- Fairfax County Public Schools
-
Coordinates: 38°52′7.08″N 77°13′30.48″W / 38.8686333°N 77.2251333°W
Fairfax County Public Schools 
Address 8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22042Information School type Public, school division Founded 1870 School board Jane K. Strauss, Chairman
Ilryong Moon, Vice Chairman
Elizabeth T. Bradsher
Brad Center
Stuart D. Gibson
Martina A. Hone
Sandra S. Evans
Judith (Tessie) Wilson
James L. Raney
Kathy L. Smith
Daniel G. Storck
Eugene J. Coleman III, student representativeSuperintendent Jack D. Dale Staff 22,779 [1] Grades Pre-K–12 Enrollment 177,629 [1] (2010-2011) Campus Suburban Area Fairfax County, Virginia Website http://www.fcps.edu/ 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 at 8115 Gatehouse Road in an unincorporated section of the county near the city of Falls Church; the headquarters has a Falls Church address but is not within the city limits.[2]
With over 175,000 students enrolled, FCPS is the largest public school system in the Baltimore-Washington and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Area. The superintendent of schools is Jack D. Dale. The school division is the 11th largest school system in the nation[1] and maintains the largest school bus fleet of any school system in the United States.
The most notable commitment the county makes to its school system is the allocation of 53.5% of its 2011 fiscal budget to the school system.[3] Including state and federal government contributions, along with citizen and corporate contributions, this brings the 2010 fiscal budget for the school system to $2.2 billion.[1] The school system has estimated that, based on the 2010 fiscal budget, the county will invest $12,820 in each student during the 2010-2011 school year.[1]
Contents
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. However, during the Jim Crow era, a racially-separate system was mandated by Virginia funding laws.[citation needed]
Fairfax County refused to let black students attend and bused them out of the county to Manassas.[4] 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.[5]
The county school system was previously headquartered at 10700 Page Avenue in an unincorporated area of the county completely surrounded by the City of Fairfax.[6][7]
No contact rule
Kilmer Middle School, a school in the FCPS system, had a strict rule/policy of "no physical contact", meaning that contact such as high fives or hugs between friends were not allowed. The FCPS school system stood behind the rule and refused to rescind the rule. The issue was brought to light after a 13-year-old student was reprimanded for putting his arm around his girlfriend during a break, and his parents wrote to the Fairfax County School Board.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
On January 22, 2009, the FCPS School Board directed Superintendent Dale to report back to it with a new version of the grading scale by March 2009.[14] The Board also approved changing the weighting for Honors to 0.5 effective with the 2009-2010 school year and for AP and IB courses to 1.0 retroactively.[14]Beginning September 2009, the grading system was changed to a 10 point grading system with plusses and minuses. In this new grading system students must have a 92 for an A, 90 for an A-, 88 for a B+, and so on. Students receive a 4.0 for A's, 3.7 for A-'s, 3.3 for B+'s, and so on. Students still must reach 64 to pass.[citation needed]
Controversy over disciplinary policies
Fairfax County Public Schools and Superintendent Dale have been criticized for the Fairfax County school system disciplinary process, which has been blamed for the recent suicides of two students: Josh Anderson, of South Lakes High School, took his life in March 2009; and Nick Stuban, a "model student" at W.T. Woodson High School, committed suicide on January 20, 2011.[15] On January 11, 2011, before the second suicide, Superintendent Dale had defended himself in a letter to the Fairfax County School Board and the Board of Supervisors. In that letter, Dale refused to admit that the disciplinary system needed to be reformed, and blamed the family of the first suicide victim for "unconscionable" actions and "furthering a falsehood" when they associated their son's suicide with the disciplinary process that had "crushed" his spirit.[16] To date, the Fairfax County Public Schools, the School Board, and Superintendent Dale have not made any public statements related to reforming the county's school discipline process.
