Fairfax County School Board, Calendar & FCPS Office Help
People often search for the Fairfax County Board of Education, but the official local governing body in Virginia is the Fairfax County School Board. It sets general policy for Fairfax County Public Schools, while FCPS departments and individual schools handle most day-to-day services.
This guide connects the pieces families and residents usually need: the 2026–27 school calendar, School Board meetings, current members, Gatehouse office, agendas, public speaking, registration, transportation and official FCPS contact routes.
Fairfax County Board of Education search: what is the correct office?
For Fairfax County, Virginia, the correct name is the Fairfax County School Board. The Board governs Fairfax County Public Schools through policy and oversight. FCPS administration is headquartered at the Gatehouse Administration Center in Falls Church.
Official Board name
Fairfax County School Board.
Board structure
12 elected members: nine district seats and three at-large seats.
FCPS headquarters
8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042.
Main FCPS phone
Entity check: the Fairfax County School Board is not the Virginia Board of Education and it is not the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. School Board questions should start with FCPS; county-government questions may belong to Fairfax County government instead.
What the Fairfax County School Board actually does
Under Virginia law and Virginia Board of Education regulations, the Fairfax County School Board is responsible for operating the public schools of Fairfax County through general policy and governance. FCPS administration carries out the school division’s day-to-day work under those policies.
Board-level work
School policy, budget action, boundaries, major governance decisions, superintendent oversight and public Board business.
School-level work
Attendance, classroom questions, schedules, daily pickup issues, counseling, student records and school-specific events usually begin at the school.
FCPS departments
Transportation, registration, HR, special services, facilities, budget, boundaries and other divisionwide functions have dedicated offices.
Upcoming Fairfax County School Board meetings
The School Board normally holds two regular business meetings each month. Regular meetings are generally held at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Luther Jackson Middle School, while all-day work sessions are held at the Gatehouse Administration Center.
| Date | Meeting type | Time | Usual location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 6, 2026 | Work Session | 10:30 a.m. | Gatehouse Administration Center |
| Oct. 8, 2026 | Regular Meeting | 7:00 p.m. | Luther Jackson Middle School |
| Oct. 20, 2026 | Work Session | Check live posting | Gatehouse Administration Center |
| Oct. 22, 2026 | Regular Meeting | 7:00 p.m. | Luther Jackson Middle School |
| Nov. 10, 2026 | Work Session | Check live posting | Gatehouse Administration Center |
| Nov. 12, 2026 | Regular Meeting | 7:00 p.m. | Luther Jackson Middle School |
Before attending: meeting dates, start times and closed-session timing can change. Check the current FCPS School Board Meetings page and BoardDocs agenda before leaving home.
Regular business meetings
Luther Jackson Middle School
3020 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
All-day work sessions
Gatehouse Administration Center
8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
School Board Conference Room 1600
How to find a Fairfax County School Board agenda or minutes
FCPS uses BoardDocs for School Board agendas and minutes. A meeting agenda shows what is scheduled for consideration; it should not be treated as proof that a proposed item ultimately passed.
Open the official School Board meeting page
Start at FCPS instead of opening an old agenda that appears directly in search results.
Open BoardDocs
Use the current meeting entry to review the agenda and supporting meeting materials.
Check the meeting type
Regular meetings, work sessions, public hearings, special meetings and Board forums serve different purposes.
Use minutes for formal action history
Minutes provide the formal meeting record after approval. FCPS also publishes recordings when you need discussion context.
Watching remotely: regular meetings and work sessions can be viewed through FCPS Cable TV Channel 99, Verizon Channel 11, the FCPS website and FCPS YouTube resources.
Fairfax County School Board members
The Board has 12 elected members. Nine represent Fairfax County magisterial districts and three are elected at large. The current elected term began January 1, 2024 and ends December 31, 2027.
Student voice: Newt Shosteck of Hayfield Secondary School serves as the 2026–27 student representative. The student representative participates in discussions but is not one of the 12 elected voting members.
District representation depends on the voter’s magisterial district. Use the official member page and Fairfax County’s district lookup for current representation.
