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Fairfax County high school students took a direct role in shaping the school division’s future during the inaugural Superintendent Student Summit at Skyview High School.
Superintendent Michelle Reid met with students from across the division on Monday to discuss life after high school, equity, innovation and belonging. Students identified challenges and presented proposed solutions centered on collaboration and their school communities.
A student planning committee helped lead the summit, which concluded with presentations of student-developed recommendations connected to FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
That evening, Reid attended Japan-Virginia Night at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. The event, led by Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, highlighted Virginia and Japan’s economic and cultural ties. Discussions included world-language programs with Virginia Department of Education partners.
On Wednesday, families and community members attended the kickoff boundary meeting for Skyview High School. The meeting began the process of creating attendance zones for the new school, with additional public discussions expected in the coming months.
Later Wednesday, Robinson Secondary School hosted an International Show organized by its Asian Student Association and Latin American Student Association. Students shared cultural traditions through songs, dances and costumes before a full audience.
Students Recommend Changes Across FCPS
Reid met Thursday morning at Woodson High School with the Student Advisory Council, which includes representatives from every FCPS high school. The council has been developing recommendations tied to the five goals of the division’s strategic plan.
For the Strong Start goal, students recommended expanding peer mentorship and increasing awareness of middle- and high-school course pathways.
Recommendations concerning student safety and support included improving awareness of mental health resources for students and families and discouraging the use of artificial intelligence for mental health evaluations.
To support academic growth, students proposed teaching executive-functioning skills in elementary and middle schools and strengthening academic support services.
Their equitable-access proposals included more accurate measurement of Multilingual Learners’ academic abilities, additional help with the WIDA test and fewer barriers to participating in high school clubs. Students also explored interest in an equestrian riding club.
For the innovation goal, the council recommended standardizing internships, job shadowing, alumni mentorship and apprenticeships while strengthening financial-literacy instruction across FCPS.
Advanced Fine Arts Enrollment Grows
During Thursday’s School Board meeting, Reid highlighted fine arts education in the Academic Matters segment. FCPS introduces elementary students to music, visual arts and theater, with advanced courses, specialized programs and career pathways available in later grades.
The division says arts instruction can strengthen belonging, pattern recognition, fine motor skills and self-expression while helping close opportunity gaps.
Among high school students enrolled in fine arts, 33.8%—more than 7,700 students—participate in weighted advanced courses. Those offerings include honors classes in art, dance, music and theater; Advanced Placement courses in art and music; International Baccalaureate courses across all four disciplines; and dual-enrollment classes in art and theater.
Enrollment in weighted advanced fine arts courses rose 4% between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.
FCPS also presented a video explaining how classes such as IB Dance and AP 2D Studio Art and Drawing require students to experiment, reflect and refine their work. The courses incorporate research, writing, cultural understanding and analysis while helping students develop portfolios and skills in time management, teamwork, communication and professionalism.
During the Superintendent Matters portion of the meeting, Reid wished students and employees a restorative spring break ahead of the final stretch of the school year.
On Friday, Skyview High School hosted Hiroshi Ando, education counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, and Masatsugu Odaira, minister of public affairs. Reid, incoming Skyview Principal Dave Jagels and Dr. Ponce discussed plans for the new high school and Jagels’ work during its planning phase.
Reid concluded the week Saturday at Annandale High School, where the Atoms faced the Colonials from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in a baseball tournament amid chilly early-spring weather.