Schools
FCPS High Schools' Rankings on Newsweek's
America's Top Public High Schools.[17][18]School Name 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Annandale 623 516 862 924 960 1004 1279 Centreville 177 149 99 112 106 131 141 Chantilly 72 94 162 133 126 136 224 Edison 425 692 657 694 751 798 804 Fairfax 92 196 211 157 258 133 182 Falls Church 128 289 395 1323 390 198 486 Hayfield N/A N/A 356 783 806 510 567 Herndon 115 174 139 161 145 166 153 Langley 31 50 81 72 55 102 118 Lee 787 1019 1215 1323 801 812 1218 Madison 787 1019 123 141 152 199 144 Marshall 184 187 201 211 254 159 203 McLean 152 128 86 76 99 115 102 Mount Vernon 305 729 636 1323 1398 1217 1516 Oakton 143 103 105 103 105 157 158 South County N/A N/A N/A N/A 143 176 308 South Lakes 407 383 608 842 515 570 221 Stuart 230 371 368 458 330 285 446 West Potomac 108 403 295 198 221 270 550 West Springfield 145 141 155 172 250 263 280 Westfield 48 126 142 179 148 192 353 Woodson 23 34 91 65 74 72 92 The Newsweek rankings do not include Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology because it is a selective school. Newsweek recognized it as one of America's "public elite" high schools, having few or no average students.[19][20]
High schools
- Annandale High School
- Centreville High School
- Chantilly High School
- Thomas A. Edison High School
- Fairfax High School
- Falls Church High School
- Herndon High School
- Langley High School
- Robert E. Lee High School
- James Madison High School
- George C. Marshall High School
- McLean High School
- Mount Vernon High School
- Oakton High School
- South Lakes High School
- J. E. B. Stuart High School
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
- West Potomac High School
- West Springfield High School
- Westfield High School
- Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School
Secondary schools
Alternative high schools
- Bryant Alternative High School
- Mountain View Alternative High School
- Pimmit Hills Alternative High School
- Woodson Adult High School
Middle schools
Main article: List of Fairfax County Public Schools middle schools- Rachel Carson Middle School
- James Fenimore Cooper Middle School
- Franklin Middle School
- Robert Frost Middle School
- Ellen Glasgow Middle School
- Herndon Middle School
- Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School
- Langston Hughes Middle School
- Washington Irving Middle School
- Luther Jackson Middle School
- Francis Scott Key Middle School
- Joyce Kilmer Middle School
- Sidney Lanier Middle School
- Liberty Middle School
- Longfellow Middle School
- Edgar Allan Poe Middle School
- Rocky Run Middle School
- Carl Sandburg Middle School
- Ormond Stone Middle School
- Henry David Thoreau Middle School
- Mark Twain Middle School
- Walt Whitman Middle School
Elementary schools
- Buzz Aldrin Elementary School
- Annandale Terrace Elementary School
- Louise Archer Elementary School
- Armstrong Elementary School
- Bailey's Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences
- Beech Tree Elementary School
- Belle View Elementary School
- Belvedere Elementary School
- Bonnie Brae Elementary School
- Braddock Elementary School
- Bren Mar Park Elementary School
- Brookfield Elementary School
- Bucknell Elementary School
- Bull Run Elementary School
- Bush Hill Elementary School
- Camelot Elementary School
- Cameron Elementary School
- Canterbury Woods Elementary School
- Cardinal Forest Elementary School
- Centre Ridge Elementary School
- Centreville Elementary School
- Cherry Run Elementary School
- Chesterbrook Elementary School
- Churchill Road Elementary School
- Clearview Elementary School
- Clermont Elementary School
- Clifton Elementary School
- Columbia Elementary School
- Colvin Run Elementary School
- Crestwood Elementary School
- A. Scott Crossfield Elementary School
- Cub Run Elementary School
- Cunningham Park Elementary School
- Daniels Run Elementary School
- Deer Park Elementary School
- Dogwood Elementary School
- Dranesville Elementary School
- Eagle View Elementary School
- Fairfax Villa Elementary School
- Fairhill Elementary School
- Fairview Elementary School
- Flint Hill Elementary School
- Floris Elementary School
- Forest Edge Elementary School
- Forestdale Elementary School
- Forestville Elementary School
- Fort Belvoir Elementary School
- Fort Hunt Elementary School
- Fox Mill Elementary School
- Franconia Elementary School
- Franklin Sherman Elementary School
