Parents invited to school boundary study meetings

Modular units handle the overflow at Glen Forest Elementary School.

Fairfax County Public Schools is moving into the next phase of the boundary adjustment process for elementary schools in the Justice High School pyramid. 

FCPS is considering changes to the attendance areas to accommodate overcrowding at Glen Forest Elementary School in Bailey’s Crossroads and address enrollment increases at several other schools.

Affected schools include Bailey’s, Bailey’s Upper, Beech Tree, Belvedere, Glen Forest, Parklawn (split feeder), Mason Crest (split feeder), and Sleepy Hollow. 

Community boundary study meetings will happen this week. Parents are encouraged to sign up for the appropriate meeting, as follows: 

• Mason Crest and Beech Tree – April 19, 6-7 p.m. 
• Sleepy Hollow and Parklawn – April 19, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
• Belvedere and Glen Forest – April 21, 6-7 p.m.  
• Bailey’s and Bailey’s Upper – April 21, 7:30-8:30 p.m.  

During the boundary study, options are presented for the community to consider and provide feedback on. The options are based on input from the community provided during boundary scoping meetings held in March. 

Related story: Glen Forest ES community seeks help with school bus traffic on Glen Forest Drive

FCPS staff will then submit a recommendation to the school board. The board will schedule a public hearing before making a final decision on changing school boundaries. 

Each school’s capacity is determined by the amount of space in the building and the programs offered, such as preschool classes, advanced academics, special education, and English for speakers of other languages.

Here’s a sample of some of the comments from the boundary scope meetings last month: 

• Schools closest to Glen Forest Elementary – Bailey’s, Bailey’s Upper, and Sleepy Hollow – should be considered for taking some of the overflow from Glen Forest. 
• All schools in the Justice pyramid that are under capacity should be included. 
• Bailey’s Upper, Sleepy Hollow, and Beech Tree have the most excess capacity to take in more students. 
• Students should be assigned to the schools nearest their home, if possible. 
• The study should include the impact on middle and high schools, as many people choose a home based on where their children would go to high school. 
• Would it be possible to convert FCPS’ Leis Center or the Graham Road Community Building to schools?
• Glen Forest students should be divided among all the other elementary schools. 
• The Glen Forest overflow should be split among Bailey’s Upper and Parklawn. 
• Boundary changes will be disruptive for families.  
• FCPS should look at schools outside the Justice pyramid.
• The boundary between Sleepy Hollow and Bailey’s should be extended to Patrick Henry Drive.
• The overflow should only go to schools performing well on state assessments. 
• The boundary study should be expanded to consider the Annandale High School pyramid. 
• The boundary study should ensure that no more adjustments would be needed for the next 10 years. 
• The change should result in a lower student-teacher ratio.
• We shouldn’t have split feeders anymore. 
• Reducing enrollment at Glen Forest should result in smaller class sizes, more attention from teachers, more equitable resources, fewer trailers and modular units, and less congestion when students are dropped off and picked up. 
• Boundary changes could result in more equity and improved school performance. 
• Neighborhoods should be kept together when boundaries are adjusted
• Students should be able to finish their elementary education at their home school.
• Lake Barcroft is a significant geographical obstacle that could result in longer bus rides.
• The process may not be equitable, as lower-income parents are less able to attend community meetings. 
• Schools lose their status as neighborhood hubs when a neighborhood is served by multiple schools. 
• People don’t like change.