Suggested Routes to the Secondary Campus
This summer FCCPS and the City of Falls Church staff, with input from community members and students, reviewed the routes to the campus, and how to move around on campus.
Due to construction in the City and on campus, these suggested routes will change throughout the year, and the maps will be updated. Construction zones include Founders Row at Broad St. and West St., the W&OD Trail, Birch & Broad Shopping Center, the old high school campus and the current 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. 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 their vehicles on campus. There will be bike racks 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 Green Husky loop, with entrance and exit from Leesburg Pike, and the Red 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 parking is in the Lavender Lot, with entrance from Leesburg Pike. Student parking is in the Orange Lot with entrance and exit from Haycock Rd. Cars should be aware that pedestrians and bikers are sharing their space, and always yield to them.
Off-Campus Walk Zones and Suggested Routes to Campus
On-Campus Routes
Green 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 Green 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 Green Husky Loop and await student arrival. All cars must leave campus by turning right (westbound) onto Route 7 (Leesburg Pike).
Red 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.
Orange Lots
Students Arriving and Departing by Car
Arrival
There are 132 spaces available for students, with parking permits, 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.
Pink Route - Walkers & Bikers
Arrival
Students who are walking to campus enter at the crosswalk on Haycock Road, where the crossing guard will be assisting. Students who select the Pink Route to get to school will walk on sidewalks past the parking lots and around the old high school to the crosswalk in front of the new school.
Students who are biking to campus will enter at the crosswalk on Haycock Rd., where the crossing guard will be assisting. They will walk their bikes along the Pink Route. Bike parking will be available in front of Meridian High School.
Both middle and high school students can use the Pink Route to enter at the front of Meridian High School. Middle school staff will direct students on how to get to Henderson through the interior connection.
Departure
Students walking on the Pink Route will use sidewalks and walk along the perimeter of the old high school to the Haycock Rd. crosswalk.
Students who are biking home from campus will walk their bikes along the Pink Route to the Haycock Rd. crosswalk.
Blue Route - Walkers & Bikers
Arrival
Students who are walking to campus will enter at the crosswalk on Haycock Road, where the crossing guard will be assisting. The Blue Route is preferable for middle school students, and optional for high school students. The Blue Route follows the sidewalk along Rt. 7 (Leesburg Pike) until it gets to Mustang Alley, where students must cross at the crosswalk. Students will enter the front door of the school.
Students who are biking to campus will enter at the crosswalk on Haycock Rd., where the crossing guard will be assisting. They will walk their bikes along the Blue Route on the Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) sidewalk. Bike parking will be available in front of Henderson.
Departure
Middle school students who are walking home from campus will follow the Blue Route along Rt. 7 (Leesburg Pike) back to the crosswalk.
Students who are biking home from campus will follow the Blue Route.
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 Red 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. All students will enter at Door #3, which is in the connection hallway between the 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 along the side of the middle schools, between the two schools.
Lavender Lots - Reserved Staff Parking
There are two lots shaded in lavender that are reserved for staff parking.
Henderson lot
New lot by athletic fields
Staff are advised to arrive at campus by 7:30 a.m. to avoid student arrival traffic. It will be almost impossible to get into the staff lots once the Green Husky Loop starts filling up.