- Freedom Hill Elementary School
- Garfield Elementary School
- Glen Forest Elementary School
- Graham Road Elementary School
- Great Falls Elementary School
- Greenbriar East Elementary School
- Greenbriar West Elementary School
- Groveton Elementary School
- Gunston Elementary School
- William Halley Elementary School
- Haycock Elementary School
- Hayfield Elementary School
- Herndon Elementary School
- Hollin Meadows Elementary School
- Hunt Valley Elementary School
- Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences
- Hutchison Elementary School
- Hybla Valley Elementary School
- Island Creek Elementary School
- Keene Mill Elementary School
- Kent Gardens Elementary School
- Kings Glen Elementary School
- Kings Park Elementary School
- Lake Anne Elementary School
- Anthony T. Lane Elementary School
- Laurel Ridge Elementary School
- Lees Corner Elementary School
- Lemon Road Elementary School
- Little Run Elementary School
- London Towne Elementary School
- Lorton Station Elementary School
- Lynbrook Elementary School
- Mantua Elementary School
- Marshall Road Elementary School
- McNair Elementary School
- Mosby Woods Elementary School
- Mount Eagle Elementary School
- Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School
- Navy Elementary School
- Newington Forest Elementary School
- North Springfield Elementary School
- Oak Hill Elementary School
- Oak View Elementary School
- Oakton Elementary School
- Olde Creek Elementary School
- Orange Hunt Elementary School
- Parklawn Elementary School
- Pine Spring Elementary School
- Poplar Tree Elementary School
- Colin L. Powell Elementary School
- Providence Elementary School
- Ravensworth Elementary School
- Riverside Elementary School
- Rolling Valley Elementary School
- Rose Hill Elementary School
- Sangster Elementary School
- Saratoga Elementary School
- Shrevewood Elementary School
- Silverbrook Elementary School
- Sleepy Hollow Elementary School
- Spring Hill Elementary School
- Springfield Estates Elementary School
- Stenwood Elementary School
- Stratford Landing Elementary School
- Sunrise Valley Elementary School
- Terra Centre Elementary School
- Terraset Elementary School
- Timber Lane Elementary School
- Union Mill Elementary School
- Vienna Elementary School
- Virginia Hills Elementary School
- Virginia Run Elementary School
- Wakefield Forest Elementary School
- Waples Mill Elementary School
- Washington Mill Elementary School
- Waynewood Elementary School
- West Springfield Elementary School
- Westbriar Elementary School
- Westgate Elementary School
- Westlawn Elementary School
- Weyanoke Elementary School
- White Oaks Elementary School
- Willow Springs Elementary School
- Wolftrap Elementary School
- Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Communicative Arts
- Woodlawn Elementary School
- Woodley Hills Elementary School
Special education centers
- Burke Center
- Camelot Center
- Cedar Lane School
- Davis Career Center
- Key Center
- Kilmer Center
- Mount Vernon Center
- Pulley Career Center
- Quander Road School
Interagency Alternative Schools
- Adult Detention Center
- Boys Probation House
- Care Connection for Children
- Compass Day School
- Computer Enhanced Instruction Program
- Crossroads Residential Program
- Devonshire Center
- Elizabeth Blackwell School
- Enterprise School
- Falls Bridge School
- Girls Probation House
- GRANTS (GED Readiness and New Technology Skills)
- Gunston School at South County Juvenile Court
- Hickory Grove School
- Hillwood School at East County Juvenile Court
- Horizons Day School
- Independent Study Program
- Juvenile Detention Center
- Less Secure Shelter Home
- Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute
- Northern Virginia Sickle Cell Center at Inova
- Northwest Center
- Sager School
- Sojourn House
- Sunrise House
- Transition Support Resource Center
- Vista Day School at South County Juvenile Court
Transportation
FCPS operates a fleet of close to 1,600 school buses.[1] The fleet make-up consists of buses that are from 1988 to 2008. FCPS operates the following bus models:
- 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 International 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
- 2006 IC RE
- 2006 IC FE
- 2007 IC RE
- 2007 IC FE
- 2008 IC RE
- 2008 IC FE
- 2008 IC CE
- 2009 IC CE
- 2009 IC RE