Fairfax County Public Schools calendar highlights
FCPS publishes several years of school calendars in advance. For the current 2026–27 school year, students started on August 24, 2026. The scheduled final student day is June 16, 2027, with an early-release schedule.
| Date | 2026–27 calendar item | Family note |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 24, 2026 | First day of school | Start of the 2026–27 student year. |
| Sept. 4 & 7 | Labor Day break | FCPS holidays. |
| Sept. 21 | Yom Kippur holiday | Schools and offices closed. |
| Oct. 12 | Student holiday | School Planning Day for staff; Indigenous Peoples’ Day. |
| Oct. 30 | End of first quarter | Two-hour early release. |
| Nov. 2 | Student holiday | School Planning Day for staff. |
| Nov. 3 | Student holiday | Teacher Workday; Election Day. |
| Nov. 25–27 | Thanksgiving break | FCPS holidays. |
| Dec. 21–Jan. 3 | Winter Break | Holiday break spans the calendar year. |
| Jan. 28, 2027 | End of second quarter | Two-hour early release. |
| Jan. 29 | Student holiday | Teacher Workday. |
| Feb. 1 | Student holiday | Staff Development Day. |
| Feb. 15 | Holiday | Washington’s Birthday / Presidents’ Day. |
| Mar. 9 | Eid al-Fitr holiday | Check live FCPS calendar for any adopted calendar adjustment. |
| Mar. 22–26 | Spring Break | Full school-week break. |
| Apr. 16 | End of third quarter | Two-hour early release. |
| Apr. 19–20 | Student holidays | Teacher Workday / Staff Development. |
| May 31 | Memorial Day | Holiday. |
| June 16 | Last day of school | Two-hour day for middle/high schools and two-hour early release for elementary schools. |
Calendar changes: FCPS states that published school-year dates are subject to change. Use the live calendar before booking travel, childcare or appointments around a student holiday.
How to speak at a Fairfax County School Board meeting
FCPS allows eligible community members to register for community participation at regular School Board meetings. Registration is not simply a walk-up process for the regular meeting speaker list.
Check that the meeting accepts regular community participation
Regular meetings and public hearings have participation procedures. Work sessions use a different format.
Register when the window opens
Online registration starts at 8:00 a.m. on the fourth business day before a regular business meeting.
Choose your testimony format
Registrants can select in-person testimony, live virtual testimony or prerecorded video testimony where permitted.
Submit before the deadline
Registration for regular meetings closes 48 hours before the meeting.
Plan for a two-minute statement
The current community-participation rules limit each speaker to two minutes.
Regular-meeting slots
FCPS currently provides 16 total speaker slots: 10 general in-person/virtual slots, three live slots reserved for current FCPS students and three video-testimony slots.
Register by phone
School Board office: 571-423-1075
Phone registration hours are listed as 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Lottery and waitlist: when more people register than available live-speaking spaces, FCPS uses a random/lottery process and also selects a waitlist.
Student privacy: public comment becomes part of a public meeting environment. Avoid sharing private grades, discipline details, medical information, disability records, addresses or other confidential student information.
How to register a student in Fairfax County Public Schools
FCPS allows families to begin registration online, but the correct final registration route can depend on the student’s grade, language background, previous school and special circumstances. English-only students generally register at the local school, while some students coming from international schools use a Student Registration Welcome Center.
Find the assigned school
Use the FCPS Boundary Locator before assuming that the nearest school is the assigned school.
Start online or complete the forms
FCPS offers optional online registration for students entering kindergarten through grade 12 and also provides registration form bundles.
Gather identity and residency documents
Prepare proof of Fairfax County residency, the student’s original birth certificate or permitted substitute documentation and the registering parent’s government-issued photo ID.
Prepare health and school records
FCPS requires immunization documentation. Health and prior educational records may also apply depending on the student’s age and registration situation.
Make the registration appointment
The student and at least one parent must be present for the appointment at the local school or the appropriate Registration Welcome Center.
Current Student Registration Welcome Centers
Pimmit Hills Center
7510 Lisle Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22043
703-204-6740
Herndon Center
455 Springpark Place, Suite 200
Herndon, VA 20170
703-227-2210
South County Center
Virginia Hills Center
6520 Diana Lane
Alexandria, VA 22310
703-742-4900
Old Dunn Loring information: Student Registration services formerly offered at Dunn Loring were moved. Pimmit Hills Center opened for these services on June 1, 2026, so avoid older registration guides that still send families to Dunn Loring.
Housing instability: families experiencing homelessness or temporary housing due to hardship can contact the FCPS Homeless Liaison Office at 571-423-4332. A neighborhood school can also help with enrollment assistance.
Fairfax County school bus eligibility, delays and 2026–27 bus IDs
FCPS generally provides bus transportation to students who attend their designated school and live beyond the approved walking distance: more than one mile for elementary students and more than 1.5 miles for middle and high school students. Other transportation requirements can apply for eligible students with disabilities.
Elementary
Students may be expected to walk up to one mile to school or to an approved bus stop.
Middle & high school
The standard walking-distance threshold is up to 1.5 miles.
Transportation office
703-446-2000 for Office of Transportation Services questions.
Bus routes are not publicly posted: FCPS says school bus routes and stops are withheld from the public website for safety. Families should obtain student-specific bus information through the school and approved family systems.
