Vienna leaders are taking a stand against the latest proposal to come out of Fairfax County Public Schools’ systemwide boundary review.
The Vienna Town Council unanimously approved a resolution on Monday (Oct. 27) opposing a boundary adjustment that would assign an estimated 91 students within the town’s limits to Marshall High School in Idylwood instead of the local James Madison High School.
“Changing high school districts and moving Town of Vienna students from Madison to Marshall High School completely goes against our communities’ values and unique Town pride,” the council said in its resolution. “… The redistricting proposal would divide Vienna’s longstanding neighborhoods and create a disparate impact on a small section of the Town, undermining the very concept of community cohesion.”
Released on Oct. 13 just in time for a new round of community meetings, the redistricting map currently being considered by FCPS would redraw the northwest portion of Vienna near the Westwood Country Club into Marshall’s boundaries. Those students would also continue attending Kilmer Middle School, while other Vienna families go to Thoreau Middle School.
The Vienna Town Council argued that sending students to Marshall instead of Madison would result in “longer commutes through already congested corridors in Tysons” and leave them out of popular community programs and events, including Madison’s annual homecoming parade and the MAD Wings program that allows seniors to explore career options.
“It makes no sense for the school board to try to divvy up a portion of our town when for years and years, they all went to Madison High School,” Councilmember Roy Baldwin said. “It just makes no sense. I don’t understand what they’re thinking or what they’re doing.”
Some council members were quick to stress that their opposition to the boundary adjustment isn’t a comment on the quality of Marshall as a school.
“Marshall has an incredible academic program. So does Madison,” Councilmember Howard Springsteen said. “It comes down to geography and tightness.”
Councilmember Jessica Ramakis noted that families who want to send their kids to Marshall — for the school’s International Baccalaureate program, for instance — would still have that option, even if FCPS responds to the council’s request that all town residents be assigned to Madison.
Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert met with FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid, Madison principal Elizabeth Calvert and parents affected by the proposed boundary change yesterday (Tuesday).
In addition to the now-approved resolution, she told the council that she would be armed with documentation illustrating the history and importance of Vienna’s connection to Madison, including a May 9, 1984 letter from former mayor Charles Robinson thanking the school board at the time for allowing “the northeast quadrant of our community to remain in the area served by James Madison High School.”
Colbert, an alum of Madison who also previously taught there, told FFXnow that Reid appeared to be “very receptive” to the appeal made by her and the parents, who all wore black and red with Vienna pins to show their support for maintaining the town’s close partnership with the school system.
“We walked away feeling very hopeful that all Town of Vienna students will continue to be assigned to James Madison High School,” Colbert said in a statement. “The connection between the Town and Madison is deep and we know it plays a big part in the Town’s community spirit. The council and I want all our families to have the opportunity to experience all the wonderful things the Town and Madison will partner on in the future.”
Reid shared a similarly upbeat assessment of the meeting.
“We had a very positive and productive conversation as we continue to navigate our first comprehensive division wide boundary review in nearly four decades,” the superintendent said in a statement to FFXnow. “These thoughtful and collaborative discussions inform our boundary review process. I appreciate the strong partnership that we have with families and local leaders and the feedback they provide.”
FCPS’ ongoing boundary overhaul, its first district-wide one in 40 years, has stirred up some strong emotions, as different neighborhoods advocate for limiting disruptions or maintaining their established school community.
Intended as a more comprehensive approach to address overcrowding after decades of case-by-case boundary tweaks, the review is expected to culminate with a new map to be approved by the Fairfax County School Board in January 2026.
Thru Consulting, the firm hired by FCPS to help develop the recommended changes, will wrap up its second phase of community meetings with one tonight from 6:30-8 p.m. at McLean High School and one tomorrow (Thursday) from 7-8:30 p.m. at Chantilly High School. Both meetings can be attended in-person or virtually.
The consultant is accepting public comments on its latest draft boundary map through Friday, Nov. 14. The feedback will then be shared with an advisory committee tasked with finalizing a recommendation for Reid and the school board.
