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Fairfax County school officials will continue studying boundary changes for two severely overcrowded elementary schools, despite concerns that students could be reassigned again during a countywide redistricting process expected to conclude in early 2026.

The School Board voted March 13 to advance separate boundary studies for Parklawn Elementary School in Lincolnia and Coates Elementary School in the McNair area south of Herndon. The action keeps alive the possibility of near-term relief, though it does not guarantee that boundaries will change this year.

Parklawn has 949 students, just below Fairfax County Public Schools’ unofficial maximum of 950. The campus uses 19 trailers and a 10-classroom modular building for overflow.

Coates is at 137% capacity, with 983 students and 20 temporary classrooms.

At-large board member Ilryong Moon said the crowding should have been addressed earlier and argued that another year should not pass without action. Mount Vernon representative Mateo Dunne also strongly supported developing adjustment plans, saying students should not be packed into Parklawn and Coates while other county schools have available space.

Other members questioned whether short-term changes would create unnecessary disruption before the larger boundary review is complete.

Sully District representative Seama Dixit called the individual studies a duplication of effort. Braddock District representative Rachna Sizemore-Heizer said families already face substantial uncertainty and could be asked to endure two rounds of changes.

Dixit and Sizemore-Heizer were absent when the board approved the scope of the Coates study without opposition. They raised their objections during the subsequent discussion of Parklawn.

Mason District representative Ricardy Anderson, whose district includes Parklawn, pointed to the school’s extensive collection of outdoor classrooms and said overcrowding has affected the campus for years.

Superintendent Michelle Reid acknowledged the need for relief but said completing changes before the 2025-26 school year would be very difficult. She recommended folding both studies into the countywide review as the most efficient use of staff resources.

The board nevertheless voted 10-0 to advance the Parklawn study, with Dixit and Sizemore-Heizer abstaining. It had already approved moving forward with the Coates review.

The Parklawn study will consider Annandale Terrace, Bailey’s, Bailey’s Upper, Belvedere, Braddock, Bren Mar, Columbia, Glen Forest, Mason Crest, Sleepy Hollow, North Springfield and Weyanoke elementary schools. Possible adjustments involving Belvedere and Canterbury Woods will also be examined to balance enrollment in Parklawn’s Advanced Academic Program Level IV classes.

The Coates review will include Armstrong, Clearview, Dranesville, Dogwood, Fox Mill, Floris, Herndon, Hutchison, McNair, McNair Upper and Oak Hill elementary schools.

Staff estimated that potential boundary options could be ready for public discussion by May.

After the votes, Sizemore-Heizer tried to introduce a measure incorporating the two studies into the broader redistricting process. Board Chair Karl Frisch, the Providence District representative, ruled that the proposal could not be considered until the next meeting.

Dranesville representative Robyn Lady, whose district includes Coates, said she does not want students reassigned once through the individual study and then moved again after the countywide review. Still, she said relief is needed because the county’s most crowded schools are “bursting at the seams.”

Armstrong expansion moves forward

The board also awarded San Jose Construction Corp. a $37.36 million contract to renovate Armstrong Elementary School in Reston. The company submitted the lowest of five bids.

The project will add 27,000 square feet and increase the school’s capacity to 800 students. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months and finish by the start of the 2027-28 school year.

Voters approved funding through bond referendums in 2021 and 2023.

Field, lighting and playground contracts approved

Hellas Construction received contracts to replace synthetic-turf fields at Hayfield Secondary School and Chantilly, Justice and South County high schools. Each project will cost between $816,900 and $967,100.

The work will remove crumb-rubber infill and replace it with organic materials.

The board also approved a $371,749 contract with Mucco Sports Lighting to replace lights around McLean High School’s track and football field.

Centennial Contractors Enterprises received a $386,944 contract to replace playground equipment at Marshall Road Elementary School in Vienna. The company has completed similar work at several other county schools.