FCPS by the Numbers
FCPS is the ninth largest school division in the U.S. with 199 schools and centers. We serve a diverse population of nearly 183,000 prekindergarten through grade 12 students, speaking more than 200 languages. Over 35% of our total student population is economically disadvantaged (eligible for free or reduced-price meals); 16.3% receive special education services, 21% are multilingual learners, and more than 7% are military-connected.
During the 2023-24 school year, approximately 36% of FCPS students identified themselves as white; 29% Hispanic; 19% Asian; 10% Black, 6% multiple races, .3% Native American or Alaskan Native, and .1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
For the class of 2024, 94.6% of FCPS students graduated on time (in four years of high school), and more than 89% planned to pursue post-secondary education. FCPS offers over 100 Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment (DE), and International Baccalaureate (IB) approved courses. Students at every high school have opportunities to access college-level coursework and 75% of high school students completed at least one college equivalent course.
Two hundred sixty-four students from 15 high schools have been named semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2024.
Fairfax County high schools are recognized annually by education columnist Jay Mathews as being among the most challenging high schools in the U.S.
FCPS — one of the largest employers in Virginia — has 40,040 employees (including part-time and hourly). The operational budget funds 25,743.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, of whom 92.5% are school-based and 7.5% are non-school-based. Our Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Approved Budget of $3.7 billion is primarily funded by Fairfax County. More than 85% of the budget goes toward instruction, and the average cost per student is $19,795.
The FCPS bus fleet is one of the largest bus fleets in the U.S., transporting nearly 130,000 students on more than 1,600 buses each day. The fleet includes 28 electric buses.
FCPS has more than 28 million square feet of school buildings and office space, including 187 Energy Star-certified buildings (more than any other school system in the country).
FCPS is located in Fairfax County, Virginia, the most populous jurisdiction in Virginia and the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, with more than 1 million residents.
Over 63% of Fairfax County’s population has a bachelor’s degree.
