Resident Opposition Testimonies

Chantilly Estates, Chantilly, VA consists of three streets (Downs Drive, Birch Drive, Chantilly Road) located north of and adjacent to Route 50 (aka Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway once known as Little River Turnpike) between the roads of Lees Corner Road and Metrotech.  The little low-density neighborhood is in the heart of Chantilly and has been in existence since the 1940s. Anecdotal information places its eastern boundary line with the boundary of the Chantilly Mansion Farm located on the same side just north of what was then Little River Turnpike (now Route 50 aka Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway). 

Historically, Chantilly Estates predates the majority of both residential and business density, and public school high school students of Chantilly Estates have attended Chantilly High School since 1973 when it first opened its doors.  Chantilly Estates is not the root cause of the CHS overcrowding that has been caused by the high density building within the area. 

Our home was built in 1947 by the brothers Head and was built with bricks from the temporary WWII buildings (Washington DC) deconstructed after the conclusion of the war.  Our children attended Chantilly High School, the last to graduate in 1996.  Chantilly Estates should not be removed from the Chantilly High School catchment; our children should remain within the CHS student body.  There is insufficient reason to pull this neighborhood historically part of the heart of Chantilly away from CHS, and the upheaval this boundary change might have for our high school children is unnecessary. 

To digress, we moved into Chantilly Estates in 1977 when all of this Chantilly Community you are familiar with didn’t exist (with exception of Brookfield, Chantilly Estates, Greenbriar, Lowe Street and a couple streets of older houses that no longer exist behind where the Pohanka complex is located).  By the time our boy, a 1996 CHS graduate, was in 4th grade, he was required to attend 4 elementary schools — Floris, Oak Hill, Armstrong in Reston, and finally Lees Corner.   It wasn’t an optimal situation by any means yet circumstances were somewhat  different in that all this housing and business density was exploding.  Nonetheless each move from school to school robbed him of familiar schoolmates and friends that affected him and us — all that upheaval his K—4th grade when Lees Corner opened its doors.  Fortunately there was community continuity from grade 4 through graduation from CHS.  Chantilly Estates children deserve the same continuity, and we ask that you leave this neighborhood within the Chantilly High School student body.  Thank you.

  - Long-term Chantilly Estates residents (since 1977) and former CHS parents

I am writing on a personal level concerning the considered boundary issues which impact Chantilly Estates. I have had 3 kids graduate from Chantilly HS 1 in the 1990's, 1 in the 2000's and one just 2 years ago in 2023. They all have one thing in common, they graduated from Special Education and from Chantilly High School, their base school. 

I'm going to concentrate on the last child to graduate although all my kids benefitted from the inclusion that going to your base school affords. My son joined our family at the age of  6 months the victim of shaken baby syndrome which left him with multiple mental, physical and severe medical concerns. My son attended Lee's Corner, Franklin Middle School and Chantilly for his entire school experience. He made friends just like all our kids did in the elementary school that still continue to bring him joy.  As he walked through the hall ways at Chantilly High with the support of his teachers and staff he was greeted by name and often a high five or fist bump by kids he had known since he was 5, something he would not have had if he had been forced to attend a different high school. Inclusion which leads to friendship and understanding is much easier to attain in elementary school than in secondary placements.

I remember a couple of events that even now bring me to tears. My son received an award in middle school and there was an assembly that parents and other students attended. Because of the amount of students receiving awards, parents were asked to hold their applause to the end. My son with the assistance of his teacher walked the stage, received his award and then turned to the audience and said "clap now" and all students disregarding the wait to clap direction gave him a standing ovation. My son was one of them, their peer and to many a friend.

 I took my son to the powder puff football game at the end of his Junior Year at Chantilly HS where a friend of his was playing in the game. My son and I sat in the bleachers with quite a few young men behind us cheering on their girls. They had said hi to my son when we arrived and when the game was ending and we were climbing slowly and carefully down the steps (My son is a fall risk) a couple of the boys on their own started helping us down. One of the young men was holding flowers he was giving to the girls on the team introduced himself reminding me that he had known my son since 2nd grade, he grinned at my son and handed him a carnation and told him "here, give this to your girl." Which my son did with a smile as he was treated like just one of the boys.

