Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid announced on April 27 that the district has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The award, now in its 27th year, honors school districts that demonstrate exceptional commitment to providing music education to all students. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has received this recognition 13 times and is among 1,008 districts acknowledged in 2026 out of approximately 13,000 nationwide.
Music Specialist Katrina Chaney said, “From our elementary beginners engaging in music creation for the first time to our ensembles performing on world-class stages, this award belongs to the dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and talented students who make FCPS a national leader in music education. Together, we are ensuring that every child can find their voice with equitable access to a high-quality, well-rounded music education.”
Reid also highlighted several recent student accomplishments. Nine FCPS students have received corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as part of a group of more than 700 finalists selected nationwide. Additionally, at the Virginia Science and Engineering Fair held in Charlottesville, two FCPS projects won Grand Prizes: Daniil Prokofev was recognized for research on overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer and Harshpreet Singh for work on magnetic field modeling using neural operators. Both projects qualified for participation in an international competition scheduled for May.
The superintendent further noted Kristen Salonga from Justice High School has been selected as a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Salonga will travel to Senegal this spring as part of her fellowship.
Reid recounted recent community engagement efforts including meetings at Westgate Elementary School and Crestwood Elementary School where topics ranged from screen time reduction to equity discussions about Lewis High School feeder schools. She also celebrated staff recognitions such as Lisa Choi being honored as Winter FCPS CARES recipient at Fairfax Villa Elementary School.
In closing remarks reflecting on spring activities across schools—ranging from science competitions and theater productions to environmental initiatives—Reid thanked emergency responders after a fire incident at Bren Mar Park Elementary’s new addition allowed classes to resume promptly due to coordinated efforts.
