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Fairfax County Public Schools students took center stage during a packed final week of March, offering recommendations on academics, mental health, equity and preparation for life after graduation.
High school students from across the division gathered Monday at Skyview High School for the inaugural Superintendent Student Summit. Discussions explored post-graduation plans, innovation, equity and belonging, culminating in student-led recommendations intended to help shape the school system’s future.
Student input continued Thursday at Woodson High School, where representatives from every FCPS high school met through the Student Advisory Council. Their proposals corresponded with the five goals of the division’s 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Students recommended expanding peer mentorship and improving awareness of middle- and high-school course pathways. They also called for greater awareness of mental health resources while discouraging the use of artificial intelligence for mental health evaluations.
Other ideas included teaching executive-functioning skills in elementary and middle schools, strengthening academic support and reducing barriers to participation in high school clubs. The council also proposed improving how multilingual learners’ academic abilities are measured, helping those students pass the WIDA assessment and exploring interest in an equestrian riding club.
To prepare students for life after high school, the group recommended more consistent internship, job-shadowing, alumni mentorship and apprenticeship programs across FCPS. Students also sought stronger financial literacy instruction.
Skyview boundaries and international connections
Families and community members attended the kickoff meeting Wednesday for the process of creating Skyview High School’s new attendance zones. The gathering began a boundary discussion expected to continue over the coming months.
Skyview also hosted two representatives from the Embassy of Japan on Friday. Education counsellor Hiroshi Ando and Minister of Public Affairs Masatsugu Odaira met with Superintendent Michelle Reid, incoming principal Dave Jagels and Dr. Ponce to learn about plans for the new high school.
Earlier in the week, Reid attended Japan-Virginia Night at the Japanese Embassy in Washington. The event, led by Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, highlighted economic and cultural ties between Japan and Virginia and included discussion of world-language programs with Virginia Department of Education partners.
Cultural traditions were also on display Wednesday at Robinson Secondary School’s International Show. Organized by the Asian Student Association and Latin American Student Association, the event featured students presenting songs, dances and costumes before a full audience. Reid attended alongside Principal Tracey Phillips and members of the school team.
Fine arts enrollment continues to grow
During Thursday’s School Board meeting, FCPS officials highlighted fine arts instruction and its role in developing belonging, self-expression, fine motor abilities, pattern recognition and other lasting skills.
Elementary students receive introductory instruction in music, visual arts and theater. In middle and high school, those options grow to include specialized programs, advanced classes and career pathways.
More than 7,700 students—33.8% of high school students enrolled in fine arts—participate in weighted advanced courses. Those offerings include honors classes in art, dance, music and theater; Advanced Placement art and music; International Baccalaureate art, dance, music and theater; and dual-enrollment art and theater.
Enrollment in weighted advanced fine arts courses rose 4% between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.
Courses such as IB Dance and AP 2D Studio Art and Drawing require students to experiment, reflect and revise their work through a process comparable to the scientific method. The classes incorporate research, writing, cultural understanding and analysis while helping students develop portfolios and skills in communication, teamwork, time management and professionalism.
Reid closed the week Saturday at Annandale High School, where she watched the Atoms play the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Colonials in an early-spring baseball tournament. FCPS then headed into spring break before the final stretch of the school year.