Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is expanding its weapons screening system to every middle and high school this fall.
A new pilot for weapons detectors kicked off this spring but was thrust into the spotlight after a student was stabbed at West Potomac High School the same week it started.
For the pilot, FCPS installed the OpenGate systems in mostly randomly chosen high schools, though West Potomac received the detectors immediately after the stabbing.
In a message to the FCPS community, Superintendent Michelle Reid said on Monday (Aug. 4) that the technology will now be installed permanently in every middle and high school in the district this fall.
“This system is similar to ones that have been used at sporting events and concerts for many years,” Reid said. “Earlier this year, several of our high school students joined me for a video discussion about school safety and to test out the new system.”
An FCPS FAQ said the weapons detection scanners are more sensitive than traditional metal scanners.
“The technology in the system can more accurately identify metal sources that may be potentially harmful rather than sounding an alarm for all types of metal, such as coins,” FCPS said.
The FCPS Office of Communications told FFXnow that the funding for the pilot was not part of the regular fiscal year 2026 budget. Instead, it was provided through one-time year-end funding and settlement money received from a class action lawsuit against a vaping company.
FCPS didn’t directly address whether it’s considering expanding the screening devices to elementary schools.
“We have layered security measures across all of our schools that we continually review to ensure that our students and staff are safe,” an FCPS spokesperson said when asked.
FCPS students will have their first day of classes for the 2025-2026 school year on Aug. 18.
