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Fairfax County Public Schools closed in on summer with a packed stretch of graduations, student achievements and employee honors across the division.

Superintendent Michelle Reid attended ceremonies for Langley, Justice, Annandale, Madison, McLean and Westfield high schools early in the week. She later joined graduations for Centreville and Herndon high schools, Robinson and Lake Braddock secondary schools, and Fairfax County Adult High School.

Behind the scenes, Warehouse Operations delivered 13,275 chairs and 405 tables for graduations, promotions and other end-of-year events. The team also transported and retrieved graduation materials and supplies for FCPS high schools.

Students shine locally and beyond

Three elementary schools were featured in the division’s latest “Shining a Light on Success” videos. Wolftrap Elementary students demonstrated their growth through Portrait of a Graduate presentations, Franklin Sherman Elementary highlighted the role of inclusive classrooms, and Freedom Hill Elementary marked 75 years of community and care.

FCPS also released a video about its elementary Algebra 1 pilot at Lemon Road and Haycock elementary schools. Participating students worked through three-variable equations and honors-level quizzes and tests.

The division plans to adopt new instructional materials for middle-school Math 6 through Algebra 2 for the 2026-27 academic year. A committee of community members, administrators and teachers reviewed vendors’ submissions. The public review and feedback period runs from June 13 through July 12.

Forestville Elementary School’s seven-member, fourth-grade Odyssey of the Mind team placed third at the World Finals held in May at Iowa State University in Ames. The students built and operated a train that traveled a course, gathered cargo at multiple stops and ultimately assembled the collected material into art.

Three other FCPS teams competed at the finals. Kilmer and Twain middle schools each finished 15th in their respective categories, while Clermont Elementary placed 18th.

FCPS theater and journalism students collected awards in 27 of the 42 categories at the Cappies of the National Capital Area gala at Constitution Hall in Washington. The program, which began in FCPS and has since expanded internationally, gives high school theater students, journalists and teenage playwrights opportunities to learn and receive recognition. Student critic teams help determine which nominees appear on the awards ballot.

Kent Gardens Elementary School’s first Best Buddies chapter was named the top elementary chapter in Virginia and Washington, D.C. The chapter, led by Special Education Department Chair Aliceson Wirth and speech-language pathologist Emily Vayo, spent its first year creating opportunities for friendship and inclusion.

The school celebrated with a Best Buddies Field Day and a visit from South Lakes High School graduate and Miss U.S. International Nicky Kandola. A former Best Buddies participant, Kandola shared her children’s book, made sashes with students and crowned each child during the event.

Graduating athletes reach international and state stages

Lewis High School senior Sam Valle Reyes balanced graduation with elite soccer. A Lewis varsity player and member of Honduras’ under-20 national team, Reyes traveled to Alicante, Spain, for scrimmages against the under-20 teams of England, Croatia and Spain. He returned in time to graduate June 9.

South County High School senior Yamato Bibb qualified to represent Special Olympics Area 26 at the Summer Games in Richmond on June 5 and 6 after competing at meets in Oakton, Sterling and George Mason University.

Bibb entered the 25- and 50-yard breaststroke and the 50-yard freestyle. He won gold in the 50-yard breaststroke while setting a personal record and placed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle, despite having little sleep after attending South County’s All-Night Grad Party.

Twelve employees receive FCPS Honors

At Wednesday evening’s FCPS Honors ceremony, the school division recognized 12 employees:

• Clark Levine of Haycock Elementary School, Outstanding Elementary New Teacher.
• Charlotte Smith of Whitman Middle School, Outstanding Secondary New Teacher.
• Lindsey Kearns of Lake Braddock Secondary School, Outstanding New Principal.
• Kimberly Roma of Spring Hill Elementary School, Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee.
• Kevin Brown of Woodson Food Services Warehouse, Outstanding Nonschool-Based Operational Employee.
• Cori Lonnett of Bonnie Brae Elementary School, Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee.
• Purvis Dawson of the Chief Safety and Security Office, Outstanding Nonschool-Based Professional Employee.
• Tricia Wayland of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, Outstanding School-Based Leader.
• Melissa DeAngelo of the Chief Operating Office, Outstanding Nonschool-Based Leader.
• Amanda Blevins of Mosaic Elementary School, Outstanding Elementary Teacher.
• Scott McCormick of Langley High School, Outstanding Secondary Teacher.
• Rashida Green of Bucknell Elementary School, Outstanding Principal.

Reid also attended the Fairfax County Retired Educators’ annual scholarship luncheon Thursday. The scholarships support graduating seniors who plan to pursue careers in education.

Alternative assessments deliver verified credits

During the Academic Matters portion of Thursday’s School Board meeting, Reid discussed FCPS’ Civics in Action local alternative assessments.

FCPS is in the fifth year of its School Division of Innovation designation from the Virginia Board of Education. The designation gives the division flexibility to use approved alternatives to traditional tests, including local assessments instead of Standards of Learning exams in fourth-grade Virginia Studies and eighth-grade Civics and Economics.

It also supports high school performance assessments for state-required verified credits in social studies and writing, along with Presentations of Learning intended to promote equitable access, opportunity and outcomes.

Fewer than 1% of FCPS writing assessments used for verified credit are traditional SOL tests, as are fewer than 2% of history and social science assessments. Most students instead earn credits through performance assessments, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, and other approved measures.

More than 90% of students divisionwide successfully earn verified credits through those alternatives. During the 2024-25 school year, about 18,000 students received verified writing credits through alternative assessments, while approximately 23,000 high school students did so in history and social science.

Advanced Placement Human Geography has also served as an approved verified-credit option since the 2023-24 school year.

A video presented at the meeting showed middle school students connecting civics lessons with current events by building museum exhibits. The projects allow students to choose topics and demonstrate their knowledge through hands-on work.

The week concluded Saturday with a School Board retreat and an Advisory Committee Summit at the Gatehouse Administration Center, where committee members shared perspectives on the division’s work.