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At the February 28, 2008, School Board meeting, the School Board voted on the West County Boundary Study to approve the staff recommendation. The Board also approved a boundary change for the Springfield Estates/ Forestdale Elementary Schools. Complete information on the vote is available here. For a detailed map of the approved West County boundary change, click on the Staff Recommendation - Scenario 1 link below. It should be noted that the West County High School study will not impact students already enrolled in their respective schools, but will be phased in beginning in fall 2008 with rising 9th graders living in the affected areas.
School Board Work Session Information - February 11, 2008
At the February 11, 2008, School Board work session on 2008 Boundary Adjustments, two new boundary scenarios were introduced for consideration in addition to the staff recommendation for the West County Boundary Study. A public hearing date was set for February 19, 2008, beginning at 6:30 pm. The newly proposed scenarios described here are shown below.
School Board Meeting/Presentation-January 10, 2008
Third Town Meeting Information
In preparation for the third boundary study meeting, staff developed an alternative boundary change scenario for consideration. This alternative option is based on the many comments that helped us refine our thinking about potential boundary solutions. Staff believes that the proposed alternative scenario addresses, to greatest extent possible, the initial School Board criteria and objectives, criteria we obtained from the community at the first meeting, and input we gained from the community on the four potential boundary scenarios presented at the second boundary meeting.
We encourage you to share your thoughts online regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed alternative boundary change scenario. All comments will be accepted through December 21, 2007. It should be noted that we remain in the staff part of the boundary process so that it is not necessary that you also send comments directly to School Board members. The comments that we receive online and at the town meetings are read by School Board members when they are compiled after the town meeting.
Please note that the third town meeting to be held on December 19, 2007, 7:30 pm at Oakton High School will continue to use the modified meeting format due to the large numbers expected to attend.
Previous Town Meeting Information
The purpose of the second town meeting was to obtain input from the community on the advantages and disadvantages of each option below. Responses to the question on advantages and disadvantages of each option below was the subject of the small focus groups in addition to other comments. Specifically, we asked for the advantages and disadvantages of each of the scenarios using the study criteria identified by the School Board, and from community comments received at the first town meeting. These criteria are:
- Balance Enrollments & Capacities
- Improve Balance of Socio-Economic Characteristics
- Contiguous Attendance Areas – Eliminate Attendance Islands
- Equitable Access to Programs & Resources
- Improves Commuting Distance for Impacted Areas
- Eliminates or Reduces Split Feeders
- Provides Adequate Buffer for South Lakes
- Keeps Neighborhoods Together
Four proposed boundary scenarios were developed for review at the December 3rd town meeting at Westfield High School. For each option below, current capacity and enrollment projections are provided which assume grandfathering of all students currently attending a particular high school. This means that any boundary change, if approved, would begin with rising 9th graders in the 2008-09 school year.
About the Study
Currently there are significant enrollment and capacity imbalances among high schools in the western portion of the county. Community members have expressed concern over the impact these imbalances have on programs and extra curricular activities. The School Board has directed staff to conduct a boundary study to address these concerns. The scope of these studies will be posted on this web site.
For additional information on the boundary study, please contact the Office of Facilities Planning Services at 703-246-6930 or via email at boundaries@fcps.edu.
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