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Fairfax County Public Schools will begin conducting weapons screenings at randomly selected high schools and secondary schools in April 2025, including nontraditional campuses.
The pilot program will use 15 Open Gate devices, with the Office of Safety and Security selecting at least one school each week. The equipment may remain at a chosen campus for several days.
Similar systems are used at concerts and sporting events. The devices are designed to identify possible weapons while producing fewer false alarms from ordinary metal objects such as coins than traditional metal detectors.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed the pilot and broader school safety issues with several students in a video conversation earlier in April.
The screenings will continue through the end of the 2024-25 school year. FCPS plans to expand the weapons detection program during the 2025-26 school year, depending on staffing and funding.