The Fairfax County Public Schools system (abbreviated FCPS) is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. FCPS’ headquarters is located in an unincorporated section of Falls Church, near the city of Falls Church; the headquarters has a Falls Church address but is not within the city limits.

With over 164,000 students enrolled, FCPS is the largest public school system in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, and in Virginia. The superintendent of schools is Jack D. Dale. The school district is the 13th largest in the nation [1] and maintains the largest school bus fleet of any school district in the United States. It should be noted that Fairfax Country uses the 6-4 grading scale for middle and high school classes, meaning that 94-100 of 100 is an A, 90-93 is a B+, 84-89 is a B, etc.

The most notable commitment the county makes to its school system is the allocation of 52.2% of its fiscal budget to the school system.[3] Including state and federal government contributions, along with citizen and corporate contributions, this brings the 2006 fiscal budget for the school system to $2.1 billion.[4] The school system has estimated that, based on the 2006 fiscal budget, the county invested $11,915 in each student in 2006.[5]
Contents
1 History
2 Demographics
3 No contact rule controversy
4 Schools
4.1 Secondary schools
4.1.1 High schools
4.1.2 Secondary schools
4.1.3 Alternative high schools
4.1.4 Middle schools
4.2 Elementary schools
4.3 Special education centers
4.4 Interagency Alternative Schools
5 Transportation
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
 
 History
The public school system in Fairfax County was created after the Civil War with the adoption by Virginia of a Reconstruction-era state constitution in 1870, which for the first time in Virginia guaranteed free public education.

Fairfax County refused to let black students attend and bused them out of the county to Manassas.[6] Despite the 1954 Supreme court ruling to end racial segregation Fairfax County Schools did not allow any black students into designated white schools until 1960.[7]
 Demographics
Since the early 1990s, FCPS’ fastest growing segment is its Asian-American student population, which is second only to whites. Most of the Asian student growth comes from Korean Americans, as Fairfax County is home to strong Korean American communities in business districts such as Annandale and Centreville. As a result, most FCPS schools have access to Korean interpreters and staff members to help parents who do not speak English well. There are also many Chinese American and Indian American students moving to Fairfax County. The enrollment of these demographics among Asians is second to Korean Americans. A large number of Filipino American and Vietnamese American students live toward the eastern region of the county, bordering Arlington and Falls Church.

Hispanic growth continues significantly as well throughout the county, in particular in the southeast portion of the county and the Herndon area. Hispanic enrollment surpasses that of African Americans but is not growing at the rate of Asian Americans. African American enrollment has been stagnant in the last few years, while white enrollment has steadily dropped since the 1990s due to lower birth rates and many families moving to suburbs whose school districts are farther away from Washington, D.C. Loudoun County Public Schools, directly west of Fairfax County, is a common destination. In the 2006-2007 school year, FCPS was 55.1% White; 17.8% Asian; 16.2% Hispanic; 10.7% Black; and 0.3% Native American. [8]
 No contact rule controversy
Kilmer Middle School, a school in the FCPS system, has a strict rule/policy of “no physical contact”, meaning that contact such as high-fives or hugs between friends are not allowed. The FCPS Board and school system’s superintendent stand behind the rule and have refused to rescind the rule. The issue was brought to light after the father of student Hal Beaulieu contacted the Washington Post, sparking coverage in multiple major media outlets including Time, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and The Washington Post. [9]
 Schools

 Secondary schools

 High schools
Annandale High School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 9-12)
Centreville High School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 9-12)
Chantilly High School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 9-12)
Edison High School (Cluster: 5; Grades: 9-12)
Fairfax High School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 9-12)
Falls Church High School (Cluster: 2; Grades: 9-12)
Herndon High School (Cluster: 1; Grades: 9-12)
Langley High School (Cluster: 1; Grades: 9-12)
Lee High School (Cluster: 5; Grades: 9-12)
Madison High School (Cluster: 2; Grades: 9-12)
Marshall High School (Cluster: 2; Grades: 9-12)
McLean High School (Cluster: 1; Grades: 9-12)
Mount Vernon High School (Cluster: 4; Grades: 9-12)
Oakton High School (Cluster: 8; Grades: 9-12)
South Lakes High School (Cluster: 8; Grades: 9-12)
Stuart High School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 9-12)
Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHSST) (Cluster: 3; Grades: 9-12)
West Potomac High School (Cluster: 4; Grades: 9-12)
West Springfield High School (Cluster: 6; Grades: 9-12)
Westfield High School (Cluster: 8; Grades: 9-12)
W.T. Woodson High School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 9-12)

