News From Around the Braddock District

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Hello Braddock Families,

It is homecoming, fall sports and marching band season, along with fall plays and festivals! I am looking forward to seeing you out and about in the community at one of these many fun events in this beautiful fall weather.

At our recent School Board work session, we explored three key focus areas reporting on the current status of the Strategic Plan and shaping the future of Fairfax County Public Schools:

Goal 1 Report: We’re seeing strong progress in early learning. About 69% of kindergarteners are meeting grade-level expectations by spring, and 82% entered kindergarten with some Pre-K experience—showing how early education sets the foundation for long-term success. Research confirms that students who attend Pre-K are more likely to meet literacy goals in later grades.
AI in FCPS: The Board reviewed the new AI Briefing, which highlights how FCPS is preparing students and staff for the next generation of learning and work. Initiatives include AI literacy training for teachers, pilot programs in “Lighthouse Schools,” and curriculum exploration focused on ethical, responsible use of AI. Building these skills early will be essential to developing a future-ready workforce—one equipped for careers in technology, data, and innovation that don’t even exist yet.
Western High School Planning: We also discussed plans for a new high school in western Fairfax, with concepts that could include magnet or blended programs centered on emerging fields like AI, robotics, and STEAM pathways to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

Together, these discussions reflect FCPS’s commitment to giving every student a strong start, innovative learning opportunities, and the skills to thrive in a changing world.

Read the full Goal 1 Report

View the AI Briefing

Learn about the Western High School Study

I hope your student is having a wonderful school year so far! There are lots of exciting things going on here in FCPS.

As always, if you or your student need any assistance or want to share your thoughts, my office and I are here to help you. Please feel free to reach out.

All my best,

School Board Recap & Preview

Tuesday, October 7 Work Session Recap

Yesterday, the School Board met for an all day work session. It was a packed agenda focusing on data for our youngest learners and preparing our students. We discussed Strategic Plan Goal 1 Report - Strong Start: Pre-K - 12, Artificial Intelligence, and the New Western High School. For our Goal 1 Report, we discussed pre-K programming availability and impact on readiness, multilingual learner progress, and legislative considerations among other topics. The AI discussion involved how we can best prepare students for a future filled with AI, as well as readiness for AI jobs. Finally, the Western High School discussion covered the programming, boundary, and what kind of school it would be - with an AAP center or with CTE courses.

Thursday, October 9 Meeting Preview

On Thursday, October 9 we will hold our regularly scheduled School Board Meeting. We will have proclamations on Indigenous People's Day & Native American Heritage Month as well as LGBTQIA+ History Month. We will hear from Dr. Reid about Financial Planning, and discuss roof replacements at Woodson High School and Hayfield Secondary School. We will also hear updates on K-12 Start Times, ADA Playground Installation at Union Mill Elementary School, and updates from the Superintendent.

Out and About in Braddock

Canterbury Woods Elementary School PTA Meeting

On Wednesday, September 24 I was happy to join Principal Malkowski and the Canterbury Woods Elementary School PTA to discuss the budget and school start times. Having active partners in the community like them helps me better understand their concerns and represent them. Thank you all for the great discussion!

Community Boundary Review Meetings

My team was happy to attend two Community Boundary Review Meetings at Lake Braddock Secondary School and Edison High School where they took notes and heard feedback from the community on the boundary process. There are still many opportunities to share your opinion on the boundary process. Some meeting times have changed, so please check the website frequently for the most up to date information. Currently the next scheduled meetings for the Braddock community will be:

Monday, October 13, 6:30-8 p.m., at Robinson Secondary School, Cafeteria
- For Centreville High School and Robinson Secondary School Pyramids
Tuesday, October 21, 6:30-8 p.m., at Annandale High School, Cafeteria
- For Justice and Annandale High School Pyramids
Friday, October 24, 6:30–8 p.m., at Lewis High School, Cafeteria
- For Edison and Lewis High School Pyramids
Monday, October 27, 6:30-8 p.m., at Irving Middle School, Cafeteria
- For Lake Braddock Secondary School and West Springfield High School Pyramids
Tuesday, October 28, 6:30-8 p.m., at Fairfax High School, Library
- For Woodson and Fairfax High School Pyramids

Reading is Fundamental at Braddock Elementary School

Reading is Fundamental event at Lake Braddock ES

On Tuesday, September 30 my Braddock District team was happy to join Reading is Fundamental, Mrs. Virginia Ingrid Bynum, staff from Braddock Elementary School, Squeekers the Eagle, and Clifford the Big Red Dog to give out free books to hundreds of eager readers! Reading is Fundamental has been helping to provide free books to kids for over 50 years, and at Braddock ES, the program just started last summer thanks to a girl scout's silver medal project. For more information about the event, you can read more on their website.

Bonnie Brae Capital Improvement Program

Bonnie Brae Elementary School meeting on Capital Improvement Program

On Tuesday, October 7 I was pleased to join our Bonnie Brae Elementary School community to discuss the CIP renovations there. Construction began in the Spring and is expected to finish next Summer, and will add 40,000 square feet of learning space for our students, almost a 50% increase! It will also include two new art classrooms, a kiln, music classroom and storage; an expanded gym, new kitchen and a renovated cafeteria; added teacher work rooms, restrooms and office space; LED lighting, two new boilers, upgraded energy efficient utilities.

Braddock Bravos

FCPS SAT Scores

Great news! FCPS continues to outperform state and global average total SAT scores. Our Class of 2025’s SAT average was 1183, compared to Virginia’s 1112 and the global average of 1029! Additionally, Fairfax County performance for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing subtest (596) and Mathematics subtest (587) is higher than these subtest averages across Virginia and worldwide. Fairfax County also continues to show stronger participation rates compared to Virginia as a whole, with a 65.7% participation rate among Fairfax seniors compared to just 51.3% of seniors across the Commonwealth.

The Fairfax County total score average for the class of 2025 showed a 5-point increase over 2024 results. Likewise, the class of 2025 performance for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing subtest showed a 2-point increase, and performance on the Mathematics subtest showed a 3-point increase compared with 2024. You can get more information about our Class of 2025 SAT scores on our website. This achievement shows the impact of our work and reinforces the excellence of a FCPS education – still one of the best in the country! Go team FCPS!!