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Fairfax County Public Schools advanced plans for artificial intelligence in classrooms, a new western high school and a broader measure of student success during a busy week of meetings and community events.
At a School Board work session Tuesday, Superintendent Michelle Reid and board members examined how AI is changing education and the workforce. Guest speaker Babak Mostaghimi, a leader in AI education, discussed the technology’s growing influence and the need to prepare students for a world in which it will be commonplace.
Division leaders said their strategy must introduce AI purposefully while protecting human skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and independent judgment. They also emphasized that technology should complement active, person-to-person learning rather than turn students into passive users of educational applications.
The public can join that discussion at “Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI and The Future of Learning,” scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at West Springfield High School. The event will explore the use of AI in teaching, learning and career preparation. Teachers who attend can receive two recertification points.
FCPS is also preparing its 2026 Student AI Innovation Challenge in partnership with Amazon and Playlab. High school teams will create AI-based responses to problems affecting their schools or communities, and advanced technical experience is not required.
Campus coaches who complete training will receive professional learning credit and a gift card. Winning teams will compete at the division-wide FCPS AI Innovation Night in December, with the strongest projects advancing to the White House Presidential AI Challenge. Principals were encouraged to register coaches by Oct. 13.
Western high school could open in 2026
The School Board also continued planning for a new high school in western Fairfax County. FCPS recently purchased the former King Abdullah Academy property, a 33-acre campus with a 355,000-square-foot facility.
The property already includes classrooms, libraries, fine arts facilities and athletic spaces. FCPS estimates that using the existing campus will save approximately $280 million compared with constructing a school from the ground up.
The high school is expected to open for the 2026–27 academic year and could introduce new courses and learning opportunities across the division. Board members discussed possible programs and names, with another conversation scheduled for Oct. 23.
Renovation work was also a focus Monday at Falls Church High School, where families and employees received updates about construction, athletic fields and related plans. School leaders and central-office teams are working to reduce disruptions while the project proceeds.
New index looks beyond test scores
During Thursday’s School Board meeting, Reid provided an update on the Future-Ready Index, a proposed tool intended to show families how FCPS is performing beyond Standards of Learning scores.
The index is designed to offer a broader picture of student achievement by incorporating learning, school belonging and real-world experiences. It is organized around five areas:
- Academic Excellence, covering rigorous learning that develops knowledge, ability and confidence.
- Safety and Belonging, focused on supportive and inclusive schools.
- Future Ready Experiences, including practical learning connected to innovation and purpose.
- Great Teachers and Support, measuring the role of empowered educators in student growth and equity.
- Community Investment, reflecting partnerships and resources that support students’ future opportunities.
Each area contains five indicators. Those measures will examine subjects including academic growth, graduation results, school climate, engagement and access to meaningful learning. FCPS plans to continue refining the index with feedback from schools, families and community partners.
The board also received an update on differentiated and culturally responsive learning environments. The presentation highlighted how the Design and Construction Services office uses educational specifications to shape new and renovated schools.
Those guidelines influence features ranging from flexible, naturally lit libraries to safer and more efficient traffic patterns around student drop-off and pickup areas. The office also serves as a link between FCPS and the Fairfax County government.
School infrastructure projects are funded through bonds rather than the division’s general operating budget. Voters consider those funds through bond referendums held every two years, including a referendum on the November ballot. Election Day is Nov. 4.
Employees, students and community recognized
FCPS honored 167 employees Wednesday during its Impact Awards ceremony at Fairfax High School. From a pool of 350 nominees, the division selected 24 individual recipients and 17 teams.
Awards were presented for Collaboration and Partnerships, Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, Innovation and Improvement, and Student Achievement and Success. Only FCPS employees may submit nominations, making the honors a form of recognition from recipients’ colleagues.
Reid also recognized the work of Human Resources employees, nomination and selection participants, facilities and custodial workers, and the Fairfax High School staff who supported the ceremony.
At Thursday’s board meeting, she marked National Principals Month and acknowledged honors received by the Community Relations team and Marshall Academy Auto Tech instructor Rebecca Fenton.
The division also reported 262 National Merit Semifinalists for 2026, a 40% increase from the previous year. SAT results for the Class of 2025 exceeded Virginia, national and global averages.
On Friday, families from quads 3 and 4 met at Edison High School for a Family Vision Group session. Participants discussed the current school year, the budget, safety and security, and the Future-Ready Index while sharing questions and concerns with division leaders.
Reid also attended a Tuesday dinner meeting of the 123 Club in Tysons, where community leaders discussed planning related to local economic challenges.
The week concluded Saturday with the Town of Herndon’s Homecoming Parade, where Reid joined residents in celebrating community traditions.