Why We Strongly Support the FCPS Staff Recommendation

We strongly support the Staff Recommendation because it:

1) Provides enrollment relief for Annandale HS that serves the long term.
The Staff Recommendation successfully eliminates the over-crowding of Annandale HS.  In the 2016-2017 school year, upon full implementation of the Staff Recommendation, enrollment at Annandale HS is projected to be 2,263, which is still 85 students over AHS' design capacity of 2,178, but well under the revised program capacity of 2,350.  This amount of students will allow AHS to remain robust in terms of class offerings while allowing for future pupil placement of students wishing to pursue an IB degree.  We have always believed a long-term solution was necessary and this proposal meets that need.


2) Balances HS enrollment in the region.
The Staff Recommendation does an excellent job of balancing high school enrollment in a region that includes some of the densest population ‘pockets’ in the County.  With US Census trends predicting a significant population spike within the Beltway, this solution allows for growth in all but one high school in the region.

3) Eliminates the only K-6 feeder into a 6-8 middle school in the county.
Wakefield Forest ES is currently the only K-6 elementary school to feed into a 6-8 middle school in Fairfax County.  The Staff Recommendation would send Wakefield Forest ES to a 7-8 middle school, making it consistent with its structure.


4) Minimizes impact on ESOL and FRL populations.
The recommended solution echoes a primary goal of the Annandale Ad Hoc Committee to minimize the impact of any change to Annandale HS on ESOL and FRL demographics and to maintain socio-economic balance to the extent possible, both requirements of School Board Policy 8130.


5) Permits liberal grandfathering.
Facilities has proposed a gradual transition of the Staff Recommendation to allow students who have begun their high school career at Annandale HS to remain in the school. Implementation of the boundary changes would begin with rising 9th grade students at the high school level and rising 6th or 7th grade students at the middle school level (depending upon the grade model) in SY 2012-13.  We believe once students have invested themselves in a particular school, its programs and community, that they be allowed to remain should they wish to do so.  We, therefore, heartily support the grandfathering proposal as detailed in the recommended solution.


6) Satisfies the requirements of SB Policy 8130.
The recommended solution adheres closely to SB Policy 8130.  It considers: the proximity of schools to student residences; enrollment balance; transportation costs and times;  geographic boundaries, school feeder alignments and contiguous areas; the impact on neighborhoods; and long-range capital planning.

There is no one perfect solution for everyone; however, VOICE believes the Staff Recommendation makes the best possible solution out of this difficult situation. We greatly appreciate the time and effort everyone, particularly the Facilities staff, has expended these past long months.