These are not experiences that come easily to our kids in special education and will not be there if upcoming kids are forced because of these boundary changes to switch schools and attend schools with students they have no history with. In a new school they won't be just one of the boys

We are asking that FCPS keep our neighborhood, Chantilly Estates, within the Chantilly High School (CHS) boundary. Our neighborhood is comprised of just three streets (approximately 50 houses) including Downs Drive, Birch Drive and Chantilly Road- all within 1.5 miles of CHS.  Our students utilize the option to safely walk home after school when feasible. There are approximately only ten Chantilly High School students that reside in our neighborhood. 

- a former CHS mom of children in special education who attended Lees Corner, Franklin and CHS

We, the residents of Chantilly Estates, strongly oppose the proposed boundary changes by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) that would reassign our neighborhood to Westfield High School. Chantilly Estates, a small, historic community of approximately 50 homes and 10 high school students, has been a part of the Chantilly High School (CHS) pyramid since the school’s inception in 1973.

Key Reasons for Opposition:

Longstanding Community Ties: Families in our neighborhood have sent children to CHS for decades. The community predates most surrounding developments and is deeply embedded in the Chantilly area’s history.

Cohort Continuity and Inclusion: Our children attend Lees Corner Elementary and Franklin Middle School, both feeders to CHS. Removing our students breaks long-standing friendships and disrupts social-emotional development, particularly for special education students who thrive on peer familiarity.

Proximity and Walkability: CHS is within walking distance (approx. 1.5 miles); Westfield is not. Students currently walk or bike home from CHS. Westfield requires travel across major highways and commercial zones.

Inequity and Disproportionate Impact: Larger, newer neighborhoods remain in CHS while our small, older non-HOA community is singled out for rezoning. The move appears arbitrary and inconsistent with the goals of equity, proximity, and cohort preservation.

Negligible Impact on Overcrowding: Our small number of students does little to reduce overcrowding at CHS. This change imposes unnecessary disruption without meaningful benefit.

Our Request: We urge FCPS to adopt Scenario #1, which retains Chantilly Estates in the CHS boundary and upholds the principles of continuity, fairness, and community stability. 

My family moved to Chantilly Estates in 2001 (24 years ago). We can hear the CHS band practice and play from our front porch.

My youngest son is currently attending Chantilly HS (CHS). My son enjoys walking home from CHS (est. 25 minutes) on nice days with friends. Walking would not be feasible to/from Westfield HS, as it would take 1.5 - 2 hours and would require traversing several highways and large commercial sectors.

I have another son that recently graduated from CHS. He struggled his freshman year, but his grades significantly improved his sophomore-senior year when he found his passion in the Chantilly Academy computer classes offered. He obtained many industry certificates that would not have been possible without the Chantilly Academy programs.

Both my boys have maintained many long-term close friendships from Lees Corner Elementary and Franklin Middle School. Many of their CHS friends are walking distance from/to our house. They often walk and bike together.  

I could not imagine a child living in a very small subdivision (yield est. 5-10 HS students) …

1. Having to leave almost all their friends (from elementary and middle school) to attend a high school much farther away.

2. Seeing a former classmate’s house from a bedroom window that would remain in the local high school pyramid. Yes, some of us are that close to abutting subdivisions, and those friendships would likely be fractured due to the rezone.

3. Riding the bus and passing newer built neighborhoods (as recent as 2020) that are allowed to remain in the local HS local pyramid even though they’re closer to our children's rezoned HS.

4. Having to travel longer distances while traversing large business districts.

5. Being placed in the minority of students that do not know anyone at the new HS which is in a different school pyramid than their elementary and middle school. 

6. Having no options to walk or bike to their new HS classmate’s house. 

7. Seeing CHS students and former friends' bike or walk through our neighborhood (as a shortcut to another adjoining neighborhood).  

8. Feeling completely isolated during their most vulnerable and delicate years.

- Current CHS mom whose son will graduate next year

Please keep Chantilly Estates (Birch Drive, Downs Drive and Chantilly Road) at Chantilly High School. Our children will continue to be enrolled in Lees Corner Elementary School, primarily within the Chantilly High School pyramid. They will spend years developing friendships, collaborating with teammates, participating in concerts and plays, and making memories with their peers at school only to be separated from nearly all of them in their most critical years of development. 

