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McLean High School Principal Raven Jones outlined plans to expand academic support, strengthen campus security and address problems in the school’s nearly 70-year-old building during a Jan. 21 State of the School Address.
Jones, who became principal in September, held the after-school event with the PTSA to update the community on priorities for the coming school year. The presentation marked the first time a McLean principal had used a PTSA forum to address the entire school community, PTSA President Elizabeth El-Nattar said.
McLean is the 12th-largest school in the county division. Its students are performing above district averages across every measured area, according to Jones, including achievement among multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
Multilingual learners make up 6% of the student body, while 10.6% of students have disabilities. The school has a 6% student mobility rate.
Jones said McLean recorded Fairfax County’s second-highest growth in multilingual language arts performance during the past year, an improvement she described as particularly difficult for schools to achieve.
The school now aims to raise reading and science proficiency among multilingual learners to a 91% pass rate by the end of the school year, an increase of five percentage points. For students with disabilities, the goal is to narrow the achievement gap by four percentage points.
Jones called both targets conservative and attainable, adding that the school is already seeing progress.
More support during the school day
One proposed change would add time to Highlander Time, which currently runs for 30 minutes each day. The expanded period could include dedicated intervention blocks for students who need individualized academic help.
Jones said providing more support during regular hours would reduce the need for students to remain after school or miss clubs and sports for tutoring. McLean is also reviewing how it assigns staff to areas with the greatest needs.
The principal asked families to help students develop discipline and academic resilience. Of the 280 disciplinary referrals issued during the second quarter, 32 involved dishonesty, including cheating on tests, sharing test information or supplying homework answers to other students.
Jones is also forming a principal advisory committee made up of students, parents, staff and community members. The group would offer guidance on school challenges, policies and McLean’s broader mission and direction.
Aging building gets targeted improvements
With McLean’s building approaching 70 years old, renovations remain a significant concern for families and students. Jones said the school is pursuing smaller improvements while awaiting a full renovation under changing county requirements.
Two new chillers are among the planned installations. Temperatures can vary by approximately 20 degrees across different parts of the building, Jones said, and officials hope the equipment will reduce humidity and temperature swings.
The incremental work is also intended to address maintenance concerns such as mold growth.
Jones identified safety and security as her highest priority and discussed new protections, including the OpenGate detector system. She said those concerns will remain at the forefront of her decisions as principal.