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Fairfax County Public Schools entered the final days of April celebrating environmental projects, student achievements, renovated classrooms and community partnerships while confronting a potential $150 million funding shortfall.

In an April 28 update, the school division highlighted activities across the county following Earth Day, along with robotics, athletics, music and career-readiness programs.

Students turn Earth Day into action

Marshall Road Elementary School students have composted lunch scraps since January 2023, diverting an estimated 300 gallons of food waste each week and nearly 30 tons since the program began.

PTA President Monica Nuno developed the initiative, which depends on cooperation between families and the school. The idea emerged after parent lunch volunteers noticed how much food was being discarded. Garden educator Christene Hendon later secured a grant from the Amazon Web Services Northern Virginia Community Fund to cover the first year of a composting contract.

Earth Day also took John R. Lewis High School AVID students to Shenandoah National Park. AVID coordinator and social studies teacher Skyler Verloop received a Shenandoah National Park Trust grant for a career-focused trip.

Students met a botanist, interpretive ranger, volunteer coordinator, National Park police officer and communications specialist responsible for radio networks. They learned about each employee’s education and career path before hiking and visiting several overlooks. Many of the students had never been to Shenandoah.

At Clearview Elementary School, teacher Jeanne Lukas-Ross continues to connect younger students with nature through FCPS Get2Green and Eco Clubs. Lukas-Ross, a certified Virginia master naturalist, became concerned about weakening fine-motor skills and increased electronics use among young children. Clearview now gives students in kindergarten through third grade a weekly outdoor-learning class using natural materials.

Lees Corner Elementary School marked Earth Day through music. Its Orff Ensemble performed “To Change a Planet,” with selections centered on environmental protection and arranged by participating students.

The Orff Schulwerk approach, developed by composer Carl Orff and educator Gunild Keetman, combines music, movement, speech and drama. Lees Corner music teacher Leah Kmetz is a certified Schulwerk educator.

Sixth grader earns a place on Team USA

Centreville Elementary School sixth grader Aditya was selected for the United States team competing at the Pan American Junior Badminton Championship in Guatemala in July.

Aditya, the 2023 Junior National Champion, will compete in boys’ doubles and mixed doubles. He told Principal Josh Douds that he was happy and proud to represent the United States.

Three FCPS robotics teams also reached the world stage over spring break, collectively posting a 23-10 record at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston.

Madison High School finished 11th among 75 teams in its FIRST Robotics Competition division, while Woodson High School ranked 28th. The overall competition included 600 teams divided among eight divisions.

In the FIRST Tech Challenge, Oakton High School placed 11th among 64 teams in its division. That event brought together 256 teams across four divisions.

Madison senior Nick Abbott described the championship as one of his most rewarding experiences, citing the chance to see months of work pay off and compete alongside teams from around the world. Each year, students have only a few months to design, build and program a new robot.

Community meetings tackle boundaries and school policy

FCPS held its final Community Conversations of the 2024-25 school year at Mount Eagle and Mason Crest elementary schools.

Participants discussed school-boundary changes, start times, safety and security, the academic calendar, artificial intelligence in tutoring, obstacles facing multilingual learners and equity in math-course offerings. Another round of meetings is planned for the fall.

School boundaries also received attention during a Friday meeting of the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee. Members reviewed the process to date and examined “before and after” maps showing possible changes involving split feeder patterns. FCPS planned to publish information from the meeting and distribute it to staff and families the following Monday.

A separate advisory committee met at the Gatehouse Administration Center to consider services for twice-exceptional, or 2e, students. FCPS defines these learners as students eligible for subject-specific, part-time or full-time Advanced Academic Program services who also have an Individualized Education Program or a 504 Plan.

Families, teachers, school administrators and central-office employees reviewed that definition, discussed programs and practices, and revised the committee’s charge to better align it with program goals.

At an all-county principals meeting at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center, school leaders considered effective leadership during uncertain periods, a draft FCPS Scorecard and how collective bargaining could affect planning for the next school year.

Oak Hill opens a major expansion

Oak Hill Elementary School formally opened an addition of more than 26,000 square feet during a Tuesday ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The project created classrooms, art rooms, Early Childhood Class-Based and Preschool Autism classrooms, a secure entrance vestibule and an outdoor classroom. FCPS also renovated existing classrooms, the library, kitchen and café, gym, music room, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

Voters funded the work through bond referendums approved in 2019 and 2021. The ceremony followed other recent FCPS projects, including a ribbon cutting at Frost Middle School.

Champions honored across sports, academics and music

The School Board recognized FCPS teams that won Virginia High School League Winter 2025 championships, as well as ensembles that performed at the National Concert Band Festival.

The honorees included the following:

• Lake Braddock Secondary School gymnastics.
• Chantilly High School boys’ swim and dive.
• South County High School girls’ indoor track and field.
• West Springfield High School boys’ indoor track and field.
• South Lakes High School boys’ basketball.
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Scholastic Bowl.
• Chantilly High School speech.
• Thomas Jefferson’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
• West Springfield High School’s Wind Symphony.
• Cooper Middle School’s Symphonic Band.

