean island moving to Langley. That’s the opposite of what you just claimed. And see they didn’t move timberlane island out of McLean because it would’ve reduced economic diversity at McLean. Two examples from the boundary review from January, yet people still baselessly gripe that the school board is trying to stick it to the poor.
Daventry from Lewis to West Springfield.
Wakefield Forest from Annandale to Woodson.
Colvin Run island from McLean to Langley.
Wolftrap from Marshall to Madison.
Etc.
Lots more examples of them concentrating poverty than trying to accomplish the opposite.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 21:17
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
DP. Just pointing out that there is a big difference between poor students being concentrated in particular areas versus FCPS concentrating them in a particular area. The latter implies a segregation intent, which doesn’t exist in modern day Fairfax. The school system does not go about trying to move poor students into schools together.
They may not do that but they concentrate poverty by moving kids from higher income neighborhoods into wealthier schools. Repeatedly. The effect is the same.
I disagree with the premise. See, e.g., the McLean island moving to Langley. That’s the opposite of what you just claimed. And see they didn’t move timberlane island out of McLean because it would’ve reduced economic diversity at McLean. Two examples from the boundary review from January, yet people still baselessly gripe that the school board is trying to stick it to the poor.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 21:07
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
Generational poverty is very real in the US. There are plenty of poor kids in FCPS who are citizens and plenty who are hear legally. The numbers don't drop that much if you can magically make all of the undocumented kids disappear.
Poverty is concentrated in those schools because those are the areas that you can more easily find less expensive living situations. MC and UMC families are not going to live in those properties so you will swap out one poor group for another poor group. And the societal issues that come from poverty don't change that much based on your legal status in the country.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 21:00
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
DP. Just pointing out that there is a big difference between poor students being concentrated in particular areas versus FCPS concentrating them in a particular area. The latter implies a segregation intent, which doesn’t exist in modern day Fairfax. The school system does not go about trying to move poor students into schools together.
They may not do that but they concentrate poverty by moving kids from higher income neighborhoods into wealthier schools. Repeatedly. The effect is the same.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 20:55
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
DP. Just pointing out that there is a big difference between poor students being concentrated in particular areas versus FCPS concentrating them in a particular area. The latter implies a segregation intent, which doesn’t exist in modern day Fairfax. The school system does not go about trying to move poor students into schools together.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 17:18
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.
So concentrating poor and high-ESL kids at Lewis and some other FCPS high schools makes them no-go zones for many people? That seems to be what people express on this site (without specifically saying why). Can you see why people might want the border diligently locked down? Just one reason of many.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 14:56
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
Is it that or is it that millennial parents with elementary age kids don’t want to live in Great Falls? It’s a little more isolated than many areas of the county and that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Agree, most people with young children don't find aging mcmansions out in the middle of nowhere appealing.
It's great to be handy and/or have the money for contractors. Contractors STAY busy around here. It's also lovely to live in a part of the county with lots of open space for the kids, a central community gathering location and abundant plant and wildlife.
The great thing about this county is that you can live stacked on top of people if you like that or step out into your back yard and see nothing but trees and foxes if that's your thing.
This may be true but if you’re talking about Great Falls they’ve had to shore up Langley’s enrollment by reassigning kids there repeatedly, first from Herndon and then from McLean.
If Langley had the same boundaries it had in the early 90s it would probably have an enrollment somewhere between Lewis and Mount Vernon.
Well, either a worsening economy forces families back into public (ALOT of GF and I'll bet McLean sends their children to private) or the accelerating decline in enrollment will cause the school board to reboundary a part of GF closest to Herndon to that pyramid. A percent of GF parents still in FCPS will switch to private, some will go to Herndon pyramid elementary, middle and high.
In that scenario Great Falls elementary will close for lack of enrollment and then some entity will buy it and re-open it as a private K-5 school.
All that would take another decade or so.
Let’s check back in a decade and see if you’re right. I won’t hold my breath.
Until then, you might want to shore up your theories with a lot more logic rather than your wants and desires. It’s a pretty weak analysis all around.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 14:47
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
Is it that or is it that millennial parents with elementary age kids don’t want to live in Great Falls? It’s a little more isolated than many areas of the county and that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Agree, most people with young children don't find aging mcmansions out in the middle of nowhere appealing.
It's great to be handy and/or have the money for contractors. Contractors STAY busy around here. It's also lovely to live in a part of the county with lots of open space for the kids, a central community gathering location and abundant plant and wildlife.
The great thing about this county is that you can live stacked on top of people if you like that or step out into your back yard and see nothing but trees and foxes if that's your thing.
This may be true but if you’re talking about Great Falls they’ve had to shore up Langley’s enrollment by reassigning kids there repeatedly, first from Herndon and then from McLean.
If Langley had the same boundaries it had in the early 90s it would probably have an enrollment somewhere between Lewis and Mount Vernon.
Well, either a worsening economy forces families back into public (ALOT of GF and I'll bet McLean sends their children to private) or the accelerating decline in enrollment will cause the school board to reboundary a part of GF closest to Herndon to that pyramid. A percent of GF parents still in FCPS will switch to private, some will go to Herndon pyramid elementary, middle and high.
In that scenario Great Falls elementary will close for lack of enrollment and then some entity will buy it and re-open it as a private K-5 school.
