Fairfax County Public Schools

Published March 3, 2025 at 1:15PM

Students sample a new pasta concept at the second annual FCPS student food show (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is cooking up changes for next year’s school menus, and students got a first taste at the second annual FCPS Student Food Show last Thursday (Feb. 27).

Held at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, the event invited hundreds of students — from elementary through high school — to sample and rate more than two dozen potential meal options, helping determine what could land on breakfast and lunch menus across the district’s 199 schools next year.

News

Oscar-nominated filmmaker graduated from Fairfax County Public Schools

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 28, 2025 at 1:15PM

Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott host the announcement of the 97th Oscars® nominations, on Thursday, January 23, 2025. (photo by Richard Harbaugh / The Academy)

And the Oscar could go to…a Fairfax County Public Schools graduate!

RaMell Ross, an alum of Lake Braddock Secondary School, will get his second chance to win an Academy Award this Sunday (March 2), when he and co-writer Joslyn Barnes are competing in Best Adapted Screenplay for “Nickel Boys.”

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders see no easy solution for school funding needs

By James Jarvis

Published February 26, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Fairfax County School Board and Board of Supervisors convene for a joint budget work session on Feb. 15, 2025 (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County leaders met on Tuesday (Feb. 25) to address a growing school budget crisis, but after hours of debate, they left without a clear path forward.

Faced with rising costs and economic uncertainty heightened by threats of curtailed federal funding, officials agreed on support for Fairfax County Public Schools as a budget priority but remained divided on how to pay for it.

News

Fairfax mulls providing free Metrobus rides to more high school students

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 26, 2025 at 9:00AM

A Metrobus at the Tysons Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County transportation planners are considering enabling more secondary schools to participate in a program giving students free Metrobus rides in Northern Virginia.

Five schools have been identified as potential expansion sites to the program, which already is in place at Justice, Annandale, Falls Church and George C. Marshall high schools and the Davis Center.

News

FCPD: Student arrested after allegedly bringing gun to Edison HS

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2025 at 6:10PM | Updated February 21, 2025 at 9:13PM

Thomas A. Edison High School along Franconia Road (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

An Edison High School student was arrested this morning (Thursday) for allegedly bringing a gun to the Rose Hill school.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, a student alerted the school resource officer (SRO) assigned to Edison “about a possible firearm on school property.”

Countywide

FCPS ‘planning for the worst’ with federal aid at risk and county funds limited, budget chair says

By James Jarvis

Published February 20, 2025 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County Public Schools school bus (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) could face a significant funding gap as county leaders weigh a budget proposal that falls short of what the school system requested, while looming federal policy changes threaten to cut millions in aid.

On Tuesday (Feb. 18), County Executive Brian Hill unveiled a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that includes $125.3 million in additional funding for schools, with $118.6 million going directly to FCPS’ operating budget.

Countywide

‘Community safety officers’ may help fill gaps in Fairfax County’s police staffing

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 20, 2025 at 9:45AM

A Fairfax County police officer at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County will look at creating a corps of “community safety officers,” who would have fewer powers than sworn law-enforcement personnel but could support the police department’s mission in an era of recruiting challenges.

“Based on experiences in other jurisdictions around the country and in our region, it could have some merit,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said when proposing on Tuesday (Feb. 18) that staff study the issue.

Countywide

Fairfax County School Board considers adding more student representatives

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 18, 2025 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County School Board student representative Megan Sawant speaks during a board meeting on Dec. 5, 2024 (via FCPS)

Fairfax County School Board members are mulling whether to increase the number of student representatives on the body.

The proposal, currently in the exploratory stage, is part of a broader push toward more direct engagement with the 180,000-plus students enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Countywide

DEVELOPING: FCPS facing federal investigation over transgender policies

By James Jarvis

Published February 14, 2025 at 2:15PM | Updated February 14, 2025 at 3:24PM

A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Several Northern Virginia school districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, are in the crosshairs of the U.S. Department of Education after a conservative legal group filed a complaint challenging their transgender-inclusive bathroom and locker room policies.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation this week into Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun and Prince William schools in response to the complaint from America First Legal, a nonprofit founded by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller.

Countywide

Federal funding uncertainty adds to FCPS budget challenges

By James Jarvis

Published February 14, 2025 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden at a school board work session on Feb. 4, 2025 (via FCPS/YouTube)

For Fairfax County Public Schools officials, an already daunting budget season has been complicated by a new financial risk: the possibility of losing federal funding.

Last month, the federal Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing federal agencies to halt spending so it can review financial assistance programs to ensure they align with administration priorities — which include eliminating diversity initiatives, rolling back environmental regulations, and restricting immigration.