Kindergarten pickup: kindergarten students riding an afternoon bus may be returned to school unless an approved parent, guardian, caregiver or qualifying sibling meets the child at the bus door. Preschool rules require an authorized responsible adult age 18 or older.
New for 2026–27: FCPS introduced student ID cards for bus riders. Students use the card when boarding and exiting, and the new navigation system is intended to help families and Transportation Services confirm bus use more reliably.
Fairfax County Public Schools office address
The Gatehouse Administration Center is the main FCPS administrative center. It is also used for School Board work sessions, but regular School Board business meetings usually occur at Luther Jackson Middle School instead.
Do not drive to Gatehouse automatically for a regular Board meeting. Regular business meetings are generally held at Luther Jackson Middle School. Work sessions and many administrative appointments use Gatehouse or another FCPS facility.
Interpretation, ASL and multilingual family help
FCPS says people who need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for a School Board meeting should contact the Board clerk. Translation services can also be requested when registering to provide testimony in a language other than English.
Meeting interpretation
Request language interpretation or ASL support through the School Board meeting process before attending.
Registration language help
FCPS registration guidance and family-facing resources are available in multiple languages through registration centers and family information lines.
Common Fairfax County School Board search problems
“I can’t find the Board of Education page.”
Search for Fairfax County School Board. That is the official local name used by FCPS.
“I went to the wrong meeting location.”
Check whether the event is a regular meeting at Luther Jackson or a work session at Gatehouse.
“The first agenda I found is old.”
Go back through the FCPS School Board Meetings page and open the current BoardDocs meeting entry.
“I missed the speaker deadline.”
Regular-meeting registration closes 48 hours before the meeting. Check the next regular meeting and reopen the participation page when its window begins.
“My registration guide still says Dunn Loring.”
That information is outdated for central registration services. Pimmit Hills Center became the replacement location in June 2026.
“I can’t find my bus stop online.”
FCPS intentionally does not publish school bus routes and stops publicly. Use the student’s school or approved FCPS family transportation tools.
Fairfax County Public Schools links to use first
Fairfax County Board of Education FAQs
Is it called the Fairfax County Board of Education?
The official Virginia local governing body is the Fairfax County School Board. “Fairfax County Board of Education” is a common search phrase, but FCPS uses “School Board.”
What is the Fairfax County Public Schools main phone number?
FCPS lists 571-423-3000 for general information.
Where is the FCPS main office?
The Gatehouse Administration Center is at 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042.
Where are regular Fairfax County School Board meetings held?
Regular business meetings are generally held at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Where are School Board work sessions held?
All-day work sessions are held in School Board Conference Room 1600 at the Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road.
When is the next Fairfax County School Board meeting after October 2, 2026?
The next listed Board activity is an October 6 work session. The next listed regular School Board meeting is October 8, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Verify the live meeting calendar before attending.
How many people serve on the Fairfax County School Board?
There are 12 elected Board members: nine magisterial-district representatives and three members elected at large.
Who is the Fairfax County School Board Chair in 2026–27?
Robyn Lady, the Dranesville District representative, was elected Chair for the 2026–27 school year. Kyle McDaniel, an at-large member, was elected Vice Chair.
When did Fairfax County schools start in 2026–27?
The first student day was Monday, August 24, 2026.
When is the last day of Fairfax County school in 2027?
The current FCPS calendar lists June 16, 2027 as the last student day, with an early-release schedule.
How do I speak at a Fairfax County School Board meeting?
Use the FCPS Community Participation registration page or call the School Board office at 571-423-1075. Registration for regular meetings currently closes 48 hours before the meeting.
How long can public speakers talk at a regular School Board meeting?
The current FCPS community-participation rules limit each speaker to two minutes.
What documents do I need to register a student in FCPS?
FCPS requires proof of Fairfax County residency, proof of the student’s age such as an original birth certificate, parent or guardian government-issued photo ID and applicable health, immunization and previous-school documents.
Is the Dunn Loring Center still the central registration location?
No. Family-facing services including Student Registration moved from Dunn Loring to Pimmit Hills Center beginning June 1, 2026.
How far can FCPS students be required to walk?
FCPS says students may be required to walk up to one mile for elementary school and up to 1.5 miles for middle and high school, subject to transportation and safety rules.
Use Fairfax County Public Schools for the final check
BoardofEducations.org is an independent information website. It is not Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County School Board, Fairfax County government or the Virginia Board of Education.
For a meeting date, Board agenda, school calendar revision, student registration decision, transportation assignment, policy or official Board action, use the live FCPS source before acting. Official FCPS information takes priority if a district detail changes after this guide is updated.