Fairfax High
3500 Old Lee Highway
Fairfax 22030
703-219-2200
First opened: 1972
Enrollment: 2100, and 400 academy students
Principal: Scott Brabrand
Scott.Brabrand@fcps.edu
Web site: www.fcps.edu/FairfaxHS
Back-to-School Night: Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.
Fairfax High is adding new programs to its curriculum this year, as well as expanding existing ones. The school is adding a ninth grade transition component to the Rewards and Remediation program — a program that helps reduce students receiving grade F’s in SOL classes. A new Advanced Placement study hall has been added for students in three or more AP classes. The school has also added a Chinese language program, since Chinese has been designated as a strategic language by the federal government. "Chinese … will help prepare students for greater interaction with a rising global partner and competitor," said Principal Scott Brabrand, via e-mail to the Connection.
The final phase of the school’s $54 million renovation should be complete by September, said Brabrand. The school is hosting a community rededication of the school, Saturday, Nov. 10.
Brabrand has outlined three main goals for the 2007-08 school year: increasing the academic achievement of all students, strengthening the school climate in which student learning takes place and expanding professional learning communities to enhance student and faculty learning. That goal replaced the goal to minimize the renovation’s impact on the instructional program during previous years.
Fairfax High School welcomes more than 20 new teachers this year, and a new director of student services and a new building supervisor.
Frost Middle School
4101 Pickett Road
Fairfax, VA 22031
703-426-5700
Enrollment: 1,060
Principal: Marti Jo Jackson
Marti.Jackson@fcps.edu
Web site: www.fcps.edu/FrostMS/
Back-to-School Night: Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 6:45 p.m.
Frost Middle School welcomes about 10 new teachers this year. No major curriculum changes or new programs have been implemented, other than the countywide after-school program for middle schools implemented last year.
Lanier Middle School
3710 Bevan Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-934-2400
Enrollment: 1,010
Principal: Scott Poole
Scott.Poole@fcps.edu
Web site: www.fcps.edu/LanierMS
Back-to-School Night: grade 7, Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.; grade 8, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.
Lanier Middle School Principal Scott Poole cites two significant curriculum changes for the 2007-08 school year. Geometry will be offered at the school for the first time, and elective offerings for seventh-graders has changed to semester electives, instead of a rotating wheel of electives. The change will provide more in-depth course content and more personal choice, said Poole, via e-mail to the Connection. The school will also implement "a systematic pyramid of interventions for struggling students," which incorporates time to intervene when students struggle to meet expected outcomes, said Poole.
Lanier’s physical changes will be apparent to returning students this year, said Poole, including a large new cafeteria with plasma televisions, new lockers, new flooring, tiled walls and brighter lights. The most noticeable change is the new gym, which should be completed by October. The gym features new locker rooms, an auxiliary gym, a weight and exercise room and new offices for the physical education staff. About 80 percent of the school’s classrooms will be outfitted with new technology, including multimedia presentation carts, Smartboards and wireless technologies, said Poole.
Lanier’s main defined goals thus far include increasing student achievement and addressing academic, cultural and social needs of all students. The school welcomes 21 new staff members this year — the largest in several years "due to retirements, marriages and babies," Poole said.
Robinson Secondary
5035 Sideburn Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
703-426-2100
Enrollment: 4,010
Principal: Dan Meier
Dan.Meier@fcps.edu
Web site: www.fcps.edu/RobinsonSS/
Back-to-School Night: Grades 7-8, Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.; grades 9-12, Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.
Robinson Secondary is adding Chinese language programs to the curriculum at both the middle and high school levels in 2007-08.
The middle school has added an advanced drama class, and the middle school will have a packed schedule of after-school activities for the countywide after-school program at middle schools, implemented last year.
Robinson will be going through an accreditation review from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Dec. 4-5. The school also welcomes a new 12th-grade subschool principal, Terrence Yarborough, this year.
"We are excited to open our doors on Sept. 4 for another successful year at Robinson," said Rick Mondloch, associate principal, via e-mail to the Connection.
Woodson High School
9525 Main St.
Fairfax, VA 22031
703-503-4600
Enrollment: 2,100-2,200
Principal: Robert Elliott
Robert.Elliott@fcps.edu
Web site: www.fcps.edu/woodsonhs/
Back-to-School Night: Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 5:30 p.m.
W.T. Woodson High School is about a third of the way through its three-year renovation project. The school plans to occupy the new science wing and renovated instruction wing by Thanksgiving, according to Principal Robert Elliott. Parking will be tight at the school all year because of the renovation construction. Woodson’s main goal is to strive to provide a quality education, but faculty plan to outline more specific goals for the year sometime during the first quarter. Woodson hosts two regional special education programs: the deaf and hard of hearing center and the emotional disabilities center.