 -A current CHS mom

I believe this rezoning plan would be extremely detrimental to the neighborhood, as my kids are both CHS graduates and have built deep and everlasting bonds with their other CHS peers throughout the years. To us, CHS is more than just a school; it is the heart and soul that connects the young children in this neighborhood with CHS students in other neighborhoods, and an integral part of the community and vital to our wellbeing. Rezoning us to Westfield would create unbelievable disruption and chaos, and it would cause us to lose the very identity and emotional connections that we have fought so hard to build and protect over the years. 

-Long-term resident and former CHS parent

Keep the children living on Birch Drive, Downs Drive and Chantilly Road at Chantilly High School!  There are only approximately 10 high school students living in Chantilly Estates.  Under Proposals 2 and 3 of the FCPS boundary changes, these kids would be split from the majority of their peers that live in adjoining neighborhoods and would be placed in a high school several miles further away. Our neighborhood would become a new attendance island and our kids would  be segregated from our neighborhood school pyramid.  Please consider the level of stress and anxiety that this change would have on our kids. Keep the kids living in Chantilly Estates in the Chantilly High School pyramid with their adjoining neighbors and long-time childhood friends. I support Scenario #1 in the current FCPS redistricting plan.

-A current CHS mom and a CHS 1986 graduate 

Please do not change my school from Chantilly to Westfield. All of my friends go to Chantilly. I don’t know any kids that go to Westfield. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 13 years. All of my friends are going to Chantilly or already at Chantilly. This isn't fair.

- Chantilly Estates teen 

After reviewing the four pillar goals of the boundary line adjustment proposal. Moving Chantilly Estates does not satisfy one goal. It will actually exacerbate the problems that are trying to be solved.  

-Chantilly HS Dad and a professional homebuilder

As residents of a small, older, non-HOA neighborhood, we already experience a sense of isolation and difference compared to the larger, more organized HOA communities surrounding us. Our children's ability to attend school with their peers from these adjoining neighborhoods has helped bridge that divide—giving us all a greater sense of inclusion, community, and shared identity.

This proposed rezone threatens to undo that connection. It reinforces a pattern of residential segregation—intentionally or not—by separating our children from their peers and pushing our neighborhood further to the margins.

We urge you to consider not just the logistics of zoning, but the human consequences. Strong, connected communities are built through inclusive decisions that recognize and respect existing social ties. This rezone disrupts those ties and sends a message that some neighborhoods—and their children—matter less than others.

-A long-term (25 years) concerned resident

As one of the newer residents in the neighborhood, we were very disappointed to hear about the potential school boundary adjustment. While house searching, we had kept in mind not only the school zones but the likelihood of school boundary adjustments. Due to the long history of Chantilly Estates within Chantilly, it seemed to be a low likelihood of change. 

As parents of young children who will start and hopefully spend their full education within the FCPS system and our currently zoned schools, it is very disappointing and disheartening to think about explaining to our children why they will be moving to a different high school than the rest of their friends who live in the adjacent neighborhoods. What seemed like a no-brainer of enrolling our children into the public school system definitely has us rethinking. It just seems interesting that Study highlighted three scenarios of addressing neighborhood connectivity, cohort continuity, and a comprehensive balance but the goals of Scenarios 2 and 3 do not seem to be reflected with the conversion of our Chantilly Estates from Chantilly High School to Westfield High School. 

There also is a lack of explanation to how they are selecting the areas to be transferred, and how it is addressing the goal. For example, neither Lees Corner nor Franklin Middle School are listed in the public presentation as Split Feeders so why is it impacted by Scenario 2?  Scenario 3 is trying to address overcrowding at Chantilly High School but our neighborhood will definitely not give you any “bang for your buck” to address that issue. Seems like you hired a consultant who did a desktop study and tried to make the numbers work with no regard to the outlined goals or history of Fairfax County. 

