Loudoun County Public Schools
Encyclopedia
Loudoun County Public Schools (abbreviated LCPS) is a branch of the Loudoun County
, Virginia, United States government, and administers public schools in the county. LCPS's headquarters is located at 21000 Education Court in Ashburn
, an unincorporated section
of the county.
Due to the rapid growth in the region, LCPS is the fastest growing school division
in Virginia and one of the fastest growing public school districts in the United States, serving over 50,000 students in the 2006–2007 school year
. LCPS is the fifth largest school division in Virginia, surpassing the enrollment of Henrico County Public Schools
in the 2006–2007 school year. The superintendent of schools
is Edgar B. Hatrick.
after the Civil War and in an era of Reconstruction. For most of its history, LCPS has served a rural county, known for its dairy farms. Since the 1960s, Loudoun County's population skyrocketed, accompanied by that of the school system. More than thirty schools have been built between 1996 and 2006.
, is managed under the direction and authority of the Loudoun County School Board, a nine member panel elected by citizens in the county. Eight of the nine board positions are divided among voting districts that represent communities throughout the county, while the ninth seat is elected at-large by the entire county. The voting districts correspond to those used for Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
elections. Unlike the Board of Supervisors
, the chairmanship of the School Board operates on a rotating basis between members, while the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is always the at-large seat. While the School Board makes decisions relating to school policy and curriculum, it receives funding through the Board of Supervisors.
Serves grades 6–8 unless noted
Serves grades K-5
and vocational education
classes at C.S. Monroe Technology Center.
Each school's instructional curriculum is set primarily by the LCPS district office based on Virginia Department of Education requirements. There are generally eleven academic departments, each supervised by a department head (usually a teacher):
The "core" courses of English, mathematics, science and social science typically have tracks or sequences that are determined by grade level (e.g. English 9, English 10, English 11, etc.; and earth science, biology, chemistry, etc.). This is true for some of the other course groups as well, such as world languages, physical education and fine arts. Additionally, many of the core courses are further arranged into basic/general, academic, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classifications. Each classification generally denotes a progressively more challenging level of instruction, although the distinction between honors and AP is often blurred.
Students attending Loudoun Academy of Science at Dominion High School
in Sterling and C.S. Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg do so every other class day, taking their non-magnet classes (typically core courses, such as English, social sciences and electives) at their home campuses on the alternate days.
programs for students who have minor learning disabilities
to those with mild to moderate mental retardation
in most schools. If a student is severely mentally impaired, he or she attends a special county wide program at Loudoun County High School.
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, Virginia, United States government, and administers public schools in the county. LCPS's headquarters is located at 21000 Education Court in Ashburn
Ashburn, Virginia
Ashburn, Virginia is a census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, northwest of Washington, D.C., and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area...
, an unincorporated section
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of the county.
Due to the rapid growth in the region, LCPS is the fastest growing school division
School division
-Canada:In Canada the term is used to the area controlled by a school board and is used interchangeably with school district, including in the formal name of the board. For example, see List of Alberta school boards.-United States:...
in Virginia and one of the fastest growing public school districts in the United States, serving over 50,000 students in the 2006–2007 school year
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
. LCPS is the fifth largest school division in Virginia, surpassing the enrollment of Henrico County Public Schools
Henrico County Public Schools
The Henrico County Public Schools system is a Virginia school division that operates as a functional and independent branch of the Henrico County, Virginia, county government, and administers public schools in the county. Henrico County Public Schools has five International Baccalaureate schools--J.R...
in the 2006–2007 school year. The superintendent of schools
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
is Edgar B. Hatrick.
History
The public school system in Loudoun County was established in 1870 to fulfill the needs for free educationFree education
Free education refers to education that is funded through taxation, or charitable organizations rather than tuition fees. Although primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is free in many countries, for example, all education is mostly free including...
after the Civil War and in an era of Reconstruction. For most of its history, LCPS has served a rural county, known for its dairy farms. Since the 1960s, Loudoun County's population skyrocketed, accompanied by that of the school system. More than thirty schools have been built between 1996 and 2006.
