Suggested Routes to the Secondary Campus
Share the Road & Sidewalks
Please be patient and take your time. Pedestrians, bikers, buses, kiss & ride cars, student cars, employee cars, and commuter traffic are all sharing the same sidewalks and roadways. Everyone needs to be alert and aware. It is our communal responsibility to keep everyone safe.
The approach to campus is like water flowing through a sieve. People travel along the easiest and most direct route. However, the easiest is not always the safest. Please review and commit to using suggested routes.
All users have the responsibility to be alert and follow traffic safety laws.
Pedestrians should always use sidewalks and crosswalks. No matter which direction students choose as their school approach, all should use the protected crosswalk on Haycock Rd. Crossing guards will be stationed there at arrival and dismissal. The nearby intersection of Haycock Rd. & Broad St. is a more direct route to campus for some students, however FCCPS does not recommend that students use this intersection during arrival and dismissal. It is in Fairfax County. Falls Church City police do not have jurisdiction over this intersection. Students often choose to use this intersection to access McDonald’s or Lazy Mike’s. Those using this intersection must follow traffic laws.
Bike and scooter riders need to be alert to both cars and pedestrians. After bike and scooter riders cross Haycock Rd. onto campus they should walk vehicles on campus. Bike racks are available at the entrances to both Henderson and Meridian.
Buses During arrival and dismissal, the section of Mustang Alley near the schools will be closed to all traffic except buses. Buses will enter Mustang Alley at Haycock Rd., drop off between the two schools, and exit onto Leesburg Pike.
Car Traffic There are two loops for arrival and dismissal, the Husky loop, with entrance and exit from Leesburg Pike, and the Mustang Loop, with entrance and exit from Haycock Rd. Families with children in both schools should pick one loop to drop off the whole carload of students. Staff and students can park is in the Trapezoid Parking Lot, Henderson Lot or Athletic Fields Lot, entering from Leesburg Pike. Parking is also available temporarily in the old high school lots, which will close in Spring 2022.
Off-Campus Walk Zones and Suggested Routes to Campus
On-Campus Routes
Pink Route - Walkers & Bikers
Arrival
All students who are walking or biking to campus enter at the crosswalk on Haycock Road, where the crossing guard will be assisting. Students walk on sidewalks past the parking lots and around the construction fence to the high school and middle school entrances.
Departure
Students walking or biking on the Pink Route will use sidewalks and walk along the perimeter of the construction fence to the Haycock Rd. crosswalk.
Husky Loop
Henderson Students & Mustang Siblings
Drop-Off
Parents/guardians will enter the drop off location from Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) via right OR left turn from Route 7. The Husky Loop extends past the middle school into the new parking lot area, and we ask that drivers move forward into the parking lot to keep traffic flowing. All cars must leave campus by turning right (westbound) onto Route 7.
Pick-Up
Parents/guardians should queue in the Husky Loop and await student arrival. All cars must leave campus by turning right (westbound) onto Route 7 (Leesburg Pike).
Mustang Loop
Meridian Students & Husky Siblings
Parents: Do not use this area for driving practice for your new driver. The area is crowded with no room for error. Changing drivers in the loop slows everyone down, and created hazards for others.
Drop-Off
Parents/guardians will enter the drop off location from Haycock Rd. Turn left into the old loop in front of the old high school. Drop students on the sidewalk, follow the loop around, and turn right on Mustang Alley towards the Haycock Road exit. Students will walk the Pink Route to the school entrances.
No cars will be permitted to drive past this area during drop-off time.
Pick-Up
Parents/guardians should queue in the Red Loop and await student arrival. All cars must exit onto Haycock Rd.
In order to ensure that buses can enter and use the road, traffic should not back up onto Mustang Alley or Haycock Road. If the pick-up queue is full, please enter the student parking lot adjacent to the Red Mustang Loop.
No cars will be permitted to drive past this area during pick-up time.
Old High School Parking Lots
Student and Staff Parking Lots
Arrival
There are spaces available for students, with parking permits and staff, along Mustang Alley and Haycock Rd. (The old Senior lot, part of the Junior lot, and the Visitor lot) Student parking lots are shown in orange on the map. Student parking passes cost $250 per year, and are available in the school office.
Students will walk the Pink Route to the school entrances.
Departure
Students will walk the Pink Route from the school to their cars, and leave the campus using the Haycock Rd. parking lot exit.
Trapezoid Parking Lot
Student and Staff Parking Lots
The new lot closest to Leesburg Pike.
Arrival
Turn into Mustang Alley from Leesburg Pike (Route 7) via right OR left turn from Route 7. Turn right into the Trapezoid Parking Lot.
Departure
Exit the Trapezoid Parking Lot onto Leesburg Pike. During departure times, all cars must leave campus by turning right (westbound) onto Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). After the buses depart, drivers can turn right onto Mustang Alley and exit campus via Haycock Rd.
Henderson & Athletic Fields Parking Lots
Student and Staff Parking Lots
Arrival
Turn into Mustang Alley from Leesburg Pike (Route 7) via right OR left turn from Route 7. Turn left in front of the middle school.
Drivers are advised to arrive at campus by 7:30 a.m. to avoid rush hour traffic. It will be almost impossible to get into these lots once the Husky Loop starts filling up with cars.
Departure
Exit the Lavender Lots onto Leesburg Pike. During departure times, all cars must leave campus by turning right (westbound) onto Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). After the buses depart, drivers can turn right onto Mustang Alley and exit campus via Haycock Rd.
Yellow Route - Buses Only
Arrival
The Yellow Route is for buses only. The first section of the Yellow Route will be shared with cars, until the cars turn into student parking lots or the Mustang Loop. No cars will be permitted past the old high school. Buses will drop off in the area between the middle and high schools.
Departure
Buses will follow the path through Mustang Alley to Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). Buses will pick up students from both schools in the area on Mustang Alley between the two schools.
Super-Secret Shortcut Exit Loop
There is NO TOLL for this loop.
