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Fairfax County’s newest high school is now officially Skyview High School, marking a major step toward its August 2026 opening in Herndon.

The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved the name at its Feb. 12 meeting. The school, previously called “Western High School” on a temporary basis, is located at 2949 Education Drive.

Fairfax County Public Schools finalized its $150 million purchase of the former King Abdullah Academy on Aug. 15, 2025. The state-of-the-art facility sits on a 30-acre campus.

Superintendent Michelle Reid described the selection of a permanent name as an important milestone.

“The name ‘Skyview’ represents the limitless potential and opportunities we aspire to for our students as they engage in 22nd-century learning and innovation, and prepare for careers yet to be imagined,” Reid said.

Along with the core curriculum offered at traditional FCPS high schools, Skyview will focus on three specialized fields: aerospace science, technology, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Together, the programs are intended to create a future-focused technology ecosystem.

Enrollment is underway under Principal Dave Jagels, who previously oversaw the opening of Westfield High School in Chantilly.

“We have a beautiful building, opportunities to create a learning community together, a chance to build culture, climate in sports, athletics, band, performing arts, and all of that together in a way that’s never been done before,” Jagels said in an FCPS video. “This is probably the pinnacle opportunity of my career.”

Skyview will be FCPS’s first new high school since Westfield opened in September 2000.

The school will begin its first academic year in August 2026 using an opt-in enrollment model. A separate boundary-review process for Skyview is expected to begin soon following the completion of FCPS’s comprehensive boundary review.

New boundary options will be developed from the ground up, with a final decision scheduled for June. The approved boundaries are expected to take effect for the 2027-28 school year.