Fairfax County Public Schools

Published August 23, 2023 at 11:45AM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Coalition for TJ is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to consider its lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions policy, which was revised in 2020 with the goal of diversifying the student body.

In the petition filed Monday (Aug. 21), the advocacy group argues that the changes approved by the Fairfax County School Board discriminate against Asian students, who saw their share of the magnet school’s incoming classes drop from more than 70% to closer to 60% in the past few years.

Countywide

FCPS pledges to protect gender-expansive students by not adopting Virginia’s ‘model policies’

By Vivian Hoang

Published August 16, 2023 at 11:45AM

Students hold trans rights and LGBTQ Pride flag signs at a rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County Public Schools has officially announced that it will not implement the Virginia Department of Education’s recently finalized model policies regarding transgender and nonbinary students.

Yesterday (Tuesday), FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid released a statement confirming that FCPS won’t adopt the new guidelines after a “detailed legal review” found that its current policies are “consistent” with state and federal law.

News

Fairfax nonprofit Britepaths organizes school supply drive for students in need

By Vivian Hoang

Published August 1, 2023 at 11:45AM

As the upcoming school year approaches, many families face the difficult task of purchasing a lengthy list of school supplies when money for housing, food and other life necessities is already stretched thin.

One local organization is working to alleviate this stress for thousands of Fairfax County families.

Countywide

FCPS leaders voice support for transgender students despite new Virginia policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 19, 2023 at 3:00PM

Fairfax High School students stage a walkout to protest Virginia's proposed policies restricting transgender and gender-nonconfirming students' rights (courtesy Pride Liberation Project)

After months of review, the Virginia Department of Education has released a final set of policies guiding public schools on how to treat transgender students — including many that contradict the policies currently used by Fairfax County Public Schools.

Released Tuesday (July 18), the “model policies” generally direct schools to require that students use names, pronouns and facilities, such as bathrooms, based on their legal sex as designated in their official school records. All local public school systems are obligated by state law to adopt a version of the policies.

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Two FCPS graduates inch closer to MLB dreams as first-round draft picks

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 10, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated July 11, 2023 at 8:04PM

Seattle Mariners draft pick Jonny Farmelo rounds the bases after hitting a home run with the Westfield Bulldogs (courtesy Westfield High School)

(Updated at 8 p.m. on 7/11/2023) Fairfax County Public Schools went 2-for-2 in Major League Baseball’s 2023 draft last night (Sunday), as a pair of its standout players snagged coveted first-round slots.

Ranked as the 23rd top prospect in the country by MLB, James Madison High School graduate Bryce Eldridge was selected by the San Francisco Giants as the 16th overall pick of the draft, thanks to his formidable skills as both a hitter and a pitcher.

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Bigger school zones, fentanyl labeled a ‘weapon of terrorism’ and more new Virginia laws coming July 1

By Matt Blitz

Published June 30, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated June 30, 2023 at 9:47AM

A Fairfax County police officer watches traffic pass through a 25 mph school zone (via FCPD)

A number of new laws will take effect in Virginia this weekend, including expanded school zones, a prohibition on sexual harassment non-disclosure agreements, and classification of fentanyl as a “weapon of terrorism.”

Most laws passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor each year go into effect on July 1, which marks the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Countywide

After legal kerfuffle, Fairfax County gives OK to add stop-arm cameras on some school buses

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 28, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County school buses are getting cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass them (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A long-delayed effort to outfit Fairfax County Public Schools’ buses with cameras has officially received the green light from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

At a meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the board unanimously approved an agreement allowing the Fairfax County Police Department to participate in a program that will install 50 bus camera systems to detect drivers who don’t stop when buses are boarding and off-loading students.

News

FCPS proposes scope of possible Kent Gardens Elementary School boundary changes

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 27, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated October 18, 2024 at 2:06PM

Kent Gardens Elementary School in McLean (via Google Maps)

Another boundary adjustment is in the works for schools in McLean.

Just two years after tweaking the McLean High School boundaries, Fairfax County Public Schools has proposed a study aimed at relieving crowding at Kent Gardens Elementary School (1717 Melbourne Drive), which is currently at 121% capacity — one of the highest rates in the system.

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UPDATED: Fairfax County School Board approves salary increases

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 26, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 11:03AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

(Updated at 11 a.m. on 6/27/2023) The Fairfax County School Board voted 9-1 last night (Monday) to raise member salaries to $48,000 with an additional $2,000 for the board chair, starting Jan. 1, 2024.

Aiming lower than what staff proposed, the raises are comparable to compensation for other paid school boards governing large school systems elsewhere in the country and raises approved in previous years, Mount Vernon District School Board representative Karen Corbett-Sanders said.

Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools pilots program offering students flexible school hours

By Vivian Hoang

Published June 23, 2023 at 11:45AM

Herndon High School classroom (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

This past spring, Fairfax County Public Schools launched a new Twilight Program to assist students whose “life circumstances” beyond the classroom complicated their ability to attend classes.

The program operates outside of the traditional 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. high school day with the goal of helping students graduate on time, FCPS Special Projects Administrator for the Non-Traditional Schools and Programs Joe Thompson says.