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Fairfax County Public Schools entered the 2025-26 school year with new transportation and background-check systems, expanded student programs and a push to strengthen support for military-connected families.
Superintendent Michelle Reid spent the week before classes visiting schools, offices and community events to review preparations across the division.
The transportation department is introducing a tablet-based system that gives bus drivers turn-by-turn directions and real-time route adjustments during detours. RFID card scanning will help drivers verify students’ identities, confirm they are riding the correct route and record where they board and leave buses.
FCPS eventually plans to let families monitor their children’s locations through the Here Comes the Bus app.
Technology employees also prepared the systems supporting the school division’s 254 sites. The Network Operations Center at Wilton Woods manages approximately 2,000 servers and monitors platforms including Google Workspace, Schoology and the Student Information System.
More than 230 Department of Information Technology employees are based at Wilton Woods. The department also maintains some student records for as long as 75 years and shreds between five and seven tons of paper annually. Other technology teams evaluate hardware and software for privacy and accessibility, establish IT policies and oversee security, disaster recovery and system changes.
Safety and student support expand
FCPS reported progress in reducing substance-related discipline among seventh- and eighth-grade students. Compared with the 2023-24 school year, out-of-school suspensions for vaping fell 34% last year. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists will continue working with students and families during the new academic year.
A Virginia law that took effect July 1 also allows public schools to enroll employees, volunteers and contractors in Rap Back, a continuous background-check monitoring system. Nearly 18,000 FCPS employees had completed the required form by August 18.
During a Fort Belvoir town hall, Reid discussed the division’s bullying prevention and intervention strategies, along with services for military-connected students.
Those students and their families were also welcomed at a division-wide barbecue at Mount Vernon High School. The event grew from feedback provided by the Military Family Advisory Council and Military Youth Advisory Council.
Just over half of FCPS’ 199 schools have earned Purple Star designation for supporting military families. Requirements include a designated contact, a military-family webpage and programs in which student ambassadors help new classmates adjust. The division wants every school to receive the designation by September 2026.
New opportunities greet returning students
All FCPS high schools will pilot girls flag football during the fall, with support from the Washington Commanders. The sport already offers college scholarship opportunities and is scheduled to join the Olympic program in 2028.
Students also began returning for athletics. Reid attended boys volleyball, field hockey and girls volleyball events involving Hayfield, Herndon, Fairfax, South County and McLean high schools.
Back-to-school activities included Tiger Fest at Mark Twain Middle School and an event at Key Center for students with diverse learning needs. Freedom Hill and Terraset elementary schools held kindergarten playdates so incoming members of the Class of 2038 could meet teachers and classmates before their first day.
Laurel Ridge Elementary School marked its 55th anniversary with students, employees and community members. The Robinson Secondary School Drum Line participated, including musicians who previously attended Laurel Ridge.
Reid also visited Hayfield Secondary School, where employees continued recovery work following a late-summer weather event, and toured renovations at Wakefield Forest Elementary School.