Administration
The LCPS system, while operated on a day-to-day basis by the SuperintendentSuperintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
, is managed under the direction and authority of the Loudoun County School Board, a nine member panel elected by citizens in the county. Eight of the nine board positions are divided among voting districts that represent communities throughout the county, while the ninth seat is elected at-large by the entire county. The voting districts correspond to those used for Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
Loudoun County, Virginia is divided into eight magisterial districts: Blue Ridge, Broad Run, Catoctin, Dulles, Leesburg, Potomac, Sterling, and Sugarland Run. The magisterial districts each elect one supervisor to the Board of Supervisors which governs Loudoun County. There is also a Chairman...
elections. Unlike the Board of Supervisors
County board of supervisors
The Board of Supervisors is the body that supervises the operation of county government in all counties in Arizona, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Sussex County, New Jersey as well as a handful of counties in New York...
, the chairmanship of the School Board operates on a rotating basis between members, while the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is always the at-large seat. While the School Board makes decisions relating to school policy and curriculum, it receives funding through the Board of Supervisors.
Demographics
In the 2008–2009 school year, LCPS was 62.6% White; 8.0% Black; 13.0% Hispanic; 13.4% Asian; and 0.2% Native American.High schools
All high schools serve grades 9–12 unless otherwise noted.- Loudoun Academy of ScienceLoudoun Academy of ScienceThe Loudoun Academy of Science is a part time alternative school program for high school students enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools. Currently, the program is located at the campus of Dominion High School at 21326 Augusta Drive in Sterling, an area in unincorporated Loudoun County,...
, Sterling (located at Dominion High School) - Briar Woods High SchoolBriar Woods High SchoolBriar Woods High School is a public secondary school located in Ashburn, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, and is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. The school is located in the Brambleton community and also serves students who live in Broadlands and...
, Ashburn - Broad Run High SchoolBroad Run High SchoolBroad Run High School is a public secondary school in Ashburn, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, and is part of the Loudoun County Public Schools system ....
, Ashburn - Dominion High SchoolDominion High SchoolDominion High School is a public secondary school in Sterling, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. Dominion High School first opened in 2003, receiving students from Potomac Falls High School and Park View High School...
, Sterling - Freedom High School, South Riding
- Heritage High SchoolHeritage High School (Leesburg, Virginia)Heritage High School is a public secondary school located in Leesburg, Virginia, and is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. The principal is Margaret Huckaby...
, Leesburg - Loudoun County High SchoolLoudoun County High SchoolLoudoun County High School is a public secondary school in Leesburg, Virginia. It is located on 415 Dry Mill Road SW in the Town of Leesburg and is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. It currently serves students who live in western and southern Leesburg, Middleburg, and Lucketts.-History:The...
, Leesburg - Loudoun Valley High SchoolLoudoun Valley High SchoolLoudoun Valley High School is a public secondary school in Purcellville, Virginia. The school is part of Loudoun County Public Schools and is located at 340 North Maple Avenue in the Town of Purcellville...
, Town of Purcellville - Park View High SchoolPark View High School (Sterling, Virginia)For schools of a similar name, see Park View School .Park View High School is a public secondary school in Sterling, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States...
, Sterling - Potomac Falls High SchoolPotomac Falls High SchoolPotomac Falls High School is a public secondary school in Sterling, Virginia unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia. The school is part of the Loudoun County Public Schools system and is located on 46400 Algonkian Parkway...
, Potomac Falls - Stone Bridge High SchoolStone Bridge High SchoolStone Bridge High School is a public secondary school in Ashburn, a community in Loudoun County, Virginia.The school is part of Loudoun County Public Schools and is located on 43100 Hay Road...
, Ashburn - Woodgrove High School, Purcellville
- Tuscarora High SchoolTuscarora High School (Loudoun County, Virginia)Tuscarora High School is a public secondary school located in Leesburg, a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, and is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. The school opened in the 2010-2011 school year.-External links:**...
