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Fairfax County Public Schools drew more than 1,000 families, students and community members to an open house Saturday for its new western high school, while the division continued gathering feedback on school boundaries and the future of the campus.
The school, housed at the former King Abdullah Academy in western Fairfax County, features classrooms, laboratories, gyms, a theater, a heated pool and outdoor spaces. Visitors toured the campus and discussed whether it should operate as a comprehensive high school or follow a magnet model.
FCPS also presented preliminary boundary-map scenarios that could apply if the comprehensive option is chosen. The maps were expected to be posted online. Attendees raised questions about potential athletics programs, advanced academic opportunities and other features of the new school.
Boundary review meetings continue
Community Boundary Review meetings were held at Hayfield Secondary School and Annandale, Lewis and Mount Vernon high schools. Discussions covered Scenario 4, the Boundary Explorer Tool, community feedback, next steps and proposed changes affecting individual school pyramids.
Additional in-person and virtual meetings were scheduled for:
- October 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Irving Middle School for the Lake Braddock and West Springfield pyramids.
- October 28 from 6 to 6:30 p.m. in the Fairfax High School library for the Chantilly and Westfield pyramids.
- October 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Fairfax High School library for the Woodson and Fairfax pyramids.
- October 29 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at McLean High School for the Madison and McLean pyramids.
- October 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Chantilly High School for the Westfield and Chantilly pyramids.
Every high school pyramid has representation on the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee.
Three principals earn statewide distinction
Three FCPS leaders were selected for the Virginia Department of Education’s Principal of Distinction Program: Shane Wolfe of Aldrin Elementary School, Kambar Khoshaba of South County High School and Shawn DeRose of Annandale High School.
They are among 31 principals chosen statewide for the program, which is offered with the Virginia Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. The honorees attended a professional-development symposium in Richmond and will complete capstone projects demonstrating an impact at the school level. Upon completion, they will receive the Level II Principal of Distinction endorsement in administration and supervision for pre-K through grade 12.
The recognition came during National Principals Month, when FCPS highlighted the role principals and assistant principals play in instructional leadership and student achievement.
Schools showcase literacy and virtual algebra
Superintendent Michelle Reid visited Crestwood Elementary School, led by Principal Francoise Casablanca, to observe literacy instruction for younger students.
At Cardinal Forest Elementary School, Principal Ashleigh Long, family liaison Mariel Otero and student ambassadors Charles and Veera welcomed Reid. In Melanie Ano’s classroom, students compared the fables “The Dog and the Bone” and “The Ant and the Dove” during a Benchmark Literacy lesson.
Ano is a Participate Learning ambassador teacher from the Philippines.
Reid also observed Cardinal Forest’s participation in the Virtual Algebra 1 pilot. Sixth graders received online instruction under the supervision of advanced academic resource teacher Karen Mitchell. The learning area in Assistant Principal Cindy Agner’s office included anchor charts, vocabulary materials and visual supports intended to connect virtual instruction with hands-on learning.
Student survey reports declines in risky behavior
FCPS presented findings from the 2024-25 Fairfax County Youth Survey during the School Board’s Academic Matters discussion.
The anonymous, voluntary annual survey asks students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 about their experiences, behavior and risk or protective factors. Its subjects include mental and physical health, bullying and substance use, with questions based on the Monitoring the Future Survey and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey.
Results showed that reported alcohol, tobacco and other drug use continued to decline in 2024, reaching its lowest level since 2018. The share of students reporting mental-health and bullying concerns also fell.
Healthy habits increased overall, although the percentage of students watching at least three hours of television a day did not improve.
The survey also reinforced the division’s “Three to Succeed” approach. FCPS says young people with at least three positive protective factors are more likely to manage stress, make sound decisions and develop healthy habits. Those factors include a sense of connection and belonging, positive communication with caregivers, access to activities and education for parents.
Students push FCPS environmental goals
The division convened its new Student Youth Environmental Council at the Gatehouse Administration Center as it works toward several climate targets.
FCPS has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2040, cutting greenhouse-gas emissions in half by 2030 and converting its entire school-bus fleet to electric vehicles by 2035.
Its Get2Green program operates in nearly every school, supporting waste reduction, wildlife habitats and edible gardens. FCPS said it has roughly half of all schools nationwide that have received the Green Flag Award.
The school system has also received the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence and the International Award for Institutional Energy Management. Energy initiatives have saved more than $110 million since 2013, according to FCPS.
Students have advocated for eliminating plastic straws, adding solar power and reducing food waste. The division is also expanding solar installations, using net-zero building practices and increasing the number of electric buses.
FCPS highlights AI, mobile access and broader measures
FCPS is promoting its Future-Ready Index as a broader measure of student preparation than Standards of Learning scores alone. The tool covers five domains intended to show student progress from early learning through graduation and beyond, including learning, belonging and real-world experiences.
The division also scheduled “Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI and the Future of Learning” for November 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at West Springfield High School. The program was designed to address AI’s opportunities and challenges in education, its potential role in student achievement and workforce readiness, and the future of innovation within FCPS.
An interactive expo featuring AI companies was planned from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Teachers attending the event could receive two recertification points.
FCPS also continued promoting its mobile app, which combines news, calendars, live updates, school notices and cafeteria menus. Much of the material can be viewed without signing in, while schools can distribute content through the app and social-media platforms at the same time.
Parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes said the app made it easier to follow announcements, school events and athletics. Nelson uses it to track information for four children attending two schools, while Dykes described using it to find a Centreville High School football game at Chantilly and obtain directions.
Division recognizes military families and Vietnamese heritage
FCPS announced that 49 schools had newly earned Purple Star School status and 40 had renewed the designation. The division now has 145 designated schools—nearly 75% of its total—and aims to reach 100% by next year. The program recognizes support for military-connected families.
Reid and other senior FCPS officials also met with Vietnamese American community leaders during the year marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Community representatives asked FCPS to display the Vietnamese heritage flag when presenting national flags. Reid said she supported the request as a way to recognize community members affected by the war and those who served.
She also attended a Northern Virginia Technology Council Board of Directors meeting as part of the division’s work to maintain regional partnerships.
Thomas Jefferson marks four decades
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala at the Hilton in Tysons Corner.
FCPS estimated that nearly 16,000 students have graduated from the school during its four-decade history. The event reflected on its founding and the continuing goal of balancing advanced technology education with the humanities, arts and a well-rounded curriculum.