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Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
Dear FCPS Families,
As we enter into the fall season, I wanted to give you an update on three key issues that the School Board is managing:
Election Day is Tomorrow
As a reminder, tomorrow is Election Day in Virginia and schools will be closed. Fairfax County voters will see the 2025 School Bond Referendum on the ballot. This proposed $460 million bond would fund renovations, capacity projects, and planning for future schools across FCPS.
You can learn more about the bond referendum here and more about voting in Fairfax County here.
Western High School Update
The new Western High School represents one of the most significant opportunities for Fairfax County in decades, and the first new public high school to open in nearly twenty years.
This acquisition is both strategic and fiscally responsible. Building a new high school in that area from scratch, which has been planned for years, was estimated to cost over $400 million plus an additional $150 million to acquire the land. By purchasing this property for $150 million, FCPS saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and delivered a turn-key asset immediately. The facility will serve 2,000 students and is planned to open for the 2026-27 school year.
Community engagement is underway, and I wanted to thank those who have shared their feedback. Nearly 1,000 families and students attended the October 25 open house to tour the campus and hear firsthand the planning that is ongoing.
The Superintendent has recommended, and I agree with her recommendation, that the school be a “traditional” comprehensive high school with geographic boundaries to alleviate capacity and transportation challenges in the western Fairfax County communities.
Following extensive public comment, the Superintendent is also recommending that the window for public input be extended into the spring, after the ongoing County-wide boundary review process has completed. I agree with this recommendation as it allows more time for programming decisions to be made and for more public input on the boundaries. That being said, this would not change the planned opening for the 2026-2027 school year, and I would not support delaying the opening in any way.
Lastly, I have heard from several families regarding the phasing plans for the new school. These plans will ultimately be approved by the School Board, and my view is that they are generous and allow for opting into or out of the school for the first few years of its opening, with a very clear cut-off date for phasing. The boundaries are still being formulated, but I would anticipate impacts to Westfield, South Lakes, Oakton, Chantilly, and Centreville High Schools. Please continue to reach out to me or your district representative with feedback.
Start Times
At our recent meeting, the Superintendent provided an update on the “healthier school start times” initiative, including a review of two potential models that families were surveyed about.
After extensive discussion, the Board voted to delay any changes to start times until at least the 2027-28 school year. This decision allows time to implement new transportation routing software and to consider future boundary adjustments, both of which could significantly affect viable options.
While I fully support prioritizing student health and well-being, the models presented came with either substantial operational or budget challenges. Given that reality, I supported a delay.
We will revisit the topic once those systems are in place and when we can do so in a budget-neutral way that minimizes disruption for families and staff. Our goal remains clear: a healthier, smarter approach to school start times, but only when it’s practical and equitable to implement.
Sincerely,
Kyle McDaniel
Fairfax County School Board
Member, At-Large
ACSD Town Hall
Join the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) for its annual "Town Hall Meeting" Wednesday, November 12, 2025
This is your chance to share concerns, kudos, or ideas about special education in FCPS. Each speaker will have three minutes to offer their thoughts about students with disabilities and learning differences in the division.
Can't attend in person? Participate via Zoom, send a video in advance, or submit written comments that will be read aloud on your behalf during the meeting.
Email ACSDChair@fcps.edu by 5pm Tuesday, November 11 to request virtual access. There is no need to RSVP if you plan to attend in person.
All comments will be shared with the school board, central office staff, and included in the ACSD Annual Report. Please note, these public meetings are recorded and published on the ACSD website; parents should be cognizant of personally identifying details about their children when preparing their comments.
Other Updates
📱 Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
✅ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
📝 SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
📋 Fairfax County Youth Survey on Physical and Mental Well-Being
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey is given each fall to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. It provides information about a variety of topics related to our students that influence their physical and mental well-being, from sleep, physical activity, and nutritional habits to protective factors, substance use behaviors, and symptoms of depression.
The 2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be taken by students between Monday, November 10, and Friday, November 21. Parents and caregivers can opt their student out of participating in the survey if they so choose.
Visit the Fairfax County Youth Survey webpage for more information and to review the opt-out forms.
💯 Changes to Middle and High School Report Card Feedback
With the first quarter of the school year ending on Friday, October 31, families can expect student report cards to be available the week of November 10.
FCPS has revised the way teachers provide feedback on report cards, so you may notice some new comments. Specifically, comments have been revised to provide more detailed feedback for students and families.
Also, teachers will now include a Work Habits mark each quarter for each student. This scale provides feedback on students’ time management, organization, assignment completion, and overall effort in class. This is meant as feedback to families and will not appear on a student’s transcript.
View the Middle and High School Grading and Reporting webpage for more information.
Calendar Reminder
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✏️ Monday, November 3 - School Planning Day. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3, for a school planning day,
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🗳️ Tuesday, November 4 - Election Day. Don’t forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4! The day will be observed as a holiday for students and a teacher work day. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Elections webpage.
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🎖️ Tuesday, November 11 - Veterans Day. Schools will be closed.
See the complete school year calendar.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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