Washington International School Moves to 802.11n WiFi

Washington International School in Washington, DC has overhauled what it described as an "inadequate legacy network," replacing it with an 802.11n wireless network.

According to Chad Fairey, director of information services for the school, the new wireless network--built around Xirrus WiFi arrays--required about half the number of devices for full coverage of the school's facilities.

"During the Xirrus site survey," he said, "[Xirrus was] very thoughtful of how the wireless signals would be affected when students were present. A lot of other companies will give you a map based on mathematics, but won't consider the moving bodies of water the students and faculty represent. This was a major advantage for Xirrus and I'm convinced we made the right choice for our wireless implementation."

He also said scalability was a critical factor in implementing the new network.

"If we add 300 laptops to the campus next year," he said, "we wanted a system that can scale to meet those demands. We are confident the central management tool and the planning tools that are inherent in the Xirrus product will support our future requirements. The architecture of the Array allows us to directionally focus the WiFi signal strength, providing a lot of flexibility and control over our network."

Washington International School serves about 900 students from more than 90 countries and has a student-faculty ratio of 8.2:1. Its budget was $25.2 million this school year.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • Indianapolis Public Schools Adopt DreamBox Math

    Thanks to a new partnership with Discovery Education, all Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) K–8 students and teachers will gain access to DreamBox Math, which blends curriculum and continuous formative assessments that adapt to student needs to boost achievement.

  • The First Steps of Establishing Your Cloud Security Strategy

    In this guide, we'll identify some first steps you can take to establish your cloud security strategy. We'll do so by discussing the cloud security impact of individual, concrete actions featured within the CIS Critical Security Controls® (CIS Controls®) and the CIS Benchmarks™.

  • Google Brings Gemini AI to Teens in the Classroom

    Google is making its Gemini large language model available for free for students ages 13 and up in the United States (age minimums vary by country), via Google Workspace for Education accounts.

  • A top-down view of a person walking through a maze with walls made of glowing blue Wi-Fi symbols on dark pathways

    Navigating New E-Rate Rules for WiFi Hotspots

    Beginning in funding year 2025, WiFi hotspots will be eligible for E-rate Category One discounts. Here's what you need to know about your school's eligibility, funding caps, tracking requirements, and more.