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The Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 16) - May 6, 2026
Friends and Neighbors,
To quote Yogi Berra, I am feeling déjà vu all over again because I am writing to provide an update about potential changes to school boundaries.
From August 2024 to January 2026, FCPS conducted a comprehensive assessment of all school boundaries for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools for the first time in 40 years. On January 22, 2026, the School Board approved the Superintendent’s recommended changes to school boundaries. Approximately 1,700 students across 46 schools were affected by the boundary changes, which will be implemented next year (SY 2026-27). (I explained in a previous newsletter why I voted “no” on the recommended changes.)
In addition to her recommended changes, the Superintendent identified certain boundaries and pyramid assignments for further study, to include (i) Gunston ES, Halley ES, Laurel Hill ES, and Lorton Station ES; (ii) Bren Mar Park ES; and (iii) Rolling Valley ES. FCPS plans to complete its evaluation by December 2026, and the Superintendent is scheduled to present her recommendations to the School Board in January 2027. Any changes would be implemented the following year (SY 2027-28).
The purpose of this newsletter is to explain how you can ensure your voice is heard with respect to potential boundary changes.
Very Respectfully,
 Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative
Process and Timeline
The following timeline is based on available information. Dates are approximate and subject to change.
April-May 2026 (Round 1): You will have the opportunity to participate in-person or virtually in community meetings before any changes are proposed to school boundaries or pyramid alignments. FCPS is planning to convene community meetings at convenient locations. Each meeting will be approximately 1.5 hours in length. At each meeting, FCPS will present on the rationale and process for revising school boundaries. In addition, FCPS will explain the scenarios that were developed during the comprehensive boundary review. The information collected and views expressed during the meetings will inform the development of potential scenarios for amending school boundaries.
June-August 2026: Based on community feedback, FCPS will develop potential scenarios for amending school boundaries and pyramid alignments, which will include consideration of the scenarios developed during the comprehensive boundary review.
September-October 2026 (Round 2): You will have the opportunity to participate in-person or virtually in community meetings to review potential changes to school boundaries and pyramid alignments. FCPS is planning to convene community meetings at convenient locations. Each meeting will be approximately 1.5 hours in length. At each meeting, FCPS will present potential scenarios for changes to school boundaries and pyramid alignments. The information collected and views expressed during the meetings will inform revisions to the scenarios.
November-December 2026: Based on community feedback, FCPS will develop proposals for changes to school boundaries and pyramid alignments.
January 2027: The Superintendent will publish her recommendations for changes to school boundaries and pyramid alignments, and the School Board will vote on the recommended changes.
August 2027: Approved changes will be implemented in SY 2027-28. In accordance with Policy 8130, certain students will have the option to remain at their existing schools, to include:
- Currently enrolled students in Grades 4 and 5 in an elementary school with a K-5 configuration;
- Currently enrolled students in Grades 5 and 6 in an elementary school with a K-6 configuration;
- Currently enrolled students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 in a middle school with a 6-8 configuration;
- Currently enrolled students in Grades 7 and 8 in a middle school with a 7-8 configuration;
- Currently enrolled students in Grades 9-11 in a high school with a 9-12 configuration; and
- Currently enrolled students in Grades 7-11 in a secondary school.
FCPS may decline to provide school bus transportation to students who opt to remain at their existing schools.
Boundary Study #2: Gunston ES, Halley ES, Laurel Hill ES, and Lorton Station ES
Boundary Study #2 focuses on the school boundaries and pyramid alignment for Gunston ES, Halley ES, Laurel Hill ES, and Lorton Station ES. This study is led by Dr. Nardos King, Chief Equity Officer for FCPS.
During the comprehensive boundary review, FCPS sought to eliminate as many attendance islands as possible, to include the attendance island at Halley ES. (An attendance island is a geographic area assigned to a particular school even though the area is not directly connected to the school’s boundary.) Specifically, FCPS examined scenarios for reassigning these students to another school that is located closer to their homes, to include Gunston ES, Laurel Hill ES, and Lorton Station ES.
Through community meetings, local residents raised a host of concerns, to include:
- The possible realignment of certain neighborhoods from one school to another;
- The capacity of schools to receive additional students;
- The condition of school facilities, to include (but not limited to) the septic system at Gunston ES;
- The accessibility of schools for biking and walking;
- The pyramid alignment of Gunston ES and Lorton Station ES; and
- Future programming options for Halley ES if the attendance island is eliminated.
The complexity and range of issues necessitated additional time to conduct a thorough study, develop options for potential boundary changes and/or pyramid realignments, and hold additional community meetings.
FCPS has scheduled the following community meetings for Round 1:
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Tuesday, April 28 @ 7 PM: Hagel Circle Community Meeting. Location: Lorton Community Center.
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Friday, May 8 @ 6 PM: Boundary Study #2 Kick-Off Meeting. Location: South County HS. Register to attend in-person or virtually.
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Tuesday, May 12 @ 7 PM: Lorton Station ES Community Meeting. Location: Lorton Station ES (in-person or virtual - registration link not available yet).