All that would take another decade or so.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 14:41
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
Is it that or is it that millennial parents with elementary age kids don’t want to live in Great Falls? It’s a little more isolated than many areas of the county and that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Agree, most people with young children don't find aging mcmansions out in the middle of nowhere appealing.
It's great to be handy and/or have the money for contractors. Contractors STAY busy around here. It's also lovely to live in a part of the county with lots of open space for the kids, a central community gathering location and abundant plant and wildlife.
The great thing about this county is that you can live stacked on top of people if you like that or step out into your back yard and see nothing but trees and foxes if that's your thing.
This may be true but if you’re talking about Great Falls they’ve had to shore up Langley’s enrollment by reassigning kids there repeatedly, first from Herndon and then from McLean.
If Langley had the same boundaries it had in the early 90s it would probably have an enrollment somewhere between Lewis and Mount Vernon.
You’re going back thirty years? Why stop there? If Langley had enrollment based on the number of kids in the area around the time of the civil war, it’d be less than a hundred per class.
You would have to go back about 40 years to find a time where people were so keen on "stepping out into their back yards and seeing nothing but trees and foxes" that they overcrowded Langley.
Of course the School Board seems intent on overcrowding Langley again now, for reasons that are well known, but that's required maneuvering on their part.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 13:25
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
Is it that or is it that millennial parents with elementary age kids don’t want to live in Great Falls? It’s a little more isolated than many areas of the county and that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Agree, most people with young children don't find aging mcmansions out in the middle of nowhere appealing.
It's great to be handy and/or have the money for contractors. Contractors STAY busy around here. It's also lovely to live in a part of the county with lots of open space for the kids, a central community gathering location and abundant plant and wildlife.
The great thing about this county is that you can live stacked on top of people if you like that or step out into your back yard and see nothing but trees and foxes if that's your thing.
This may be true but if you’re talking about Great Falls they’ve had to shore up Langley’s enrollment by reassigning kids there repeatedly, first from Herndon and then from McLean.
If Langley had the same boundaries it had in the early 90s it would probably have an enrollment somewhere between Lewis and Mount Vernon.
You’re going back thirty years? Why stop there? If Langley had enrollment based on the number of kids in the area around the time of the civil war, it’d be less than a hundred per class.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 12:45
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
Is it that or is it that millennial parents with elementary age kids don’t want to live in Great Falls? It’s a little more isolated than many areas of the county and that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Agree, most people with young children don't find aging mcmansions out in the middle of nowhere appealing.
It's great to be handy and/or have the money for contractors. Contractors STAY busy around here. It's also lovely to live in a part of the county with lots of open space for the kids, a central community gathering location and abundant plant and wildlife.
The great thing about this county is that you can live stacked on top of people if you like that or step out into your back yard and see nothing but trees and foxes if that's your thing.
This may be true but if you’re talking about Great Falls they’ve had to shore up Langley’s enrollment by reassigning kids there repeatedly, first from Herndon and then from McLean.
If Langley had the same boundaries it had in the early 90s it would probably have an enrollment somewhere between Lewis and Mount Vernon.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 11:20
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
Is it that or is it that millennial parents with elementary age kids don’t want to live in Great Falls? It’s a little more isolated than many areas of the county and that doesn’t appeal to everyone.
Agree, most people with young children don't find aging mcmansions out in the middle of nowhere appealing.
It's great to be handy and/or have the money for contractors. Contractors STAY busy around here. It's also lovely to live in a part of the county with lots of open space for the kids, a central community gathering location and abundant plant and wildlife.
The great thing about this county is that you can live stacked on top of people if you like that or step out into your back yard and see nothing but trees and foxes if that's your thing.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 10:58
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Great Falls Elementary School enrollment is down as well patents are opting for private schools
I heard maybe 4 years ago a parent say that they moved in bounds for Forestville and they liked it better.
However, I would not doubt that private school enrollment is becoming even more popular as more parents realize the issues with government schooling. I also know several parents who started their children off in an elementary in Great Falls and moved them to private after a year or two. It doesn't matter how posh the zip code is, government school is still government school.
Anonymous
04/15/2026 10:52
Subject: FCPS' plans to address concerns at under-enrolled and over-enrolled schools.
Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it wouldn't matter if Lewis was AP or IB. Switch to AP, and parents will pupil place to an IB school -- probably Edison. Keep it IB, and parents will switch to the closest AP school -- probably Hayfield.
It doesn't matter.
And I don't think stopping transfers is enough to really make a different in the Lewis population size.
In the meantime, Lewis borders two schools that are over capacity (WSHS and Edison). The very simply solution would be to re-do boundaries for more equal student population sizes.
And no one wants to move to Lewis. Did you watch the recent boundary meeting? No one wants to move to the school with a small cohort of college bound kids and the larger social issues that come with a high FARMs population. Call it what you will, people don't wnat to go there. Parents will fight it tooth and nail.
They could make Lewis and Mt Vernon into VoTech schools/ESOL schools that would provide career training and language training that would be helpful to the studetns at those schools. A strong VoTech school would probably draw in kids who are not interested in college, especially if they are able to earn certifications that would help them when they finish HS. They would still have the traditional HS classes, they could even offer AP classes but their would be a better set of electives and classes that meet the needs of a population that is currently attending the school.