Update March 2022
Over the past year, the Livability22202 Schools Working Group has been advocating for more K-12 seats in 22202 to address persistent overcrowding at our local schools that will grow more acute as new residential development arrives to Pentagon and Crystal City. This advocacy has included formal letters and testimonies at School and County Board meetings, and informal engagements with APS and County Staff and Board Members, local businesses, and developers. Thanks to these efforts, the first step was taken to identify a local elementary school site within the Pentagon City Sector Plan. As land that could meet the needs of an elementary population is quickly disappearing in 22202 it will not become a reality unless APS commits to fund this new school in coordination with library and community center upgrades. Join us in advocating for more Elementary, Middle, and High School seats in 22202.
Livability22202 Schools Working Group Urges APS to Consider Future 22202 Schools
On November 29, the 3 Livability22202 civic association presidents forwarded a letter from the Schools Working Group to Arlington Public Schools asking for a clear process to determine sufficient seats, and specifically a siting process, for future schools in 22202. The letter reflects comments on the proposed adjustments to boundaries and elementary immersion feeders schools for the Public Hearing record. The working group looks forward to partnering with APS to ensure that all Arlington children have access to safe neighborhood schools that are planned and built in response to realistic enrollment needs. Read the letter here.
School Bond Issue: There will be a $23.1 million school bond issue on the ballot Election Day November 2 to improve infrastructure and address continuing enrollment growth. See the details at the bottom of the page linked here.
Update June 23, 2021: The 3 civic associations sent a letter June 23 prepared by the Schools Working Group to the County Board voicing support for the Board’s attention to development of a plan for the creation of more K-12 seats in 22202. It calls for the County to conduct focused engagement with APS with the near-term aim of siting an elementary school within walkable distance of a significant percentage of children in 22202. It calls for a long-term plan in next year’s CIP to address capacity issues at Gunston Middle School and Wakefield High School, through construction of existing facilities or new and innovative solutions leveraging partnerships with industry and commercial real estate developers.
Update April 21, 2021: The 3 civic associations sent a letter April 21 to the Superintendent of Schools and School Board members, with copies to the County Board members, identifying our concerns regarding school capital improvement projects for the upcoming FY2022 APS CIP. This letter reiterates concerns that the 22202 Civic Associations have been voicing for several years to the County and to local developers. The need for school seats at all levels is critical as South Arlington, and particularly National Landing, continue to see new development and increased residential units being built. Our elementary, middle and high school are already near or over capacity and face substantial seat deficits in the next five years if nothing is done to increase capacity. APS must begin the process of planning for a new elementary school in 22202, and start developing creative solutions to solve the capacity issues at Gunston Middle School and Wakefield High School.
As of May 2, there has been no response.
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The 2019 Arlington Facilities and Student Accommodation Plan report found that the need for school seats is projected to continue over the next 10 years, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels. Even before Amazon’s announcement, Arlington’s population was projected to grow by 26% over the next 25 years, to 301,0002. However, that growth will be concentrated in the Route 1 corridor and the adjacent Columbia Pike corridor, with expected population increases of 51%, and 63% respectively. Similarly, over the same time period, almost half of the new jobs in Arlington County will be created in the Route 1 corridor. Thus, the imperative to thoughtfully plan for development of our neighborhoods has become more urgent, as is the need to plan for a school in 22202.
Provide Essential Services Across the Community – A key priority of the Livability22202 Action Plan
Creating a livable community starts with ensuring that planning objectives actively seek to foster a sense of community, including the provisioning of essential services across the neighborhoods. Our community is a set of distinct neighborhoods, and our livability plan seeks to sustain the unique character and evolution of these neighborhoods. Amenities and essential services should match the scale of the neighborhoods they serve. Community facilities such as libraries, elementary schools, and community centers, as well as diverse
recreational opportunities, should be located within walkable distance to most residents. A livable urban community of this population density needs convenient essential medical services such as a hospital-affiliated urgent care clinic. Residents in the 22202-area typically have longer drive times to the nearest hospital than residents in other Arlington County zip codes. Child daycare is a notable opportunity to build community. Young families first meet other families with whom they will form lifetime connections as their children grow and progress through school together. Yet child daycare is currently in short supply in the 22202 area, with waiting lists that exceed a year (a child must
often be placed on a waiting list before conception). New daycare facilities should be located near new residential developments, should offer extended and weekend hours, affordable pricing and be open to all residents. These essential services, provisioned thoughtfully with attention to neighborhood needs, provide opportunities for a community to crystalize, sustain itself, and grow.
Thoughtful planning and placement of essential services can reduce the friction of daily life and foster stronger sense of community. Priorities for essential services that encourage community-building include:
• Centrally locate walkable library, community center, and elementary school spaces,
potentially in multi-use facilities.
• Build daycare facilities based in new residential buildings and developments.
A working group on schools began in the Fall of 2020. To join the group, contact the Coordinator Sheryl Eaton: sseaton1@att.net.