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Clifton Elementary’s final last day

Now that a school board decision has closed Clifton’s only elementary school, a charter school may be the best hope of keeping a school in the rural community.

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Third-grade teacher Vivian Siry hugs a student after classes let out Tuesday, the last day of classes at Clifton Elementary School. The campus is permanently closing its doors because of county boundary changes and enrollment declines.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Teachers, students and parents line the curb to wave to the buses leaving at the close of school during the last day at Clifton Elementary School. Clifton is one of the most rural areas in Fairfax County, bringing in kids from one-tenth of the county's size. The closing of the school is so controversial that the decision was the subject of a lawsuit in front of the state Supreme Court.

Teachers, students and parents line the curb to wave to the buses leaving at the close of school during the last day at Clifton Elementary School. Clifton is one of the most rural areas in Fairfax County, bringing in kids from one-tenth of the county's size. The closing of the school is so controversial that the decision was the subject of a lawsuit in front of the state Supreme Court.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Anne Beaudreau of Clifton, parent of a third-grader, holds back tears at the end of classes during the last day of school. The school board voted July 8 to close Clifton Elementary, citing projected enrollment declines and the high per-pupil cost of renovations.

Anne Beaudreau of Clifton, parent of a third-grader, holds back tears at the end of classes during the last day of school. The school board voted July 8 to close Clifton Elementary, citing projected enrollment declines and the high per-pupil cost of renovations.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Third-grade teacher Vivian Siry, left, hugs parent Laurel Corridon of Fairfax Station at the end of classes. An uproar broke out over the school board decision last year to close Clifton Elementary, with hundreds of residents saying that the school has been critical to a sense of community.

Third-grade teacher Vivian Siry, left, hugs parent Laurel Corridon of Fairfax Station at the end of classes. An uproar broke out over the school board decision last year to close Clifton Elementary, with hundreds of residents saying that the school has been critical to a sense of community.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Teachers, students and parents line the curb to wave goodbye to the buses leaving at the close of school. Now, the residents who were angry about the school's closure are focusing their energy toward establishing a charter school on the small hilltop where a town school has stood since 1912.

Teachers, students and parents line the curb to wave goodbye to the buses leaving at the close of school. Now, the residents who were angry about the school's closure are focusing their energy toward establishing a charter school on the small hilltop where a town school has stood since 1912.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

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