I recently had friends in town and their first comment was, “everything is under construction.” It was an interesting comment because even when I used to live in Herndon the reality was that construction would always play a role in the area, it was just a given. Expansions to everything from Frying Pan Road/Route 28 to new mid-rise offices were sights I became accustomed to. Of course construction shows that the area is still growing, that investment is coming in, and that employment remains healthy. On our way to Great Falls from Tysons I didn’t hesitate to note when heading down Lewinsville Road that “even our schools are constructing”.
You may have noticed in your own neighborhood an expansion or in some cases new school being constructed. In fact over the next 4 years, Fairfax County Public Schools expects a 5% increase in enrollment, half of which is anticipated from Kindergarten enrollment, which will trigger the need for 60 capital improvement projects. Don’t worry, these aren’t all $100 million dollar facility upgrades. The improvements range from recreation facility repairs to the brand new Lacey Elementary and South County Middle School.
Of particular interest to our readers are the three noticeable upgrades to Spring Hill Elementary (noted in the anecdote above), George C. Marshall High School, and Westgate Elementary School around Pimmit Hills. All of these projects have been long in the works and were only further catalyzed by the anticipated population growth which is planned between Falls Church, Tysons, and McLean.
Spring Hill Elementary School
Enrollment at Spring Hill Elementary has increased from 774 in 2005, currently 974 students, and to an anticipated maximum capacity of 1200 students in future year 2013 (after capital improvements). The anticipated increase in enrollment between 2012 and 2015 of 11% corresponding to approximately 100 new students over the next 3 years alone. The school improvements, which cost approximately $4.9 million excluding neighborhood safety improvements, expands class rooms and common areas to accommodate the expanded enrollment.
Westgate Elementary School
$13.5 million dollars are anticipated to be necessary over the next 4 years to renovate, what much of that money might be going towards (pending more information from FCPS) is relieving the over capacity school which has been slipping in performance over the past 5 years. The perceived capacity for the school is 411, unfortunately the actual enrollment is anticipated at 566 students for this upcoming year and 707 by 2016. The future improvements will provide a capacity of 750 students.
What is known at this time is no funding is secured for the improvements that are likely by 2016, however as noted in a letter from Planning Director Denise James to Zoning Director Barbara Berlin with regard to the Cityline Partners rezoning plan the anticipated capacity cliff will likely be trigger by new development. Therefore Planning has suggested a $2.3 million proffer contribution be established associated to the adjacent rezoning for improvements. This was also indicated for new projects around Tysons near Westgate including Capital One (over $1 million in proffer contribution) as well as others nearby.
George C. Marshall High School
It’s impossible to not notice the undertaking occurring in every aspect of George C. Marshall High School this summer. The construction has been much larger in scope to other renovations this year. With the impressive scope of work of course comes the much larger price tag of $70 million over the next 4 years. The school exceeded enrollment capacity in 2011 and has been in dire need of maintenance renovations and upgrades for years.
The school currently holds 1500 students by design, but has enrollment of nearly 1700. With the anticipated growth in Falls Church and Tysons Corner the expected 2016 enrollment will be just shy of 2000 (the same as the intended capacity after the $70 million improvement). So why spend all that money just to make capacity in the future? Well firstly, building a new high school is just not feasible nor practical until the need is eminent. With most new high schools costing well into the multiple hundreds of millions, issues with land acquisition, etc. it was more prudent to increase capacity incrementally in anticipation of a future central high school need.
Regardless of it’s ultimate minimal improvement in the school capacity struggle, the project serves an important role in housing the known increase in enrollment.
Over the next 4 years we will be provided with further information on trends that will likely extend over the next generation. With more young families coming to Fairfax for the solid job market, and the increased urbanity of the County, it is likely that those trends will continue to show the need for educational capital improvements.