Fairfax County Public Schools

Special election frenzy heats up with voting for three state races, Braddock school board seat

Published January 12, 2026 at 2:45PM

A sign pointing to a voting site in Fairfax County (file photo)

The blitz of special elections facing Fairfax County voters to start 2026 is ramping up this week, with the ballot for the Braddock District School Board seat now solidified and voting opening or in progress in three state-level contests.

Democratic voters in the Braddock District have chosen Tom Dannan, a local business owner and Terra Centre resident, as their preferred candidate to succeed Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who vacated the district’s Fairfax County School Board seat in December to serve as its new supervisor.

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Western High School could be name of Fairfax County’s new western high school

By Emily Leayman

Published January 12, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated January 27, 2026 at 9:34AM

The lobby of the former King Abdullah Academy, which will be converted into a new public high school for western Fairfax County (via FCPS/YouTube)

The Fairfax County School Board could opt for a geographical reference, rather than a person, for the newest high school’s name.

On Thursday (Jan. 8), Superintendent Michelle Reid presented Western High School as her final name recommendation for the future school at 2949 Education Drive in the Herndon area.

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FCPS finalizes school boundary recommendations ahead of public hearing

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 8, 2026 at 8:30AM

A Fairfax County Public Schools bus (file photo)

An end to Fairfax County Public Schools’ first district-wide boundary overhaul in four decades is within sight, though the approval of new maps is unlikely to resolve all questions.

Superintendent Michelle Reid’s final recommendations for the revised boundaries have been released ahead of a presentation to the Fairfax County School Board tonight (Thursday) and a public hearing that will be held at Luther Jackson Middle School this Saturday (Jan. 10) at 10 a.m.

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Braddock school board contenders weigh in on FCPS budget, boundary review

By Jared Serre

Published January 7, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated January 7, 2026 at 8:46PM

Tom Dannan and Alexa Krezel (photos via candidates)

Two candidates seeking to be the Fairfax County School Board’s next Braddock District representative made their cases to local Democrats in an online forum on Monday (Jan. 5) ahead of this weekend’s endorsement caucus.

Both Tom Dannan and Alexa Krezel are vying to succeed Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors late last year.

News

Public hearing to name FCPS’ new western high school set for tonight

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 18, 2025 at 8:30AM

The lobby of the former King Abdullah Academy, which will be converted into a new public high school for western Fairfax County (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools officials are starting to close in on a name for the new high school expected to open in the Floris area south of Herndon next year.

The Fairfax County School Board will hold a public hearing at its meeting tonight (Thursday) to accept community feedback on potential names recommended earlier this month by FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid.

Countywide

Dusting of snow delays opening of Fairfax County parks, school sites

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 14, 2025 at 11:40AM

Park Street in Vienna is clear after snow on Dec. 14, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As predicted, Fairfax County was hit by its second snowfall of the season overnight, though accumulations appear to have stopped short of the 1 to 3 inches forecast by the National Weather Service.

In anticipation of the winter weather, the Fairfax County Park Authority delayed opening its parks and facilities until 9 a.m. today (Sunday). Other county facilities opened on time.

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UPDATED: Fairfax High School cleared after evacuation for bomb threat

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 11, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated December 11, 2025 at 3:52PM

Fairfax High School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — Fairfax High School has been cleared after a sweep of the campus didn’t turn up any safety threats, police say. Students are being dismissed in accordance with “normal” procedures.

“Nothing was found and there were no reported injuries,” a Fairfax City police spokesperson said.

Countywide

JUST IN: Fairfax County schools to delay opening for possible winter storm

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2025 at 7:45PM

A Fairfax County Public School bus with snow on Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A winter storm that could potentially hit the D.C. area tomorrow morning (Friday) has convinced Fairfax County Public Schools to give students a late start to the day.

All schools and central offices will open two hours late compared to their regularly scheduled start times tomorrow, FCPS announced, adding that a full closure is still possible depending on the actual weather conditions in the morning.

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FCPS opts to resolve student’s lawsuit over gender identity policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2025 at 10:00AM

Sign for a girl's restroom in a Fairfax County school (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools has decided to resolve a former student’s lawsuit challenging its policies supporting transgender students before it can reach trial.

The now-graduated student, identified as Jane Doe and represented by the right-wing organization America First Legal, recently accepted the Fairfax County School Board’s offer of a judgment that includes $50 and compensation for legal fees, according to court documents.

Countywide

U.S. House committee launches antisemitism probe into Fairfax County Public Schools

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published November 25, 2025 at 3:45PM

Sign for Fairfax County Public Schools outside the Gatehouse Administration Center (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools is one of just three districts nationwide facing a federal investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce, which alleges Jewish students are being harassed and subjected to open antisemitism.

The scrutiny follows the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages, and Israel’s subsequent war campaign in Gaza that has left over 60,000 Palestinians dead. Tensions over the conflict have spilled into U.S. schools.