~Disappointed and confused resident, Resident since April 2024

The proposed change of moving our small neighborhood to a different HS zone, will significantly and negatively impact our students both academically and emotionally. For students, school is more than just a place for learning, it is a community built on friendships, trusted teachers, and familiar routines. The proposed change is shortsighted and will make our small neighborhood an island when it comes to HS. The proposed boundary would separate students from their current peer groups and established support networks. This is particularly concerning for students who are vulnerable and dealing with social anxiety, learning differences. Additionally, many families chose their homes based on current school boundaries, making sacrifices to ensure their children could attend a particular HS. Changing those boundaries now undermines those decisions and can create instability and uncertainty for both students and parents. Kindly consider the human impact of this proposal and not solely decide based on numbers and maps. 

We strongly oppose the changes that FCPS is suggesting. The rezoning draft is illogical-the neighborhoods to the north and south of ours (which are much larger than ours)-continue to stay in CHS while our neighborhood-with just 5-10 kids is getting rezoned to accommodate the overcrowding issues. The proposed rezoning will put us in a school which is further away from our neighborhood and none of our kids' friends from elementary and middle school will be there. 

We moved to Chantilly Estates neighborhood and loved to be part of this small community of great neighbors. Our Child loved being part of Lees Corner Elementary School and have been Volunteering at its events, and games even though he moved to Middle School. We as parents still continue to volunteer at the Elementary School and community. Our Child is really excited as he is looking forward is to be in the Marching Band and be a Chantilly Charger. He chose not to even try for Thomas Jefferson High School. He loves walking to Chantilly School with his friends. This proposal to rezone our neighborhood from Chantilly School which is almost a mile away from our neighborhood to close to 4 miles away Westfield will NOT work. They will be cut off from their neighborhood friends to strangers and we as parents rely on the neighborhood for carpooling and support. In crucial years of high school learning creating a new environment to the Children will cause unnecessary stress. We strongly oppose. 

-Chantilly Volunteer and Marching Band family

Chantilly Estates may be the oldest surviving and original Chantilly, VA subdivision. Being slightly over a one (1+) mile distance from Chantilly HS, it is an easy walk to/from; school bus transportation is available. Chantilly Estates students have attended Chantilly HS since it opened in 1973. The Pyramid is Lees Corner El., Franklin Intermediate, Chantilly HS. Carving out the Chantilly Estates Community and sending students to a high school 3+ miles away deprives students of academic and extracurricular activities, programs, their friends with whom they are familiar from their pyramid schools, lengthens their school day because of the longer distance transportation, puts stress on families in regard to already established parents’ networks, cooperatives, etc. Additionally removing this community’s children from their historical, traditional COMMUNITY HS to ship off to a NON-community HS creates an attendance island and divorcees them academically and socially from their community family. It is unnecessary, unreasonable, and dissolves the continuity that parents and children expect and should continue! 

Both my husband and sons went to CHS and it makes no sense to rezone this neighborhood to Westfield! Chantilly Road is part of our neighborhood and this is one of the original Chantilly neighborhoods therefore should remain at CHS. The added distance and burden on busing and after school activities to Westfield’s would only add additional stress to the families in our neighborhood and increase traffic congestion vs going right down the street to CHS.

-Long term Chantilly Estates Resident and CHS graduate

1. Most of us invested our house to be in close proximity of High school with a good rating. Many moved many couple of years ago and brought our family and friends together to ensure the kids will get a good high school. Now the rezoning defeats the purpose and a long term efforts and dreams. The houses here are a bit expensive due to the fact that the school has better ranking and is in proximity and we chose to take that burden for the only one reason Chantilly High school. If we are forced to move to Westfield. It defeats our purpose of investing in Chantilly Estates.

2. The kids are growing together for several years from elementary to middle school. They dreamt of going together to high school, having soccer clubs and math clubs. Now these section of the kids have to move to Westfield HS where the neighborhood is new. They cannot be in group studies or group activities with other kids near Chantilly Estates because of different high schools. Neither can they mingle with Westfield students for after school activities, etc. because they are not near by or walkable distance. In either case, kids are put through the utmost emotional stress. The kids are not happy with this boundary change.

