40 Fairfax County Schools Recognized for Supporting Military-Connected Families

Forty Fairfax County public schools have been recognized by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children as 2022 Purple Star Schools. The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. 

"This is an honor for FCPS, our first-time Purple Star schools and those who continue to be recognized year over year,” says Fairfax Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. “I commend our school and division staff for everything they continue to do to support the complex needs of our military-related students and families. We are committed to making sure each student feels a sense of belonging as they pursue their educational journey."

Fairfax County public schools recognized as 2022 Purple Star schools that are being recognized for the first time include: 

• Cardinal Forest Elementary School
• Cub Run Elementary School
• Edison High School
• Frost Middle School
• Irving Middle School
• Kent Gardens Elementary School
• Kings Glen Elementary School
• Robinson Secondary School
• Silverbrook Elementary School
• Springfield Estates Elementary School
• Stenwood Elementary School
• Terra Centre Elementary School
• Twain Middle School
• West Potomac High School
• West Springfield High School
• Woodlawn Elementary School

Schools that are being recognized as Purple Star schools for the second time in 2022 include: 

• Fairhill Elementary
• Fort Hunt Elementary School
• Franconia Elementary School
• Gunston Elementary School
• Hayfield Elementary
• Hayfield Secondary
• Key Center School
• Lane Elementary School
• Laurel Ridge Elementary School
• Longfellow Middle School
• Mosaic Elementary School
• Mount Vernon High School
• North Springfield Elementary School
• Orange Hunt Elementary School
• Powell Elementary School
• Rocky Run Middle School
• Sandburg Middle School
• Saratoga Elementary School
• Stratford Landing Elementary School
• Sunrise Valley Elementary School 
• Washington Mill Elementary School
• Whitman Middle School
• Woodley Hills Elementary School
• Woodson High School

This is the fifth year VDOE and the Virginia Council have designated Purple Star schools. The Purple Star schools retain the designation for three years before being required to reapply. 

To qualify for a Purple Star, schools must have a staff member designated as the point of contact for military students and families who serves as the primary link between the military family and the school. Schools must also demonstrate their commitment to meeting the needs of military students by providing resources and programming on issues important to military families, such as academic planning and transitions between schools, districts, and states.

Schools have unique ways of supporting their military students and families. Springfield Estates Elementary School established a twofold approach to supporting military children with their Military Kid Club and Student Ambassador Program. Student Ambassadors welcome all new students (including military-connected students) and collaborate with them during their first two weeks of school. The Military Kid Club supports military-connected students throughout the school year; building comradery, understanding and fellowship. 

Rocky Run Middle School hosts Veterans Day and Memorial Day breakfasts for their military-connected families, as well as Month of the Military Child events. Their leadership class plans spirit weeks so the entire school community can participate and celebrate their military connected families. 

Thomas Edison High School’s Student Ambassador Program is run by an advisory panel that is composed of school counselors, the librarian, classroom teachers, and their JROTC lead. Panel members are all connected to the military in some way. The advisory panel allows staff to collaborate with multiple departments to address the needs of military-connected students and families. 

53 schools—more than a quarter of all the schools in FCPS—are currently designated as Purple Star schools. Last year, 11 schools were named, two were named in 2020, 18 were recognized in 2019, and 14 were recognized in 2018, the first year of the program. 

Purple Star Schools that earned their designation in 2021 and 2020 include: 

• Cameron Elementary School
• Clermont Elementary School
• Fairview Elementary School
• Flint Hill Elementary School
• Fort Belvoir Primary
• Fort Belvoir Upper Elementary
• Hunt Valley Elementary School
• Island Creek Elementary School
• Keene Mill Elementary School
• Ravensworth Elementary School
• Sangster Elementary School
• Waynewood Elementary School
• West Springfield Elementary School