Fairfax County Public Schools’ Proposed Capital Improvement Program’s Community-Wide Benefits Include New Schools, Renovations, and Sustainability Goals
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations as part of the school division’s proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Projects include the construction of two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.
The CIP enables FCPS to continue providing a world-class educational environment to students. It is updated annually to reflect changes in infrastructure needs and construction costs. “We are committed to maximizing our available resources and strategically preserving the investments of taxpayers to help secure the future of our schools — the heart of our community,” said Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid.
Unlike other neighboring states, school divisions in Virginia rely heavily on taxpayer-approved bond funding rather than state allocations. FCPS has the lowest capital construction funding as compared to nearby school districts. As a result, there is a growing backlog of deferred maintenance, which has the potential to lead to costly emergency repairs.
As the ninth largest school district in the nation, FCPS maintains the square footage of about four Pentagons worth of infrastructure in order to support more than 180,000 students.
FCPS’ buildings and grounds are also open for community use. Each year, approximately 500,000 non-FCPS-affiliated events take place within FCPS facilities including:
- 91 local nonprofit religious and cultural organization events per week.
- Fairfax County Park Authority camps, classes, and Rec-Pac at approximately 80 schools.
- Childcare facilities at 142 schools which serve as sites for Fairfax County’s School Age Child Care (SACC) program.
- Polling stations at 169 schools and centers each election.
FCPS offers its facilities at no cost to many organizations such as 4H, scouting groups, cultural and civic groups, and homeowners associations. “FCPS is proud that our facilities not only help provide a world-class education to our students, but also serve as the hub for so many groups across Fairfax County,” said Janice Szymanski, FCPS’ Chief of Facilities Services and Capital Programs.
The proposed CIP continues FCPS’ alignment with the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force’s (JET) goals. Planning and budgeting in the proposed CIP includes more Net-Zero Energy (NZE) building practices. NZE buildings use as little energy as possible and in some cases, may produce enough energy to meet or exceed operational requirements.
The proposed CIP also reflects funding received from the 2023 Bond Referendum and previous referenda approved by county voters. Construction costs continue to be monitored due to inflation and supply-chain issues, and adjustments to the current renovation schedule are incorporated into annual CIP updates. A new renovation queue is in the early stages of development and will be included in future CIPs once completed.
FCPS’ new facilities will reflect current research and best practices regarding safe and effective learning spaces for students, and demonstrate FCPS’ commitment to continue providing all students an excellent education.
Voters will have the opportunity to consider additional bond funding for school projects included in the CIP in November 2025, which supports the school division’s ability to continue working through construction and renovation needs.
The proposed CIP was presented to the Fairfax County School Board at the January 14 work session.
A public hearing was also held January 14, at Luther Jackson Middle School. The School Board will take action on the proposed CIP at its February 6 meeting.
