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Dear FCPS Families,

As we enter into the fall season, I wanted to give you an update on three key issues that the School Board is managing:

Election Day is Tomorrow

As a reminder, tomorrow is Election Day in Virginia and schools will be closed. Fairfax County voters will see the 2025 School Bond Referendum on the ballot. This proposed $460 million bond would fund renovations, capacity projects, and planning for future schools across FCPS.

You can learn more about the bond referendum here and more about voting in Fairfax County here.

Western High School Update

The new Western High School represents one of the most significant opportunities for Fairfax County in decades, and the first new public high school to open in nearly twenty years.

This acquisition is both strategic and fiscally responsible. Building a new high school in that area from scratch, which has been planned for years, was estimated to cost over $400 million plus an additional $150 million to acquire the land. By purchasing this property for $150 million, FCPS saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and delivered a turn-key asset immediately. The facility will serve 2,000 students and is planned to open for the 2026-27 school year.

Community engagement is underway, and I wanted to thank those who have shared their feedback. Nearly 1,000 families and students attended the October 25 open house to tour the campus and hear firsthand the planning that is ongoing.

The Superintendent has recommended, and I agree with her recommendation, that the school be a “traditional” comprehensive high school with geographic boundaries to alleviate capacity and transportation challenges in the western Fairfax County communities.

Following extensive public comment, the Superintendent is also recommending that the window for public input be extended into the spring, after the ongoing County-wide boundary review process has completed. I agree with this recommendation as it allows more time for programming decisions to be made and for more public input on the boundaries. That being said, this would not change the planned opening for the 2026-2027 school year, and I would not support delaying the opening in any way.

Lastly, I have heard from several families regarding the phasing plans for the new school. These plans will ultimately be approved by the School Board, and my view is that they are generous and allow for opting into or out of the school for the first few years of its opening, with a very clear cut-off date for phasing. The boundaries are still being formulated, but I would anticipate impacts to Westfield, South Lakes, Oakton, Chantilly, and Centreville High Schools. Please continue to reach out to me or your district representative with feedback.

Start Times

At our recent meeting, the Superintendent provided an update on the “healthier school start times” initiative, including a review of two potential models that families were surveyed about.

After extensive discussion, the Board voted to delay any changes to start times until at least the 2027-28 school year. This decision allows time to implement new transportation routing software and to consider future boundary adjustments, both of which could significantly affect viable options.

While I fully support prioritizing student health and well-being, the models presented came with either substantial operational or budget challenges. Given that reality, I supported a delay. 

We will revisit the topic once those systems are in place and when we can do so in a budget-neutral way that minimizes disruption for families and staff. Our goal remains clear: a healthier, smarter approach to school start times, but only when it’s practical and equitable to implement.

Sincerely,

Kyle McDaniel
Fairfax County School Board
Member, At-Large

ACSD Town Hall

Other Updates