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Hundreds of students, employees and community leaders gathered for the 2025 State of Our Schools event, where emerging student programs shared the stage with major Fairfax County Public Schools priorities.

Guests arrived to music from the Chantilly High School Chamber Orchestra before the Falls Church High School Guitar Ensemble opened the program with a performance.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented updates on the FCPS budget, Capital Improvement Program and upcoming bond election. She also discussed progress on a new western high school intended to serve families in a growing area of the county.

Reid celebrated student and staff accomplishments from the 2024-25 school year, including the success of the school system’s rapidly growing girls flag football program. She also highlighted the Future-Ready Index, a new tool designed to measure how FCPS supports students from early learning through graduation and beyond.

Students remained at the center of the event. Sixth graders explained why they participated in an Algebra 1 pilot, while middle school students discussed the benefits of newly introduced track and field and cross-country programs.

One high school student described creating an essay contest with the Embassy of Spain and shared how the project helped him develop leadership skills.

Additional speakers included FCPS Chief of Staff Marty Smith, Educate Fairfax Executive Director Lynette Henry and local education leader Sandy Anderson. Henry and Anderson emphasized the community partnerships supporting students throughout the school system.