Dear Parents, Teachers and Community Members,
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the Fairfax High School (FHS) and Lanier Middle School (LMS) boundary study and inform you about an important public hearing on April 17th.
As many of you know, we began this school year with capacity issues at three of our four schools. In the summer of 2012, the City of Fairfax School Board requested Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Board address the overcrowding at FHS, LMS and Providence Elementary School. In the fall of 2012, the FCPS School Board approved a scope of study based on community input in a series of outreach meetings for FHS and LMS. Providence was not included in the study, but remains a priority for the City of Fairfax School Board and staff.
In January, the FCPS School Board directed FCPS staff to undertake a boundary study aimed at providing enrollment relief for the current and projected overcrowding at FHS and LMS. The challenge with this study is many of our surrounding schools are also feeling the strain of the tremendous growth across the region. FCPS staff decided reducing FHS by 300 students and LMS by 150 students would provide enough relief without straining our neighboring schools.
FCPS presented three boundary change options at a series of community meetings in February. In March, FCPS staff presented the FCPS School Board a new fourth option as their recommendation, based on community input and goals of the boundary study. The City of Fairfax School Board and staff support this staff recommendation.
On April 17th, FCPS will hold a public hearing at Luther Jackson Middle School for community input. If you would like to speak to the School Board, please go to the FCPS website and click on the "public engagement" link on the right. You may also call the School Board office at 571-423-1075.
Key points to the staff recommendation:
- Provides adequate relief for both our schools.
- Current 9th graders at FHS will be 'grandfathered' and can graduate from FHS.
- Entering 9th graders are given the option to begin at their new school so they will have continuous four years at the same high school.
While no solution is perfect, we feel the FCPS staff and School Board have worked to find an answer that aims to be the best for schools and students. We appreciate all of their hard work. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Regards,
Peter J. Noonan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
City of Fairfax Schools
