From left, Town of Herndon young residents, Muaazm, 5, Emaan, 9, Usman, 6, and Taha, 5, pose for a photo as they await the Fairfax County School bus to take them to Aldrin Elementary School in Reston.
Fairfax County Public Schools started the 2025–2026 school year on Monday, Aug. 18. It is the largest school division in Virginia and one of the largest in the U.S., consistently ranking 10th or 11th in size in the nation.
Approximately 1,625 buses ran on Aug/ 18 to transport students to and from school. The FCPS transportation department utilizes its large fleet to serve a significant portion of the student population, which can present logistical challenges. To help overcome this, among other things, FCPS instituted a staggered bell schedule to optimize bus routes and reduce the number of buses required.
For instance, the start and end times at elementary schools in Fairfax County vary. The earliest bell schedule is 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and the latest is 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. However, that means an elementary school bus route may not finish until after 4:30 p.m., or even later, nearing December’s earliest sunsets at 4:47 p.m.
Quick Facts and New Policies
* An unconfirmed increase in enrollment: The county planned for a slight rise in enrollment for the SY 2025-26 academic year, expecting it to rise to 181,662 students from 180,384 students in the 2024-2025 school year, according to the County CIP Student Membership and Projections for SY 2024-25 to SY 2029-30. However, enrollment can change due to various factors, and the final number will remain uncertain until the official count is conducted. FCPS typically conducts its official enrollment count on Sept. 30 of each year. The Virginia Department of Education uses the official student enrollment number to determine state funding for the school year.
* Still hiring bus drivers: As of Aug. 17, FCPS was still actively hiring bus drivers, as indicated in the job listing at https://www.topschooljobs.org/job/2195554/bus-driver/. Many other districts across the country face a shortage of school bus drivers.
* Girls flag football program: The girls flag football program will run from September to November, starting in the fall of SY2025-26, planning for a team consisting of 25 members at each high school. The Saxon Scope, the student news source at Langley High School, reported that Geoffrey Noto, the student activities director, said Fairfax is going to get a grant from the Washington Commanders for all 25 high schools in Fairfax County to have one girls team for each school.
* More speed cameras: Fairfax County rolled out 10 new cameras in two batches, ahead of the SY 2025-26 school year. Learn more at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/speed-cameras?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social.
* Students need healthy meals to learn. The cost of breakfast is $1.75, and lunch costs $3.25 for elementary students and $3.50 for middle, high, and secondary school students. Students from families who earn less than 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals, and those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the poverty level qualify for reduced-price meals. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. The law allows the school division to share information about eligibility for free or reduced-price meals with Medicaid and FAMIS.
* Goodbye cell phones: Elementary and middle school students with phones will be required to put them away for the entire school day. “Starting in school year 2025-26, high school students can no longer use their cell phones and other personal devices (AirPods, smart watches, etc.) during passing period,” according to FCPS. High schoolers must store their cell phones away except during lunch, when they can use them.
* Weapon detectors, without the use of harmful radiation: Students can expect the installation of OPENGATE devices at all Fairfax County Public Schools’ high schools and middle schools, a spokesperson for FCPS said. There is a release about it on the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/news/weapon-detection-system-expanding-fcps-middle-schools. The weapons detection system is more sensitive than a metal detector, providing faster screening of individuals with backpacks, purses, and bags, among other items, to detect a wide variety of metal threats, such as guns and knives, while minimizing false alarms like keys. Students will walk between two free-standing pillars. Funding for the pilot program came from one-time year-end funds and a settlement from a class-action lawsuit against a vaping company. The FY 2024 Budget approved the funding for the project.
Parents wave goodbye to their children as the bus pulls away from the curb.
Town of Herndon Chief of Police, Steven T. Pihonak, introduces the department’s “very well behaved” service dog to students at Herndon Elementary School on the first day of classes.
Crowds of children pack the entrance to Herndon Elementary School on the first day of the Fairfax County Public Schools School Year 2025-26.