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Fairfax County public school families face several important decisions and deadlines as the academic year winds down, including a final vote on the fiscal 2026 budget, proposed boundary changes and a revised elementary early-release schedule.
The School Board reviewed the FY 2026 budget during a May 19 work session and was scheduled to vote on it at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22.
Meanwhile, members of Falls Church Academy’s 65th practical nursing class are preparing to graduate from the two-year program in June.
Families Can Explore Three Boundary Scenarios
An online Boundary Explorer Tool is available for residents to enter their addresses and see how three initial draft scenarios could affect their schools or neighborhoods.
Five hybrid community meetings will allow families to review the proposals before summer break:
- Friday, May 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lewis High School.
- Wednesday, May 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Annandale High School.
- Thursday, May 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Whitman Middle School.
- Friday, May 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Chantilly High School.
- Friday, June 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Glasgow Middle School.
Child care will be offered to in-person participants, while language interpretation and translation will be available as needed. Virtual attendees who register will receive a Zoom link within 24 business hours.
A consultant will use an online system during each meeting to collect and display comments in real time. The feedback will later be compiled, analyzed and posted on the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage.
Limited Early-Release Days Move to Wednesdays
Elementary schools will continue holding a limited number of early-release days during the 2025-26 school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid told the School Board in May. The days will shift to Wednesdays.
The plan reflects recommendations from the Early Release Steering Committee, which includes parents, caregivers, school employees and central-office staff.
Meal Balances and Benefits Require Attention
Families are being asked to review their students’ MySchoolBucks accounts and pay outstanding meal balances before the school year ends.
Households earning less than 185% of the federal poverty level may qualify for free and reduced-price meals, but they must submit a new application every school year. The application for 2025-26 will become available during the summer.
Families with current meal debt who believe they qualify may still submit an application for the 2024-25 school year.
Spring Test Results Arriving in May and June
Students’ spring assessment results will be distributed throughout May and June. Depending on the test, scores may appear in SIS ParentVUE or arrive directly from a school or testing organization.
ParentVUE also gives caregivers access to attendance records, grades, progress reports and assessment scores. An account remains active until a student graduates, and parents can view multiple children through the same account. Mobile apps are available for Apple and Android devices.
Families should make sure their contact information is current and contact their children’s schools with questions about testing or how teachers use the results.
Eleven Students Earn International Science Awards
Eleven students from Langley, Marshall, McLean and Oakton high schools and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology received awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Their achievements support the school division’s strategic goal of encouraging students to innovate and prepare for the future.
At Whitman Middle School, learning has taken a more feathered turn. Chickens living in an interior courtyard have become so familiar that students are no longer startled when one pokes its head through an open classroom window. The growing flock has become part of both the school community and its curriculum.
Reid also featured Hanh Bui in an episode of “Our Voices, Our Future.” Bui, an author, former teacher and current parent, discussed her journey from fleeing Vietnam as an 8-year-old refugee to becoming an educator and published writer.
Graduation Season and Alumni Connections
Families, students and employees may share photographs from 2025 graduation and promotion ceremonies on Facebook or Instagram by tagging the school division and their school and using the hashtag #FCPSgrad25.
Educate Fairfax is also sponsoring an online alumni network for graduates, teachers, parents, caregivers and other community members. The network includes personal stories, news, reunions, homecomings and other events. Members interested in organizing an alumni gathering can contact the network by email.
Mental Health and Family Workshops
For Mental Health Awareness Month, Rachel Carson Middle School counselors Karla Chustz, Rachel Copeland, Nina Ghafori, Christy Ryder and Beth Schires offered guidance to help teenagers care for their mental health.
The Family Academy will also hold an eight-week, in-person summer workshop titled “Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs.” Sessions will run from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays between June 17 and August 12 at John Marshall Library.
The program will explain why the skills matter and offer research-based ways for families to develop them at home. Advance registration is required, and free child care will be provided.
Early-Childhood Applications Remain Open
Pre-K and Early Head Start programs are accepting applications from qualifying Fairfax County families with economic or educational risk factors.
Pre-K primarily serves 4-year-olds but also considers children who will turn 3 by September 30. Early Head Start operates at Clearview, Crestwood and Dogwood elementary schools and accepts expectant mothers as well as families with children from 6 weeks through 2 years old.
Applications are encouraged as soon as possible, although placement is based on need rather than submission order. Families may apply online, by email, through the mail or in person at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue in Falls Church. Questions can be directed to 703-208-7900 in English or 703-208-7901 in Spanish.
Summer Camp Registration Closes June 6
Registration for the school division’s summer camps and enrichment programs closes Friday, June 6.
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts programs will take place in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus service will be available from selected middle and high schools.
Tech Adventure Camp gives current kindergarten through fifth-grade students a week to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, along with culinary arts, health, trades, business and marketing.
The CTE Summer Academy offers students in grades 6 through 11 a week of deeper study in career and technical fields, skill development and career exploration.
The Institute for the Arts is a two- or three-week program for students currently in grades 6 through 11, with nearly 90 choices spanning art, dance, music, theater and health and physical education 9, which can satisfy a graduation requirement.
E-IFTA provides weekly arts programming for students in grades 2 through 5. Participants attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater and visual art taught by fine-arts educators.
Countywide Puzzle Hunt Starts June 1
The Fairfax County Puzzle Hunt returns Sunday, June 1, with online challenges that direct participants to a location in the county and provide clues needed to solve a final puzzle.
Anyone who submits the final answer will be entered for a chance to win a prize. The puzzles combine logic, wordplay and creative thinking with lessons about pedestrian and bicycle safety. Participants may work alone or create teams and arrange group meetups.
Schools and school offices will be closed Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day.