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Thursday, May 28 @ 7 PM: Gunston ES Community Meeting. Location: Gunston ES (in-person or virtual - registration link not available yet).
I encourage you to participate in the community meetings. In addition, you may wish to consider one of the following actions:
- Review the Boundary Study #2 webpage.
- Submit comments via the Boundary Study #2 Feedback Form. Please note that the form closes on June 9, 2026.
- Contact Dr. Nardos King, FCPS lead for Boundary Study #2 (neking@fcps.edu).
- Contact your School Board Members for the Mount Vernon District:
- Register to speak at a School Board Meeting
- Organize your neighbors to submit comments and contact their School Board Members
Please do not hesitate to contact my office (mountvernon@fcps.edu) if I can be of any assistance. I would be happy to present to your PTA, PTO, or PTSA if that is of interest.
Boundary Study #3: Bren Mar Park ES
Boundary Study #3 focuses on the school boundaries and pyramid alignment for Bren Mar Park ES. This study is led by William Solomon, Chief Human Resources Officer for FCPS.
During the comprehensive boundary review, FCPS sought to reduce overcrowding at Edison HS, which is currently at 103% and will be at 109% by SY 2030-31. FCPS also sought to eliminate as many split feeders as possible, to include the split feeder at Holmes MS. (A split feeder is when students progress from one school to two or more higher-level schools.) Specifically, FCPS examined whether to change the pyramid alignment for Bren Mar Park ES to Annandale HS or Lewis HS.
Through community meetings, local residents raised a host of concerns, to include:
- Travel time and logistics from Bren Mar Park ES to Annandale HS, particularly for the eastern half of the school boundary (east of I-395);
- Travel time and logistics from Bren Mar Park ES to Key MS and Lewis HS, particularly for the western half of the school boundary (west of I-395);
- The capacity of schools to receive additional students; and
- Converting Bren Mar Park ES from a K-5 configuration to a K-6 configuration.
These issues necessitated additional time to conduct a thorough study, develop options for potential boundary changes and/or pyramid realignments, and hold additional community meetings.
FCPS held the following community meeting for Round 1:
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Friday, April 24 @ 6 PM: Bren Mar Park ES Community Meeting. Location: Edison HS.
I am advocating for another meeting to be held at Lewis HS since this boundary study affects that pyramid as well.
I encourage you to participate in the community meetings. In addition, you may wish to consider one of the following actions:
- Review the Boundary Study #3 webpage.
- Submit comments via the Boundary Study #3 Feedback Form. Please note that the form closes on May 8, 2026.
- Contact William Solomon, FCPS lead for Boundary Study #3 (wssolomon@fcps.edu).
- Contact your School Board Members for the Mount Vernon District:
- Register to speak at a School Board Meeting
- Organize your neighbors to submit comments and contact their School Board Members.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office (mountvernon@fcps.edu) if I can be of any assistance. I would be happy to present to your PTA, PTO, or PTSA if that is of interest.
Boundary Study #5: Rolling Valley ES
Boundary Study #5 focuses on the pyramid alignment for certain students assigned to Rolling Valley ES. This study is led by Marcy Kneale, Assistant Superintendent (Strategy, Planning, and Learning) for FCPS.
During the comprehensive boundary review, FCPS sought to eliminate as many split feeders as possible, to include the split feeder at Rolling Valley ES. Historically, some students were assigned to the Lewis HS pyramid and others to the West Springfield HS pyramid. To eliminate the split feeder, FCPS established a new school boundary along the Fairfax County Parkway. Students living south of the Parkway were reassigned to Saratoga ES, which is part of the Lewis HS pyramid. With the exception of a single Student Planning Area (SPA), students living north of the Parkway were assigned to the West Springfield HS pyramid. Boundary Study #5 focuses on the remaining SPA north of the Parkway, which is assigned to the Lewis HS pyramid.
Through community meetings, local residents raised a host of concerns, to include:
- Overcrowding at Irving MS (108%) and West Springfield HS (114%); and
- Underenrollment at Key MS (72%) and Lewis HS (81%).
These issues necessitated additional time to conduct a thorough study, develop options for potential boundary changes and/or pyramid realignments, and hold additional community meetings.
FCPS has scheduled the following community meeting for Round 1:
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Wednesday, May 20 @ 6:30 PM: Rolling Valley ES Community Meeting. Location: West Springfield HS. Register to attend in person or virtually.
I encourage you to participate in the community meetings. In addition, you may wish to consider one of the following actions:
- Review the Boundary Study #5 webpage.
- Submit comments via the Boundary Study #5 Feedback Form, which has not been published yet but will be made available on the Boundary Study #5 webpage in the near future.
- Contact Marcy Kneale, FCPS lead for Boundary Study #3 (mgkneale@fcps.edu).
- Contact your School Board Members for the Mount Vernon District:
- Register to speak at a School Board Meeting.
- Organize your neighbors to submit comments and contact their School Board Members.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office (mountvernon@fcps.edu) if I can be of any assistance. I would be happy to present to your PTA, PTO, or PTSA if that is of interest.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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