How
Many School-Age Children?
Metro West is projected to bring approximately 5,000 new residents just
south of the Vienna Metro. Obviously this will have a profound
impact on schools.
The County points to two studies as evidence that Metro West is a good
idea. However, these studies provide vastly different estimates
regarding the number of school-age children the project would
generate. One study, performed by Fairfax County Public
Schools, estimates 331 new students, Kindergarten - 12th grade.
Yet another study performed to estimate traffic impacts indicate 927
new residents under the age of 16. While the traffic impact study
did not purport to estimate school impacts specifically, the 927 figure
raised understandable questions.
Which prediction is closer to the actual outcome? This question
was put to the study authors and County officials in June, 2005.
The question was not answered for many months when County officials
eventually disavowed the larger figure.
Even considering the lower number, the school study does not give clear
indications about
impacts on school facilities other than classrooms. Impacts on
libraries, gymnasiums, playgrounds, etc. have not been addressed.
When asked about such facilities last summer, school administrators
addressed only one: cafeterias. The officials said that
cafeterias could accommodate additional students by starting to serve
lunch earlier. However, the affected schools already begin
serving lunch at 10:30 a.m. A meal served prior to this time is
normally called “breakfast.”
Clearly, our children deserve better.
Links:
The Fairfax County Public Schools document is available at
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/providence/PDFFiles/FairleeStudySchoolsCharts.pdf
Look at the "Fairlee Impact" fields for:
Mosby Woods Elementary - 198
Jackson Middle School - 40
and Oakton HS - 93
This provides data for an analysis at:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/providence/PDFFiles/FairleeStudySchools.pdf
The larger figure eventually disavowed by the County came from a
Traffic Demand Management Study (large file)
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/providence/PDFFiles/FairleeTDM_Final.pdf
Please see Appendix 7, page 5 for the 927 figure.