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Fairfax County families have several deadlines and back-to-school tasks approaching before classes begin Monday, August 18, for the 2025-26 school year.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check SIS ParentVUE, where they can review attendance, grades, progress reports and assessment scores. One account remains active until a student graduates and can provide access to multiple children in the same family. Apple and Android apps are also available.
Families with existing accounts should update their phone numbers and email addresses so schools can deliver important information.
High schools will administer the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test to 10th and 11th graders on Wednesday, October 8. Seniors will participate in SAT School Day on the same date.
Testing accommodations and multilingual support are not provided automatically because the College Board operates the exams. Families seeking accommodations for rising 10th-, 11th- or 12th-grade students must complete the request process and return the required forms to their high school by Monday, August 4.
Requests for multilingual learner support for the October exams are due Thursday, August 28.
Applications for free and reduced-price meals are now available for the new school year. Families earning less than 185% of the poverty level may qualify for free breakfast and lunch, but they must submit a new application annually.
Students approved last year remain eligible for the first 30 days of the new school year or until a new application is processed. Families are advised to reapply promptly to prevent an interruption in benefits.
Free summer breakfast and lunch will remain available through August 15 to all children ages 18 and younger at participating locations.
Virginia’s sales tax holiday will run from Friday, August 1, through Sunday, August 3. Qualifying purchases include certain school supplies and clothing.
Families should also confirm that students have all required immunizations before school starts. The Fairfax County Health Department provides vaccinations by appointment and during limited first-come, first-served walk-in hours.
Inova Cares is holding pediatric health fairs in July and August with free school physicals and immunizations for registered Inova patients age 5 and older who are uninsured or covered by Virginia Medicaid. Appointments are required and can be made at 703-698-2550. Families should bring vaccination records.
The School Board also took action on its comprehensive boundary review at its July 17 meeting. Members revised Boundary Policy 8130 to account for students’ grade levels when phasing in potential boundary changes.
A follow-on motion directed the superintendent to ensure administrators communicate that special education placements will continue to be determined by individualized education program teams under federal provisions.
More than 3,400 comments were submitted during spring community meetings about the first draft of possible boundary adjustments. No boundary changes have been proposed for the 2025-26 school year.
Summer programs are continuing across the county. Students at Graham Road Elementary experimented with making slime while studying matter, while a new three-week Production Camp gives middle and high school students experience in visual arts, music, theater and dance as they develop and perform a full-length musical.
At Oak Hill Elementary, Money Camp uses a classroom mini-economy in which students hold jobs, earn income, pay taxes, make financial decisions and start small businesses. Kings Glen Elementary students are combining technology, engineering and environmental science through the CodeUP Summer Program, funded by a Department of Defense Education Activity grant.
Families can also use the Summer Resource Guide for activities, camps, academic exercises, mental health information and safety resources.
Rising seventh graders Kristen King and Saanvi Vangapalli, from Canterbury Woods and McNair Upper elementary schools, were recently named safety patrollers of the year by the American Automobile Association.
Herndon parent and community advocate Blanca Carbajal received the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award during the June Equity Symposium. The annual honor recognizes contributions to educational equity in Fairfax County Public Schools.
The school system is recruiting special education teachers, who are paid for an eight-hour workday and earn an average of $8,000 more annually than other teachers. A school bus driver job fair is also scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Marshall High School, with a $2,000 signing bonus advertised for new drivers.
The School Board selected its leadership for the coming academic year on July 10. Sandy Anderson of the Springfield District was elected chair, while Robyn Lady of the Dranesville District was elected vice chair.
Proposed limited early-release Wednesdays for elementary schools have also been posted as families prepare for the August 18 start of classes.