Since 1912 the Clifton Elementary School has served the community of Clifton, Virginia. It is the only elementary school in Clifton, and on Tuesday, it will close its doors for the summer, never to reopen as Clifton Elementary school again.
The Fairfax County School Board decided to close the school, citing projected enrollment declines and high per-pupil renovation costs. The community fought the closing with lawsuits, angry that their children would be disbursed to other schools around the county.
In the end, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld Fairfax County's decision, and the school is expected to close for good. Clifton School will not reopen next year as a public school.
Some residents are holding out hope that one final lawsuit will still overturn the decision. There is also a movement to transform the school into a charter school focusing on Chinese language and culture.
