Hopes that Fairfax County Public Schools would resume classes tomorrow (Monday) after a whole week off for students in the wake of Winter Storm Fern have been dashed against a block of snowcrete.
FCPS announced this afternoon (Sunday) that classes have officially been canceled again tomorrow, citing “continued concerns about safe travel for students and staff to and from school.”
While FCPS initially shared a notice saying they would open, School Age Child Care and Beyond the Bell centers will in fact be closed again, according to the most recent alert on the school system’s website.
School buildings and offices will be open for full-time staff, though school grounds will be closed and all activities canceled.
In a message sent to the community on Friday (Jan. 30), FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid detailed the efforts of more than 1,000 staff members to clear the compacted snow and ice left by Winter Storm Fern on Jan. 25 in anticipation of reopening this week.
However, she warned that still-frigid conditions meant travel would likely remain a challenge, encouraging community members to pitch in and help clear sidewalks and the areas around bus stops, which are typically the responsibility of adjoining property owners. She also suggested carpooling and offering rides to kids who typically walk to school.
In a new message today, Reid said she and other officials decided schools should remain closed to students after observing the state of sidewalks and roadways around the county over the weekend.
“Our transportation team and other leaders (including me 🙂) have been driving around the community all weekend to check on conditions,” Reid said. “The challenge continues to be snow piles and ice on sidewalks and bus stops (we have 45,000 bus stops!) that have proven difficult to remove.”
Meal kits with a breakfast, lunch, snack and supper will be provided again to all kids for free between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow at:
- Annandale High School
- Falls Church High School
- Herndon High School
- Mount Vernon High School
- Dogwood Elementary School
- London Towne Elementary
- Lynbrook Elementary
While many neighborhood sidewalks and some intersections remain blocked, FCPS said they hope to restart classes on Tuesday (Feb. 3), likely with a two-hour delay.
The full message from FCPS is below.
February 1, 2026
Due to the continued concerns about safe travel for students and staff to and from school, Fairfax County Public Schools will not have classes tomorrow, Monday, February 2, 2026.
School buildings and offices will open on time for 12-month staff.
School Age Child Care (SACC) and Beyond the Bell (BTB) centers will be open.
School grounds are closed and the following activities in schools are canceled:
- Field trips.
- Middle school after-school programs.
- Professional learning and training courses.
- Adult High School and GED.
- Adult and Community Education (ACE) classes.
- Homebound instruction.
Families and staff can refer to the Weather Resources on the FCPS website for additional details about community resources during and after winter storms. We anticipate that coordination with our county and state partners will allow us to re-open Tuesday with a two-hour delay. We will update you regarding Tuesday’s status tomorrow.
Fairfax County Public Schools