 Secondary schools
Hayfield Secondary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: 7-12)
Lake Braddock Secondary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: 7-12)
Robinson Secondary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: 7-12)
South County Secondary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: 7-12)

 Alternative high schools
Bryant Alternative High School (Cluster: 4)
Mountain View Alternative High School (Cluster: 7)
Pimmit Hills Alternative High School (Cluster: 2)

 Middle schools
Main article: List of middle schools in Fairfax County, Virginia
Carson Middle School (Cluster: 8; Grades: 7-8)
Cooper Middle School (Cluster: 1; Grades: 7-8)
Franklin Middle School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 7-8)
Robert Frost Middle School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 7-8)
Glasgow Middle School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 6-8)
Herndon Middle School (Cluster: 1; Grades: 7-8)
Holmes Middle School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 6-8)
Hughes Middle School (Cluster: 8; Grades: 7-8)
Washington Irving Middle School (Cluster: 6; Grades: 7-8)
Jackson Middle School (Cluster: 2; Grades: 7-8)
Francis Scott Key Middle School (Cluster: 5; Grades: 7-8)
Kilmer Middle School (Cluster: 2; Grades: 7-8)
Sidney Lanier Middle School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 7-8)
Liberty Middle School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 7-8)
Longfellow Middle School (Cluster: 1; Grades: 7-8)
Edgar Allan Poe Middle School (Cluster: 3; Grades: 6-8)
Rocky Run Middle School (Cluster: 7; Grades: 7-8)
Sandburg Middle School (Cluster: 4; Grades 7-8)
Stone Middle School (Cluster: 8; Grades: 7-8)
Henry David Thoreau Middle School (Cluster: 2; Grades: 7-8)
Twain Middle School (Cluster: 5; Grades: 7-8)
Walt Whitman Middle School (Cluster: 4; Grades: 7-8)

 Elementary schools
Aldrin Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6)
Annandale Terrace Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: FECEP, K-5)
Armstrong Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6)
Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences (Cluster: 3; Grades: FECEP, K-5)
Beech Tree Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-5)
Belle View Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Belvedere Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-5)
Bonnie Brae Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6)
Braddock Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-5)
Bren Mar Park Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-5)
Brookfield Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6)
Bucknell Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6)
Bull Run Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6)
Bush Hill Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6)
Camelot Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6)
Cameron Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Canterbury Woods Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: Preschool, K-6)
Cardinal Forest Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Centre Ridge Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6)
Centreville Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6)
Cherry Run Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: Preschool, K-6)
Chesterbrook Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6)
Churchill Road Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6)
Clearview Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6)
Clermont Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6)
Clifton Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6)
Columbia Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-5)
Colvin Run Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6)
Crestwood Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6)
Crossfield Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6
Cub Run Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6)
Cunningham Park Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6)
Daniels Run Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6)
Deer Park Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: Preschool, K-6)
Dogwood Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Dranesville Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Eagle View Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: Preschool, K-6)
Fairfax Villa Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Fairhill Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Fairview Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Flint Hill Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Floris Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Forest Edge Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Forestdale Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Forestville Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Fort Belvoir Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: pre-6 )
Fort Hunt Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Fox Mill Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Franconia Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6 )
Franklin Sherman Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Freedom Hill Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6 )
Garfield Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6 )
Glen Forest Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-5 )
Graham Road Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Great Falls Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Greenbriar East Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6)
Greenbriar West Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6 )
Groveton Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: K-6 )
Gunston Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Halley Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Haycock Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Hayfield Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6 )
Herndon Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Hollin Meadows Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: K-6 )
Hunt Valley Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences (Cluster: 8; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Hutchison Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Hybla Valley Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: K-6 )
Island Creek Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Keene Mill Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Kent Gardens Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Kings Glen Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: 4-6)
Kings Park Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-3)
Lake Anne Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Lane Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6 )
Laurel Ridge Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Lees Corner Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6 )
Lemon Road Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Little Run Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
London Towne Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6)
Lorton Station Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6 )
Louise Archer Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Lynbrook Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Mantua Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Marshall Road Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
McNair Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6)
Mosby Woods Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Mount Eagle Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Navy Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Newington Forest Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: K-6 )
North Springfield Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-5 )
Oak Hill Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6 )
Oak View Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Oakton Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Olde Creek Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-6 )
Orange Hunt Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Parklawn Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-5)
Pine Spring Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6 )
Poplar Tree Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Powell Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6 )
Providence Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Ravensworth Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-6 )
Riverside Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Rolling Valley Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Rose Hill Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Sangster Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Saratoga Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Shrevewood Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Silverbrook Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Sleepy Hollow Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-5 )
Spring Hill Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: K-6 )
Springfield Estates Elementary School (Cluster: 5; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Stenwood Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Stratford Landing Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6 )
Sunrise Valley Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Terra Centre Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Terraset Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6)
Timber Lane Elementary School (Cluster: 1; Grades: Preschool, FECEP, K-6 )
Union Mill Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6 )
Vienna Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: Preschool, K-6 )
Virginia Run Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: K-6 )
Wakefield Forest Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: K-6 )
Waples Mill Elementary School (Cluster: 8; Grades: Preschool, K-6)
Washington Mill Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: K-6 )
Waynewood Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: K-6 )
West Springfield Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Westbriar Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Westgate Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: FECEP, K-6)
Westlawn Elementary School ( Cluster:2; Grades K-6)
Weyanoke Elementary School (Cluster: 3; Grades: FECEP, K-5 )
White Oaks Elementary School (Cluster: 6; Grades: K-6 )
Willow Springs Elementary School (Cluster: 7; Grades: K-6 )
Wolftrap Elementary School (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Communicative Arts (Cluster: 2; Grades: K-6 )
Woodlawn Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: FECEP, K-6 )
Woodley Hills Elementary School (Cluster: 4; Grades: K-6 )

