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Watson Mountain Middle School (MS-14) will open in fall 2024, with the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. Currently under construction, the middle school is located at 41480 Steeplechase Loop Drive in Leesburg, southwest of the Evergreen Mills Road/Ryan Road/Red Hill Road intersection.
A new Dulles North area high school (HS-14) is planned to open adjacent to Watson Mountain Middle School in fall 2028 (2028-2029 academic year).
On February 14, 2023, the Loudoun County School Board voted to move forward with a temporary non-traditional school option when Watson Mountain Middle School opens - rather than initiate a secondary school attendance zone change process. Secondary school students residing in the current Independence High School/Brambleton Middle School attendance zone will, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, be served by three schools - prior to the opening of HS-14.
For the 2024-2025 academic year only, Independence High School will serve currently zoned students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. Brambleton Middle School will serve students in grades 7 and 8; Watson Mountain Middle School will serve students in grade 6 only.
For the remaining three school terms (2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years), Independence High School will serve students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12, but with a grade 9 annex located at Brambleton Middle School. In addition to serving as the site for the grade 9 annex, Brambleton Middle School will serve students in grade 8. Watson Mountain Middle School will serve students in grades 6 and 7.
Before the fall 2028 opening of HS-14, secondary school attendance zones will be modified for both the Dulles North and Dulles South areas. HS-14 will serve students in grades 9 through 12. (It is anticipated that there will be no senior class/grade 12 at HS-14 for the 2028-2029 academic year only.) Watson Mountain Middle School will begin serving students in grades 6 through 8. In fall 2028, Independence High School will continue serving students in grades 9 through 12; Brambleton Middle School will again serve students in grades 6 through 8.
The School Board’s discussion on the non-traditional school option can be viewed on the LCPS website for both the January 24, 2023 and February 14, 2023 Board meetings. General questions on the non-traditional school option may be directed to the Division of Planning & GIS Services at LCPSPlan@lcps.org or 571-252-1050.
As instructional planning continues for the non-traditional school option, in advance of the 2024-2025 academic year, information will be shared by the Department of Instruction (Instruction@lcps.org), Brambleton Middle School and Independence High School. In June 2023, Mr. Lenny Compton, former J. Lupton Simpson Middle School Principal, was appointed Principal of Watson Mountain Middle School.