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Overview

Technology

FCPS is a recognized leader in the use of technology in its instructional and administrative programs. Teachers, students, staff members, and parents increasingly expect to have access to applications and technology resources anytime and anywhere. All teachers and staff members have access to the school system’s e-mail system (firstname.lastname@fcps.edu), which processes more than 20 million messages each month. All schools and administrative offices have secured wireless access, and wireless laptop labs continue to be implemented at many schools. FCPS has a 2:1 student-to-computer ratio with more than 98,000 workstations. Additionally, all classrooms and administrative sites are connected for Internet access with Internet content filtering to block inappropriate sites.

Many FCPS resources are available online with 24-7 access. Staff members can access their salary and benefits information online. FCPS 24-7 Learning provides teachers, students, and parents with access to homework and course enrichment resources via the web. Teachers and students use secure web tools in FCPS 24-7 Learning to work together on virtual teams and create and share journals supporting their research and discovery during the project process. Through FCPS 24-7 Learning, FCPS eCART (electronic curriculum assessment resource tool) provides teachers and school administrators access to FCPS-approved curriculum, assessments, tools, and resources that support K-12 teaching and learning. Through this portal, parents also have secure web-based access to update their students’ emergency information, and first responders in schools can then access the emergency care information on their hand-held devices. A web-enabled library catalog is available for students and parents, and an online system to track college applications and postsecondary plans can be accessed via FCPS 24-7 Learning by high school administrators, students, and parents. The Keep in Touch system provides citizens the ability to register and receive school closing announcements and other school-related information via e-mail.

Overview of the FY09 FCPS technology plan.

Student Achievement

  Individual students and groups annually earn honors and awards in all academic, extracurricular, and athletic areas in regional, state, and national competitions.

• The new four-year Virginia on-time graduation rate for Fairfax County was 91.2 percent for 2008 high school graduates.
• 92.6 percent of high school graduates continue on to some form of postsecondary education.
• The dropout rate for school year 2007-08 was 1.5 percent.
  • FCPS students in the class of 2008 had an average combined score of 1654. This far exceeds the average combined scores of 1522 in Virginia and 1511 in the nation.
  • In 2007-08, 63.1 percent of graduates earned advanced diplomas.
  • The number of FCPS students taking Advanced Placement exams rose from 10,313 in 2002 to 14,365 in 2008.
  • In the June 2009 edition of Newsweek magazine, all eligible FCPS high schools were listed in the top five percent of public schools in the nation, based on the annual challenge index—which measures a school’s effort to challenge all students.