 Special education centers
Burke Center (Cluster: 6)
Camelot Center (Cluster: 2)
Cedar Lane School (Cluster: 2)
Chantilly Center (Cluster: 7)
Davis Career Center (Cluster: 2)
Key Center (Cluster: 5)
Kilmer Center (Cluster: 2)
Laurel Ridge Center (Cluster: 6)
Mount Vernon Center (Cluster: 4)
Olde Creek Center (Cluster: 3)
Pulley Center (Cluster: 4)
Quander Road School (Cluster: 4)
Woodson Center (Cluster: 3)

 Interagency Alternative Schools
Adult Detention Center
Boys Probation House
Compass Day School
Computer Enhanced Instruction Program
Crossroads Residential School
Devonshire Center Alternative School
Elizabeth Blackwell School at East County Juvenile
Enterprise School
Falls Bridge School
Girls Probation House
GRANTS (GED Readiness and New Technology Skills)
Gunston Alternative School
Hickory Grove School
Hillwood School at East County Juvenile Court
Horizons Day School
Juvenile Detention Center
Less Secure Shelter Home
My Friends Place
Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute
Northern Virginia Sickle Cell Center
Northwest Center School
Sager School
Sojourn House
Sunrise House
Sunrise House II
Transition Support Resource Center
Vista Day School at South County Juvenile Court

 Transportation
FCPS operates a fleet of close to 1,600 school buses. The fleet make-up consists of buses that are from 1988 to 2007. FCPS operates the following bus models:

1989 Wayne Lifeguard Ford
1989 Blue Bird All American FE
1989 Blue Bird TC/2000 FE
1990 Blue Bird TC/2000 FE
1991 Blue Bird TC/2000 FE
1992 Blue Bird TC/2000 FE
1993 AmTran Genesis
1994 Blue Bird TC/2000 FE
1994 Thomas Vista
1994 Thomas Saf-T-Liner ER
1995 Thomas Vista
1995 Thomas Saf-T-Liner ER
1996 AmTran Genesis
1996 AmTran RE
1997 AmTran Genesis
1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
1998 AmTran Genesis
1998 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
1998 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
1999 AmTran Genesis
1999 AmTran RE
2000 AmTran FE
2000 AmTran RE
2000 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
2001 AmTran RE
2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
2002 IC RE
2002 IC FE
2003 IC RE
2003 IC FE
2004 IC RE
2004 IC FE
NO 2005 Model Buses Purchased
2006 IC RE
2006 IC FE
2007 IC RE
2007 IC FE
2008 IC RE
2008 IC FE
2008 IC CE
Coming for 2007-2008:

2009 Thomas (exact model not disclosed at this time)
2009 IC CE
2009 IC RE
The transportation department is divided into 4 sections. Regular ed is divided into Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3. The 4th section is Special Education. Area 1 serves the Southern part of the county, Area 2 the middle section, and Area 3 the Northern part. Special Education services the entire county.

There are three main garages that serve FCPS school buses. For service and repair, each bus is assigned to one of three garages; West Ox, Alban, or Newington.