Fairfax County’s new western high school won’t be named Western High School after all.
The school board voted unanimously last Thursday (Feb. 12) to instead adopt “Skyview High School” as the new name of the former King Abdullah Academy campus at 2949 Education Drive, near Dulles International Airport and the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in the Floris area south of Herndon.
At a school board meeting on Jan. 8, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid initially recommended the more geographically oriented but generic moniker of “Western High School,” but when the board next convened on Jan. 22, she presented an amended proposal that included both “Western” and “Skyview” as options.
School board members didn’t directly address the change at last week’s meeting, but several suggested it was spurred by students, who backed “Skyview” as their preferred choice out of 10 finalists during a public comment period open to parents, staff and future students of the new school.
“Western” was the most commonly suggested name and favored slightly by parents and staff.
“This is a very futuristic name, the top vote-getter amongst all the names, hugely supported by students,” at-large school board member Ilryong Moon said. “We are student-centered and want to support student choice.”
After joking that he considered voting in opposition because his favorite of the suggested names was “Schooly McSchoolFace,” Providence District Representative Karl Frisch thanked students for their advocacy around Skyview, which he conceded “is a really great name” that “speaks well to our hopes for the school.”
When asking her colleagues to support Skyview as the name of the new school, which is located in her district, Sully District Representative Seema Dixit praised the naming process and the “very creative” ideas sent in by community members. FCPS began soliciting suggestions last October before whittling them down to Reid’s recommendations.
Robyn Lady, whose Dranesville District extends to Herndon, said she’s “excited for Skyview to get moving,” but noted that the name reflects the current state of the approximately 32.7-acre campus, not just the promise it holds for the future.
“As someone who lives in Herndon not far from the school, I assure you, it’s not just about potential for what’s going to happen as our students reach for the stars, but it is a gorgeous view of sunsets,” Lady said. “It is a sky view when you’re over there on that campus, so I think it’s a two-fold name.”
Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren expressed relief that the new school won’t be named “Western,” given the potential for confusion when FCPS already has Westfield, West Springfield and West Potomac high schools.
“I also am eager to turn to the next part of opening this brand-new school, talking about transportation and ensuring students have transportation to this school,” Meren said, urging FCPS staff to build on the recently completed countywide boundary review and keep both school board members and the community engaged.
Acquired by FCPS for $150 million last summer, the new Skyview High School will serve students currently assigned to the Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes and Westfield pyramids. Doors will open this August for the 2026-2027 school year, welcoming up to 1,000 ninth and 10th graders.
According to FCPS, student enrollment is now underway under future Skyview principal Dave Jagels, who most recently served as an executive principal for the school district’s Regions 4 and 5. Jagels started his FCPS career in 1993 as a special education teacher at Fairfax High School before shifting to administrative roles as a principal at Centreville and Mountain View high schools.
Skyview High School will mostly function as a traditional high school offering FCPS’ core curriculum, but in a nod to its location near Dulles Airport in an increasingly technology-focused commercial corridor, students will also be allowed to specialize in aerospace science, technology or artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“Choosing a name for a new school is an important milestone, and we are very grateful to everyone who shared their ideas and feedback throughout this process,” Reid said in a press release. “The name ‘Skyview’ represents the limitless potential and opportunities we aspire to for our students as they engage in 22nd century learning and innovation, and prepare for careers yet to be imagined.”
