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Fairfax County Public Schools celebrated national recognition in music, student success in science and academics, and an expansion of middle school Algebra 1 access during a busy final week of April.
The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation named FCPS one of its Best Communities for Music Education for 2026. The designation recognizes school systems that demonstrate strong access to music instruction, based on factors including funding, participation, instructional time, facilities, graduation requirements, and community support.
FCPS has earned the honor 13 times and was one of 1,008 districts recognized this year. The United States has approximately 13,000 school districts.
Music Specialist Katrina Chaney credited the recognition to teachers, families, and students, from elementary beginners creating music for the first time to ensembles appearing on major stages. She said their work helps give every student equitable access to a high-quality, well-rounded music education.
Nine FCPS students also received corporate-sponsored scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They were among more than 700 National Merit finalists selected for awards financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.
Science projects earn grand prizes
Fifty-seven FCPS students recently competed at the Virginia Science and Engineering Fair in Charlottesville, where two projects from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology won grand prizes.
Daniil Prokofev received the honor for “From SMILES to Synergy: Overcoming Drug Resistance in ER+ Breast Cancer.” Harshpreet Singh was recognized for “Real-Time Magnetic Field Modeling using Physics Infused Neural Operators.”
Both projects qualified for the International Science and Engineering Festival scheduled for May 10-15 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kristen Salonga, an environmental science teacher for multilingual learners at Justice High School, was meanwhile selected as a 2026 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Salonga is scheduled to spend two weeks in Senegal this spring. She will work with local teachers in Dakar and Saint-Louis, study the country’s education system, and present lessons to students. The fellowship is designed to help educators bring international experience and collaboration into their schools.
Students in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program at Lewis High School also traveled to Richmond for the opening of the Shockoe Institute. They toured its main exhibition, “Enduring Freedom,” and participated in panel discussions and community conversations about the site’s history.
AVID teacher Skyler Verloop said the visit brought classroom learning to life. Students also met leaders including Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer McClellan, Ghazala Hashmi, and Tim Kaine.
Teacher honored for expanding literacy access
Superintendent Michelle Reid visited Fairfax Villa Elementary School on Monday to recognize Lisa Choi as the winter FCPS CARES of the Quarter recipient.
Choi was honored for her literacy instruction and support of students, families, and colleagues. After securing Educate Fairfax grants for two consecutive years, she expanded reading opportunities beyond the classroom. Her current project creates literacy bags containing high-quality books for students to use at home.
Reid held the first of two Community Conversations that evening at Westgate Elementary School. Participants discussed reducing screen time in schools, traffic safety, the budget, and possible school-calendar changes.
A second meeting took place Wednesday at Crestwood Elementary School. That discussion covered equity and access to programs at Lewis High School and its feeder schools, budget pressures, potential cuts, and early-release Wednesdays.
On Tuesday, Reid attended the EduTutorVA Gala at the Army Navy Country Club. Senator Tim Kaine delivered the keynote address, speaking about connections, community enterprise, and education. The event recognized the tutors, founders, and supporters of the program, an FCPS community partner connected to the district’s 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Reid visited Gunston Elementary School on Wednesday morning for an Award of Excellence ceremony honoring kindergartners and second graders. The awards recognize life and citizenship skills as well as academic performance. Students described setting personal goals and considering the steps needed to achieve them.
Later that day, Reid met with the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions at the Gatehouse Administration Center.
Algebra 1 enrollment rises 18%
During the Academic Matters portion of the previous week’s School Board meeting, FCPS highlighted efforts to have every student complete Algebra 1 by the end of eighth grade. The objective is part of the district’s 2023-30 Strategic Plan goal for academic growth and excellence.
The district has expanded its Middle School Algebra Access Network Improvement Community to include schools across all regions. Through the network, schools are working to improve instruction, provide targeted support, and broaden access to demanding coursework.
Algebra 1 enrollment has risen 18% since the 2024-25 school year, including a 10.1% increase since last year. FCPS is also expanding summer learning and strengthening core instruction to help students prepare for the course.
As part of the presentation, Reid shared a video showing Rolling Valley Elementary School teachers encouraging students to understand why a mathematical solution works instead of concentrating only on the answer. The approach is intended to develop the reasoning and persistence students will need to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade.
During Superintendent Matters, Reid recognized Volunteer Appreciation Week and thanked PTA members and people who volunteer in athletics, arts, and other activities.
She also highlighted 217 FCPS high school students selected for the 2026 Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra event, along with 56 middle school students chosen for the All-Virginia Middle School Chorus. Elementary music employees were recognized for their work on the sixth-grade Choral Festival.
Reid also recounted recent school visits, student theater performances, the Taste of FCPS, and her first pitch at the Great Falls Little League opening day.
Boundary study and weekend events
On Friday evening, Reid attended a meeting at Edison High School about potential boundary changes affecting Bren Mar Park Elementary School students. The district is continuing its study of possible future attendance boundaries.
She then traveled to South County High School for a student production of “Cinderella.”
Reid began Saturday at Lake Braddock Secondary School for a Science Olympiad competition and STEM Expo, where activities included an egg-drop experiment.
Her next stop was Hollin Meadows Elementary School, which held an Earth Day celebration and cut the ribbon on a new mural made from bottle caps. The project demonstrated how discarded materials can be repurposed while introducing students to environmental lessons.
In an Earth Day episode of “Our Voices, Our Future,” Reid also spoke with student advocates from Falls Church and McLean high schools about environmental science and solar power. The students discussed experiences stretching from the Maldives to Fairfax County and their advocacy before the School Board and local parent-teacher-student associations.
Later Saturday, Reid attended a Vienna celebration for recipients of 2026 National Math and Science Competition awards. The Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Associations’ Washington Metro Chapter hosted the event, which emphasized the growing importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and space exploration.
Reid ended the day at Katherine Johnson Middle School for a performance of “Moana Jr.,” where the student stage crew transformed a wooden stage into an ocean setting.
The week’s reflections concluded with recognition of the response to a fire on the roof of the new addition at Bren Mar Park Elementary School the previous Sunday. Thick black smoke was visible from the building, but students and employees were able to return Monday morning.
Reid thanked Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, FCPS facilities and custodial employees, safety and security personnel, regional leaders, and Principal Elizabeth Williams for their response.