FCPS’ New Western High School Official Name
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FCPS’ New Western High School Official Name

Meet Skyview High School’s new principal.

Skyview High School is the official name of the formerly- called Fairfax County Public School’s Western High School, purchased  as a state-of-the arts facility on 30 acres for $150 million in August of 2025.

Skyview High School is the official name of the formerly- called Fairfax County Public School’s Western High School, purchased as a state-of-the arts facility on 30 acres for $150 million in August of 2025.

 The Fairfax County School Board unanimously voted Skyview High School as the official name of the division’s newest school at its board meeting on Feb. 12. Located at 2949 Education Drive in Herndon, Fairfax County Public Schools finalized the $150 million purchase of the former King Abdullah Academy on Aug. 15, 2025 and had been  temporarily referencing the state-of-the-art facility with its 30 acre campus as the “Western High School.” Superintendent Michelle Reid said choosing a name is an important milestone.

“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,” Reid said.

In addition to the core curriculum found in the division’s traditional high schools, Skyview High School will

Dave Jagels, principal of Skyview High School in Herndon 

 

offer three specific fields: aerospace science, technology, and artificial intelligence and machine learning, creating a future tech ecosystem.

Student enrollment is underway under the leadership of Principal Dave Jagels. “We have a beautiful building, opportunities to create a learning community together, a chance to build culture, climate in sports, athletics, band, performing arts, and all of that together in a way that’s never been done before,” Jagels said in an FCPS video. “This is probably the pinnacle opportunity of my career.”

Jagels oversaw the opening of Westfield High School in Chantilly. Skyview is the division’s first new high school since Westfield officially opened its doors in September 2000.

Given that FCPS’s comprehensive boundary review has been completed, the process for a new boundary review for Skyview High School begins soon, with new options developed from the ground up and a final decision in June. The upcoming school year starts in August 2026 under an opt-in model. The yet-to-be-determined new boundaries will be implemented for the 2027-28 school year.