Schools

Schools Open Sept. 6, Overview by the Numbers

Nearly 200,000 students, $2.2 billion budget

An estimated 177,629 students will begin the 2011-12 school year on Tuesday, September 6, in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the nation’s 11th largest school system.

What's New: Full day kindergarten at all elementary schools. First the first time McLean's elementary schools now have full-day kindergarten.

Also the entire Fairfax county school board faces election in November. Many incumbents are not seeking reelection making the school board races some of the most exciting this year. In McLean incumbent Jane Strauss, the new school board president, faces long-time school advocate Louise Epstein.

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

FCPS students will attend 138 elementary schools (grades K-6), 19 middle schools (grades 7 and 8), 3 middle schools (grades 6-8), 4 secondary schools (grades 7-12), 21 high schools (grades 9-12), 7 special education centers, 2 alternative high schools, and 48 alternative programs. 

Three of these schools are magnet schools: Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fairfax County schools will cost county taxpayers $2.2 billion for the fiscal year that started July 1. School employees received a one percent pay increase and step increases for employees, according to the schools budget.*

Fifty-two percent of the county's budget goes to the schools. The schools budget also includes $38 million in state funds.

The majority of students in county schools are now minorities a testament to the sweeping changes to the county's population in the past 40 years. Seventy percent of the folks in the county have no children in the schools. Another testament to the historic  population changes.

If you have no child in the schools you still care because you are paying for them. McLean property values are higher than average partly because of the great reputation of our schools.

More than 1 in 4 students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. ESOL services  are increasing by 16.5 percent, according to the budget.

McLean High School was the highest ranking FCPS school cited by  Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews in May 2011 in his annual compilation of the top high schools in the country, based on their ability to challenge average students with Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.

All eligible FCPS high schools appeared on the list of more than 1,900 most challenging U.S. high schools and are in the top seven percent of high schools in the country. (TJHSST is not eligible because its enrollment is selective), according to a press release from the Fairfax schools.

FCPS has six professional technical academies. They are: Chantilly High School Academy–engineering and scientific technology and health and human services; Edison High School Academy–international studies and business and engineering and scientific technology; Fairfax High School Academy–communication arts; Falls Church High School Academy—criminal justice and health and medical sciences; Marshall High School Academy–international studies and business and engineering and scientific technology; and West Potomac High School Academy–communication arts and health and human services.

*A copy of the approved FY2012 Fairfax School budget is attached to this story.


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