Capital Plan For School Renovations, Construction OK'd by Fairfax County School Board

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — On Thursday, the Fairfax County School Board approved the latest five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which identifies school construction and renovation planning needs in the next five years.

Fairfax County Public Schools produces a new five-year Capital Improvement Plan each year after student enrollment is certified in September. A memo to the School Board noted enrollment has fallen during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 188,236 in the 2019-2020 school year to 179,542 in 2020-2021 and 177,931 in 2021-2022. Aside from looking at enrollment changes, FCPS projects future needs by considering factors such as housing forecasts. The memo noted even with additional capacity seeking to meet current and projected needs, boundary adjustments will continue to be considered to utilize current capacity.

The latest 2023-2027 capital plan factors in the $360 million bond approved by voters in the 2021 election. There is a funding cap of $180 million per year in bonds, which equates to $360 million for two years. Increases of the cap are anticipated: $25 million more in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 and $50 million more starting in fiscal year 2025.

The Capital Improvement Plan identifies current or projected funding for new construction, capacity enhancement, renovation, and potential site acquisitions in the next five years:

Dunn Loring Elementary School: to alleviate overcrowding in the Dunn Loring/Falls Church/Tysons area, fully funded

A new Silver Line Metro elementary at a location to be determined: To address current and projected overcrowding in the new Silver Line Metro, planning is funded but construction is unfunded

West Potomac High School addition: To address increasing enrollment, under construction, more construction funding

Justice High School addition: To address increasing enrollment, more construction funding

Madison High School addition: To address increasing enrollment, under construction, more construction funding

Future western high school: Site acquisition funded

Hybla Valley Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities and more space, under construction, more construction funding

Washington Mill Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, under construction, more construction funding

Braddock Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, under construction, more construction funding

Fox Mill Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities and more space, under construction, more construction funding

Oak Hill Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, under construction, more construction funding

Wakefield Forest Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities and more space, under construction, more construction funding

Louise Archer Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, in permitting phase, more construction funding

Crossfield Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, in permitting phase, more construction funding

Mosaic Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities and more space, in permitting phase, construction funding

Bonnie Brae Elementary School renovation: To provide modern amenities and more space, in permitting phase, construction funding

Bren Mar Park Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Brookfield Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Lees Corner Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Armstrong Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Willow Springs Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Herndon Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Dranesville Elementary School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Cooper Middle School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, under construction, more construction funding

Frost Middle School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove a modular and provide more space, under construction, more construction funding

Oakton High School renovation: To provide modern amenities, remove temporary classrooms and provide more space, under construction, more construction funding

Falls Church High School renovation: To provide modern amenities and more space, in permitting phase, more construction funding

Centreville High School renovation: In planning and design phase, planning and design phase funded

Unfunded renovations identified in the capital plan include Cub Run Elementary, Union Mill Elementary, Centre Ridge Elementary, Poplar Tree Elementary, Waples Mill Elementary, Sangster Elementary, Saratoga Elementary, Virginia Run Elementary, Franklin Middle School and Twain Middle School.