The transportation department is divided into 4 sections. Regular education 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.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "About FCPS". Fairfax County Public Schools. October 17, 2011. http://www.fcps.edu/about/index.shtml. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ Home page. Fairfax County Public Schools. Retrieved on April 3, 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Russell-Porte, Evelyn Darnell (2000). "A history of education for black students in fairfax county prior to 1954" (PDF). Doctoral dissertation. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11182000-07450026/unrestricted/Final.pdf. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
- ^ "Education Empire" (PDF). Albany: State university of new York Press. 2005. http://www.sunypress.edu/pdf/61145.pdf. Retrieved June 21, 2006.
- ^ Home page. Fairfax County Public Schools. February 24, 2001. Retrieved on April 3, 2009.
- ^ "Fairfax city, Virginia." United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on April 3, 2009.
- ^ "Where Students Can't Hug". Time. November 13, 2007. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1683668,00.html. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- ^ "CNN.com". CNN. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/21/pzn.01.html. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- ^ "Students Feel the Squeeze as Schools Ban Hugs". Fox News. November 8, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,309296,00.html.
- ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19293872/
- ^ The Washington Post
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/19/usa.schools,NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11181177
- ^ a b Sabo, Linda (January 23, 2009). "School Board Action 1-22-09". Fairfax County Public Schools School Board eGovernance System. http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/News/2147F625F9041EAE8525754700172769?OpenDocument. Retrieved January 24, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Suicide turns attention to Fairfax discipline procedures". The Washington Post. February 20, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/19/AR2011021904528.html. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "School Superintendent Jack D. Dale defended Fairfax County's discipline policies". The Washington Post. February 11, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021106160.html. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ Newsweek's America's Top Public High Schools for 2009
- ^ Mathews, Jay (May 18, 2008). "FAQ: Best High Schools". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/137415. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
As noted in the FAQ, the ranking is based on Jay Mathews' experience, does not account for how well students do on the test or thereafter. - ^ Pace, Gina (May 18, 2008). "Best High Schools: The Public Elites". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/137421. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
- ^ Matthews, Jay (June 9, 2009). "Top High Schools: The Public Elites". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/201138. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
External links
Fairfax County, Virginia Administration Fairfax County Public Schools · Fairfax County Board of Supervisors · Fairfax County Park Authority · Fairfax County Economic Development Authority · Fairfax County Public Library · Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department · Fairfax County Police Department · Fairfax County Sheriff's OfficeOrganizations Landmarks Fairfax County Government Center · Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts · Inova Fairfax Hospital · Mount Vernon · Gunston Hall · Tysons Corner Center · Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park · Great Falls Park · Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center · Washington and Old Dominion Railroad · Fort BelvoirTransportation Culture BattlesEventsEducation Fairfax County Public Schools High Schools Annandale • Centreville • Chantilly • Edison • Fairfax • Falls Church • Herndon • Jefferson • Langley • Lee • Madison • Marshall • McLean • Mount Vernon • Oakton • South Lakes • Stuart • West Potomac • West Springfield • Westfield • WoodsonSecondary Schools Alternative High Schools Bryant • Mountain View • Pimmit HillsCategories:- School divisions in Virginia
- Education in Fairfax County, Virginia
- Northern Virginia
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