, Leesburg
Middle schools
Loudoun County currently has 13 middle schools, all of which typically feed into one high school currently, or in the near future. Older middle schools such as Simpson, Blue Ridge, Sterling, and Seneca Ridge originally were able to carry about 1,000 students, but have all went or are going through expansion projects that will allow them to carry 1,200 students once the projects are complete. Newer middle schools built since 1995 when Farmwell Station opened typically have capacities of 1,200 to 1,350 students depending on the age of the building and how fast growth was around the particular school when the school opened.Serves grades 6–8 unless noted
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/bmrms/site/default.asp Belmont Ridge Middle School, Leesburg
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/brms/site/default.asp Blue Ridge Middle School, Purcellville
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/erms/site/default.asp Eagle Ridge Middle School, Ashburn
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/farmwell/site/default.aspFarmwell Station Middle School, Ashburn
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/hpms/site/default.asp Harper Park Middle School, Leesburg
- http://cmsweb1.lcps.org/harmony/site/default.asp Harmony Middle School, Hamilton
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/mercer/site/default.asp Mercer Middle School, Aldie
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/rbms/site/default.asp River Bend Middle School, Sterling
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/srms/site/default.asp Seneca Ridge Middle School, Sterling
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/jlsms/site/default.asp J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, Leesburg
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/smarts/site/default.asp Smart's Mill Middle School, Leesburg
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/sms/site/default.asp Sterling Middle School, Sterling
- http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/shms/site/default.asp Stone Hill Middle School, Ashburn
Intermediate schools
LCPS had one intermediate school (Harmony Intermediate School, now Harmony Middle School) in the western part of the county which served 8th and 9th graders. This was only a temporary concept, which ended after Woodgrove High School opened in Fall 2010.Elementary schools
LCPS currently has 51 elementary schools, which are nearly all community based, with over half of them opening in the last 10 years. Newer elementary schools throughout the county can carry approximately 800 to 875 students. Older elementary schools in the eastern part of the county can carry anywhere from 400–600 students. There are some rural elementary schools in Loudoun County as well, nearly all of them in the western part of the county. They are much smaller in size and are much older facilities, typically holding enrollments of about 100–150 students.Serves grades K-5
- Aldie Elementary School, Aldie
- Algonkian Elementary School, Sterling
- Arcola Elementary School, Aldie
- Ashburn Elementary School, Ashburn
- Ball's Bluff Elementary School, Leesburg
- Banneker Elementary School, Middleburg
- Belmont Station Elementary School, Ashburn
- Buffalo Trail Elementary School, Aldie
- Catoctin Elementary School, Leesburg
- Cedar Lane Elementary School, Ashburn
- Cool Spring Elementary School, Leesburg
- Countryside Elementary School, Sterling
- Creighton's Corner Elementary School, Ashburn
- Dominion Trail Elementary School, Ashburn
- Emerick Elementary School, Purcellville
- Evergreen Mill Elementary School, Leesburg
- Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School, Leesburg
- Forest Grove Elementary School, Sterling
- Guilford Elementary School, Sterling
- Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton
- Hillsboro Elementary School, Purcellville
- Hillside Elementary School, Ashburn
- Horizon Elementary School, Sterling
- Hutchison Farm Elementary School, South Riding
- Kenneth Culbert Elementary School, Hamilton
- Leesburg Elementary School, Leesburg
- Legacy Elementary School, Ashburn
- Liberty Elementary School, South Riding
- Lincoln Elementary School, Purcellville
- Little River Elementary School, South Riding
- Lovettsville Elementary School, Lovettsville
- Lowes Island Elementary School, Sterling
- Lucketts Elementary School, Leesburg
- Meadowland Elementary School, Sterling
- Middleburg Elementary School, Middleburg
- Mill Run Elementary School, Ashburn
- Mountain View Elementary School, Purcellville
- Newton-Lee Elementary School, Ashburn
- Pinebrook Elementary School, Aldie
- Potowmack Elementary School, Sterling
- Rolling Ridge Elementary School, Sterling
- Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School, Ashburn
- Round Hill Elementary School, Round Hill
- Sanders Corner Elementary School, Ashburn
- Seldens Landing Elementary School, Leesburg
- Sterling Elementary School, Sterling
- Steuart W. Weller Elementary School, Ashburn
- Sugarland Elementary School, Sterling
- Sully Elementary School, Sterling
- Sycolin Creek Elementary School, Leesburg
- John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School, Leesburg
- Waterford Elementary School, Waterford:)
Instructional centers
- C.S. Monroe Technology Center, Leesburg (technical school for high school students and graduates)
- Douglass School, Leesburg (alternative education center)
- Loudoun Academy of ScienceLoudoun Academy of ScienceThe Loudoun Academy of Science is a part time alternative school program for high school students enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools. Currently, the program is located at the campus of Dominion High School at 21326 Augusta Drive in Sterling, an area in unincorporated Loudoun County,...