3. As a parent I would prefer my kids to be studying in a high school that is walkable or close proximity for group studies and higher ranking. Why would we choose to move our kids to a lower ranking school just because of this boundary change and this seems to be forced upon us.

4. For many activities, the parents carpool the kids, they volunteer together because the kids are in the same school, we have common parties, bands, study group kids, events. Now this will not only separate the kids but also the parents and will become a disjoint with the neighboring communities. 

-Future CHS parents

I am concerned about the proposed school rezoning and the potential negative impacts it could have on our neighborhood. While I understand the need for balancing enrollment across schools, this change may bring unintended consequences that could disrupt the cohesion and character of our community.

One of the main concerns is the impact on families who have built strong ties with their current schools—relationships with teachers, friendships among students, and involvement in school activities that help create a sense of community. Rezoning could break these connections and create unnecessary stress for children who would have to adjust to a new environment, possibly mid-way through their education.

Additionally, this change could negatively affect property values. Many families move into our neighborhood specifically for the access to our current schools. A shift in school zoning could deter future buyers and reduce the overall appeal of our area.

There’s also the issue of longer commutes. Rezoning may result in children being bused to schools farther away, increasing transportation time and logistical burdens for working parents. This could lead to decreased participation in after-school activities, PTA meetings, and community involvement overall.

Lastly, such changes can create or reinforce inequalities if they move students from a well-resourced school to one with fewer resources or different academic performance levels. This could have long-term impacts on students’ educational outcomes.

In conclusion, while rezoning may solve certain enrollment issues, I believe it’s critical to fully evaluate the broader consequences on our community. A more collaborative process involving parents, educators, and community members would lead to better, more equitable solutions. 

Our neighborhood is only a 10 minute bike ride from CHS-my child (freshman in 2025-26) was planning on biking to and from to the school on good sunny days.  The proposed rezoning will put us in a school which is further away from our neighborhood and none of our kids' friends from elementary and middle school will be there.  Imagine going into a high school knowing only the 5 kids from your neighborhood.  Our neighborhood kids have been a part of the school band since the elementary days and splitting them apart in high school is heartbreaking. 

The rezoning draft is illogical-the neighborhoods to the north and south of ours (which are much larger than ours)-continue to stay in CHS while our neighborhood-with just 5-10 kids is getting rezoned to accommodate the overcrowding issues.  It seems that the county is targeting our neighborhood-and ignoring the fact that we are one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chantilly!

We urge FCPS to reconsider their decision of introducing unnecessary stress and anxiety in kids

 -A concerned mom

It's odd that they would choose our neighborhood to go to Westfields as it would be disadvantageous for the children here.  We are one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chantilly and zoned for Chantilly HS since the school's beginning. We literally live on Chantilly Road.  When our kids went to CHS, they often walked/bicycled to school with no problems.  Walking or cycling to Westfields would not be safe, and it's too far to be practical.  

It's also odd that they are singling out our neighborhood, separating our kids from those around us when there are so few in this neighborhood to make a difference in student populations.  It does not make sense to have children making so many friends in elementary & middle school just to separate them in 9th grade from their friends and everyone they know in school.  Who would want to move into a neighborhood with this situation?  This not only affects the children but even the adults (with no children) whose property values may plummet.

This is obviously not good for the children and nobody in the neighborhood wants this change.

It appears that a less represented community has been selectively targeted, perhaps to limit public pushback, raising concerns about the equity, transparency, and integrity of the rezoning process. 

CHS is closer to this neighborhood, our children will have to travel farther and the children will be separated from their lifelong friends.  Since Covid the kids are already having difficulty with all the changes, we are causing our kids to feel more isolated by creating unnecessary changes that creates anxiety.  Also homeowners paid prices for their home because of which schools the children will go to. 

I am a rising freshman and am very sad to hear that I will be separated from my childhood friends.  If we get sent to Westfields HS- I will not know anyone there.  Also, Westfields HS does not offer the electives and the AP courses that I am interested in.  Please do not separate me from my friends. I enjoy riding my bike and would love to be able to bike to my school.  Westfields is too far and unsafe to bike to whereas Chantilly HS is only a few  minutes away.