education | FFXnow

Published November 28, 2023 at 11:45AM

Two teachers walk in a school corridor (via Virginia Department of Education/Facebook)

The Virginia Department of Education is launching a pilot program to help support new and inexperienced principals at federally designated at-risk schools in an effort to address what officials call a “crucial need.”

“We are excited about it. Mentoring principals has been a long time coming to the commonwealth,” said Randy Barrack, CEO of the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, which along with the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals is partnering with VDOE, in an email to the Mercury.

Countywide

After a state study found Virginia is underfunding schools, local governments want action

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published November 20, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County school bus (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Before the new class of General Assembly members takes office in January, they are facing a push from local government leaders to quickly address Virginia’s historical underfunding of its school divisions.

In September, the General Assembly convened a group to examine how the state’s funding formulas could be updated to fix the problem, with recommendations due next November, ahead of the 2025 legislative session. However, many local governments say the timeline needs to be faster and are urging the legislature to take action immediately, at the start of the new budget cycle.

Countywide

Virginia universities increasingly eyeing guaranteed admissions

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published October 19, 2023 at 11:30AM

George Mason University (file photo)

As Virginia Commonwealth University rolls out a program that grants admission to any high school senior with a certain GPA, it’s the latest school to face challenges ensuring its facilities and infrastructure can keep up with the influx of students.

VCU, along with George Mason University and at least four other Virginia universities, have begun offering guaranteed admissions to address declining enrollment numbers and help bolster populations of underrepresented students.

News

Maximum security prison building in Lorton converted to new child care center

By Vernon Miles

Published October 18, 2023 at 9:45AM

Inside Brynmor Early Education & Preschool (photo by Rhian Allvin)

Buildings that once housed inmates are instead being used to care for infants and toddlers.

This past weekend, Brynmor Early Education & Preschool (9060 Power House Road) held a grand opening in Liberty Market, a redevelopment within what was once Lorton Reformatory.

Countywide

FCPS dominates ranking of top high schools in Northern Virginia

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 4, 2023 at 3:30PM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (courtesy Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology)

Six of the 10 best high schools in Northern Virginia belong to Fairfax County Public Schools, as newly declared by Northern Virginia Magazine.

For its recently published October issue, the magazine’s editorial staff ranked the top 25 top public high schools in the region based on graduation and chronic absenteeism rates, Standards of Learning test pass rates, and other data from the 2021-2022 school year.

Around Town

West Falls development unveils restaurant, child care retailers, coming next year

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 10, 2023 at 11:45AM

A rendering of the West Falls development in Falls Church City, now under construction (courtesy Hoffman & Associates)

The development now under construction on Falls Church City’s former high school site has landed its first retail tenants.

Hoffman & Associates, the developer behind the nearly 10-acre West Falls neighborhood, announced yesterday (Thursday) that the restaurants SEOULSPICE, BurgerFi and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls will all open in fall 2024, along with the Spanish immersion preschool Tierra Encantada.

Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools pilots program offering students flexible school hours

By Vivian Hoang

Published June 23, 2023 at 11:45AM

Herndon High School classroom (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

This past spring, Fairfax County Public Schools launched a new Twilight Program to assist students whose “life circumstances” beyond the classroom complicated their ability to attend classes.

The program operates outside of the traditional 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. high school day with the goal of helping students graduate on time, FCPS Special Projects Administrator for the Non-Traditional Schools and Programs Joe Thompson says.

News

New private elementary school for Muslim youth may be coming to Reston

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 14, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated June 14, 2023 at 3:00PM

A new private school is expected to open at Association Drive (Image via Google Maps).

(Updated at 3 p.m.) A new Islamic and private elementary school may open this fall in Reston.

County permits suggest Noble Garden Academy plans to move in to 1914 Association Drive. In the permit application, the academy noted that the school is simply “moving into a new place” and “not making any changes.”

Countywide

AG Jason Miyares petitions for merit award investigation report, drawing FCPS objection

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 13, 2023 at 10:15AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

The unexpectedly long-running saga of Fairfax County Public Schools’ delayed National Merit Scholarship commendation notices has added a new page.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has petitioned the Fairfax County Circuit Court to require FCPS to turn over the full report it commissioned from an outside law firm in January, killing any hopes school officials had that releasing a summary of the review’s findings would resolve the state investigation.

News

County blesses Montessori School of McLean’s plan to buy church site

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 2, 2023 at 11:00AM

Chesterbrook United Methodist Church and Montessori School of McLean share a building at 1711 Kirby Road in McLean (via Google Maps)

The Montessori School of McLean is on track to celebrate its 50th anniversary on the same site where it has spent the past half-century.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a special exception permit for the private school and child care center on May 23, allowing it to remain at 1711 Kirby Road even after the church that owns the 3.87-acre property relocates.