, Sterling (specialized science and mathematics center similar to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and TechnologyThomas Jefferson High School for Science and TechnologyThomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is a Virginia state-chartered magnet school located within Fairfax County, Virginia, United States...
in Fairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County, VirginiaFairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
)
Future Schools
- Fredrick Douglas Elementary School in Leesburg opens in Fall 2012
- ES-16 in Moorefield Station opens in Fall 2013
- ES-22 in Ashburn opens in Fall 2013
- J. Michael Lunsford Middle School in South Riding opens in Fall 2011
- MS-6 in Ashburn opens in Fall 2014
- John Champe High School in Aldie opens in Fall 2012
High Schools
Students primarily attend classes on their home campus, but have opportunities to take additional, specialized courses at LCPS's magnet and alternative schools, such as science and math at Loudoun Academy of ScienceLoudoun Academy of Science
The Loudoun Academy of Science is a part time alternative school program for high school students enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools. Currently, the program is located at the campus of Dominion High School at 21326 Augusta Drive in Sterling, an area in unincorporated Loudoun County,...
and vocational education
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
classes at C.S. Monroe Technology Center.
Each school's instructional curriculum is set primarily by the LCPS district office based on Virginia Department of Education requirements. There are generally eleven academic departments, each supervised by a department head (usually a teacher):
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
- Band
- Fine Arts
- Health & P.E.
- Technology Education
- World Languages
- ESL
- Career & Technical
The "core" courses of English, mathematics, science and social science typically have tracks or sequences that are determined by grade level (e.g. English 9, English 10, English 11, etc.; and earth science, biology, chemistry, etc.). This is true for some of the other course groups as well, such as world languages, physical education and fine arts. Additionally, many of the core courses are further arranged into basic/general, academic, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classifications. Each classification generally denotes a progressively more challenging level of instruction, although the distinction between honors and AP is often blurred.
- English: Includes basic/general, academic, honors levels for all grades (with honors replaced by AP in 12th grade. Electives, including composition, journalism, etymology, public speaking, and world literature are also offered.
- Mathematics: Includes algebra 1 & 2, geometry, as well as trigonometry, pre-calculus and calculus*, computer science*, probability and statistics*, and discrete math (* AP level offered).
- Science: Includes earth science, biology, chemistry, physics. AP level courses are offered in biology, physics and chemistry.
- Social Science: Includes world history, Virginia and US history, and government. Electives are offered in comparative religions, economics, contributions of ethnic groupEthnic groupAn ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s in America, philosophy, psychology and sociology. AP classesAdvanced Placement ProgramThe Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
are provided for government, US history and world history. - Fine Arts: Includes four progressive levels of art studies.
- World Languages: Includes American Sign LanguageAmerican Sign LanguageAmerican Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
, French, German, LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. - Career and Technical: Includes desktop/multimedia presentations, computer information systems, accounting, business management and business law.
Students attending Loudoun Academy of Science at Dominion High School
Dominion High School
Dominion High School is a public secondary school in Sterling, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. Dominion High School first opened in 2003, receiving students from Potomac Falls High School and Park View High School...
in Sterling and C.S. Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg do so every other class day, taking their non-magnet classes (typically core courses, such as English, social sciences and electives) at their home campuses on the alternate days.
ESL
Nearly all LCPS schools offer a full English as a Second Language program, for students whose native language is not English and who do not speak and/or read English well. For school assessment purposes, these learners are referred to as "Limited English Proficient" or "LEP" students.Special education
LCPS offers a wide range of Special EducationSpecial education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
programs for students who have minor learning disabilities
Learning disability
Learning disability is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors...
to those with mild to moderate mental retardation
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
in most schools. If a student is severely mentally impaired, he or she attends a special county wide program at Loudoun County High School.
External links
- Loudoun County Public Schools Homepage
- http://www.greatschools.net/schools.page?district=104&state=VA Loudon County Public Schools Web page at Great Schools Web site