Graduation data show progress

During a Strategic Plan presentation, FCPS reviewed its goal of preparing every student to adapt, innovate and thrive after high school.

The division measures progress by examining on-time graduation, dropout rates and whether students leave high school with both a relevant diploma and a clear postsecondary plan.

Among the Class of 2024, 87% of seniors planned to attend college, 7% planned to enter the workforce or enlist, and 5% intended to pursue another form of education.

FCPS reported an on-time graduation rate of 94.58% for 2023-24, compared with a baseline of 94.06%. Its dropout rate was 3.81%, an improvement from the 5% baseline. The division said it remained on course toward its overall 2029-30 targets, although more work was needed.

Current strategies include individual graduation plans, consultations for multilingual learners and accessible credit-recovery options. Schools with greater dropout risks are receiving targeted help through on-time graduation resource teachers and counselors serving newcomer multilingual learners.

FCPS is also focusing on attendance, rigorous coursework and transition assistance for students with IEPs. Other efforts include expanding awareness of credit accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 Plans, auditing courses, improving transcript reviews and training counselors.

A Goal Innovation Team is using predictive analytics to identify students who have fallen off track, expand graduation planning and remove barriers to receiving a diploma.

AVID students take on more rigorous courses

The School Board also reviewed Advancement Through Individual Determination, or AVID, which operates in 53 FCPS schools: 25 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, 13 high schools and two secondary schools.

At the elementary level, AVID seeks to strengthen students’ independence, relationships, growth mindset, academic habits and awareness of future opportunities.

Secondary students receive help succeeding in demanding courses, including eighth-grade Algebra, honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual-enrollment classes. The program develops writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading skills while offering college and career exposure.

Among FCPS AVID seniors in the Class of 2024, 78% qualified for free or reduced-price meals. Eighty-six percent took at least one AP, IB or dual-enrollment class, 94% planned to attend a two- or four-year college, and 74% had enrolled in Algebra 1 by eighth grade.

Inclusion, hiring and community support take center stage

Bull Run Elementary School held its first Special Olympics Inclusion Revolution Pep Rally on Friday, concluding a weeklong Inclusive Schools Spirit Week. Principal James Marotta led the event.

On Saturday, FCPS hosted a virtual instructional job fair attended by hundreds of teacher candidates. Principals, assistant principals, other school employees and the Human Resources team participated as the division sought educators for open positions.

Falls Church High School held its 20th annual Jaguar 5K and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run the same morning. Superintendent Michelle Reid and Principal Ben Nowak started both races despite rainy conditions.

At Katherine Johnson Middle School, Food for Neighbors celebrated the launch of its 10th food-sorting site. The organization works with Northern Virginia middle and high schools to address student hunger. School social workers discreetly distribute food to students experiencing food insecurity.

The Lorton Community Center later hosted a Reading Opens the World event. Created in 2011, the program distributes books to children in need, including students at Title I schools, students with disabilities and military-connected children.

Organizers have given away 10 million books in total and planned to distribute more than 30,000 locally during 2025. Each student could receive as many as 10 books, while educators could select up to 50 for classroom libraries.

Funding fight threatens programs and staffing

The celebrations came with a warning: FCPS said it was underfunded by $150 million as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors prepared to finalize its budget the following week.

The division said the unresolved gap could force difficult decisions affecting school renovations and security, employee recruitment and retention, class sizes, STEM instruction, middle-school athletics, and career and technical education programs such as the FCPS Academies.

FCPS urged community members to learn about the funding debate and advocate for continued support of the school system.

Virginia considers broader career-readiness measures

The Virginia Department of Education opened public comment on proposed revisions to the employment component of its high school employment, enlistment and enrollment, or 3E, readiness criteria.

When the state Board of Education adopted its new School Performance and Support Framework in September 2024, work-based learning was not recognized as a readiness measure. The proposed changes would add high-quality work experiences, recognize a wider range of state-approved industry credentials and count successful completion of approved Career and Technical Education courses.

The state was also preparing definitions for four categories of high-quality work-based learning:

• Registered apprenticeships.
• Internships.
• Clinical experiences.
• School-based enterprise and entrepreneurship.

School-based businesses can give students experience designing, planning, operating and expanding an enterprise on campus or online. FCPS said those opportunities have been particularly valuable for students with disabilities and multilingual learners following nontraditional paths toward graduation.

The public-comment period was scheduled to remain open through Sunday, May 18, ahead of the state Board of Education’s May 20-22 meetings.

FCPS supports adding work-based learning to the accountability system because its 2023-30 Strategic Plan calls for wider access to CTE programs, specialized classes and apprenticeships.

FCPS certifies civil-rights compliance

FCPS also reaffirmed that its policies comply with applicable state and federal law. Reid certified the division’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, its implementing regulations, and relevant decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The division said it has provided such assurances annually for decades and continues to regard its diverse student population as a strength.