School Boundary Changes Discussed in the FCPS Capital Improvement Plan

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has a public hearing tonight on the approval of their Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which decides how FCPS spends about $155 million per year in renovation and construction monies created by bond referenda passed by the voters. 

For the first time, this year's CIP included references to possible school boundary adjustments including approximately seven school changes in the 44th District including adjustments at Stratford Landing ES, Hybla Valley ES, Hollin Meadows ES, Groveton ES, the creation of a new GT/AP center at Bucknell ES and a new Arts & Science Focus School at Virginia Hills.

I lived though boundary changes when I was a student.  My original elementary school (Hollin Hall) was shut down in 1980, my intermediate school (Stephen Foster) no longer exists, and I was at West Potomac HS on the day it opened.  I am very aware of the effects these changes have on students and the interest the community takes in these issues.  These issues are completely controlled by the FCPS School Board.

Several constituents brought the proposed CIP to my attention last week and an impromptu meeting was held last night at Stratford Landing Elementary School that approximately 200 people attended. 

I have spoken with Mt. Vernon School Board Member Dan Storck and School Board Chairmen & Lee District Member Tamara Devereaux Kaufax and both have assured me that the CIP is not a an actual vote on boundaries.

There is a public hearing tonight where the FCPS School Board is taking public testimony regarding the proposed CIP:

January 6, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Information & Agenda

Luther Jackson Intermediate School
3020 Gallows Road

Falls Church, VA 22042

Online Signup to Speak

I have attached three things below the fold:

• My letter to the FCPS School Board
• An email that was sent to Stratford Landing parents by their PTA for with information on the process
• School Board Member Dan Storck's latest communication to the Mt. Vernon District on the process.

44th District School Report Cards

The Virginia State Board of Education has issued its academic report cards for all of the schools in the 44th District.

I will write more later on the significance of these results.  The schools that changed status from last year are West Potomac HS, Whitman MS, and Hybla Valley ES.

44th District Schools 2012-13 Academic Report Cards 

School	Accredited	FRM Population	Limited English Proficient	Link
Overall Fairfax County	Fully Accredited	27.83%		Report  Card
West Potomac HS	With  Warning	42.22%	16.03%	Report  Card
Mt. Vernon HS	With  Warning	55.8%	16.83%	Report  Card
Hayfield Secondary	Fully Accredited	32.16%	9.32%	Report  Card
Carl Sandburg MS	Fully Accredited	44.82%	17.74%	Report  Card
Whitman MS	With  Warning	60.45%	22.54%	Report  Card
Belleview ES	Fully Accredited	33.64%	23.22%	Report  Card
Bucknell ES	With  Warning	78.09%	44.17%	Report  Card
Fort Belvoir ES	Fully Accredited	30.5%	4.14%	Report  Card
Fort Hunt ES	Fully Accredited	32.31%	12.65%	Report  Card
Groveton ES	Fully Accredited	72.29%	54.66%	Report  Card
Hayfield ES	Fully Accredited	10.93%	11.66%	Report  Card
Hollin Meadows ES	Fully Accredited	54.15%	34.77%	Report  Card
Hybla Valley ES	Fully Accredited	90.39%	66.96%	Report  Card
Mt. Vernon Woods ES	With  Warning	84.3%	53.18%	Report  Card
Riverside ES	Fully Accredited	66.04%	40.27%	Report  Card
Stratford ES	Fully Accredited	18.96%	5.84%	Report  Card
Washington Mill ES	With  Warning	56.4%	34.86%	Report  Card
Waynewood ES	Fully Accredited	1.66%	4.28%	Report  Card
Woodlawn ES	With  Warning	63.29%	25.10%	Report  Card
Woodley Hills ES	Fully Accredited	69.64%	52.16%	Report  Card

The Age of The 44th District's Schools

I'm a local history geek. One of the things I do is keep track of significant anniversaries in our local schools and draft commending resolutions for significant anniversaries.

Here's a list that I've compiled for the founding and closing dates for our area local schools.  Woodlawn Elementary and Groveton Elementary are the oldest followed by Mt. Vernon High School.  There's a great history of Woodlawn Elementary School here.

If you're talking about the actual buildings, I'm pretty sure that Woodlawn Elementary is the oldest in continuous use.  The old Mount Vernon would be second if it were still a school.  I'm pretty sure that either the Bryant Building (originally Groveton High School) or the older part of West Potomac High School (originally Bryant Intermediate) would be next. 



I have some schools here on the bottom that have come and gone through the years including some from a very long time ago.  The Gum Springs School and Springbank School were small black schools that preceded desegregation. 

If you have any of the dates that I'm missing or any corrections, shoot me an email.