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Fairfax County’s newest high school has a name after an unexpected change of course: Skyview High School.
The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to name the school Skyview instead of Western High School, the name initially recommended by Superintendent Michelle Reid.
The school will occupy the former King Abdullah Academy campus at 2949 Education Drive in the Floris area south of Herndon. The roughly 32.7-acre property sits near Dulles International Airport and the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center.
Reid recommended Western High School at the board’s Jan. 8 meeting. When the board reconvened Jan. 22, however, her amended proposal presented both Western and Skyview as options.
Board members did not directly explain the shift during the final vote, but several credited student support for Skyview. Students selected it as their favorite among 10 finalists during a public comment period that also included parents, employees and future students.
Western was the most frequently submitted suggestion and held a slight edge among parents and staff.
“This is a very futuristic name, the top vote-getter amongst all the names, hugely supported by students,” at-large board member Ilryong Moon said. “We are student-centered and want to support student choice.”
Providence District representative Karl Frisch jokingly said he had considered opposing the selection because his favorite suggestion was “Schooly McSchoolFace.” He ultimately praised students for advocating for Skyview, calling it “a really great name” that reflects the community’s hopes for the school.
Sully District representative Seema Dixit, whose district includes the campus, urged her colleagues to support Skyview and praised the community’s creative submissions. Fairfax County Public Schools began requesting name ideas in October before narrowing the field to Reid’s recommendations.
Dranesville District representative Robyn Lady said the name captures both students’ future potential and the campus’s surroundings.
“As someone who lives in Herndon not far from the school, I assure you, it’s not just about potential for what’s going to happen as our students reach for the stars, but it is a gorgeous view of sunsets,” Lady said. “It is a sky view when you’re over there on that campus, so I think it’s a two-fold name.”
Hunter Mill District representative Melanie Meren welcomed the decision to avoid Western, which she said could be confused with FCPS schools including Westfield, West Springfield and West Potomac.
Meren said the district must now focus on transportation and ensure students can reach the campus. She encouraged staff to build on the recently completed countywide boundary review while keeping the board and community involved.
FCPS acquired the property for $150 million last summer. Skyview will serve students now assigned to the Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes and Westfield pyramids.
The school is scheduled to open in August for the 2026-2027 academic year, initially enrolling as many as 1,000 ninth- and 10th-grade students.
Enrollment is underway under future principal Dave Jagels, who most recently worked as an executive principal for FCPS Regions 4 and 5. He joined the school system in 1993 as a special education teacher at Fairfax High School and later served in administrative positions, including principal roles at Centreville and Mountain View high schools.
Skyview will largely operate as a traditional high school offering the FCPS core curriculum. Reflecting its location near Dulles Airport and a growing technology corridor, it will also let students specialize in aerospace science, technology, or artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“Choosing a name for a new school is an important milestone, and we are very grateful to everyone who shared their ideas and feedback throughout this process,” Reid said. “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.”