Burke Area Schools Named Purple Star Schools In 2023

BURKE, VA — Eighteen schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools division have been named Purple Star Schools, a recognition for military-friendly schools, in 2023.

Three of these schools — Lake Braddock Secondary School, Bonnie Brae Elementary School and Kings Park Elementary School — are located in the Burke area.

The Purple Star Schools are selected by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Schools receiving the designation must demonstrate a commitment to helping students in military families. Fairfax County has a significant military family presence given its location near the nation's capital and military bases like Fort Belvoir.

"I’m proud of FCPS’ strong partnership with our nation’s military families to help support the almost 15,000 military-connected students enrolled in our schools," said Superintendent Michelle Reid. "With the help of our Student Ambassadors at schools, military-connected students transitioning to FCPS can feel — really feel — that they belong."

At Lake Braddock Secondary School, the Lake Braddock Military Ambassadors Club conducts a number of events during the school year. They hosted a Military Family Potluck before school started, an annual September Ice Cream Social, and Blue Star Welcome Week and October events. Military Ambassadors Club and Bruin Ambassadors both take an active approach to support and engage with military-connected students.

The Purple Star Schools designation has been awarded annually since 2018. Schools earning the Purple Star must have a staff member designated as a point of contact for military students and families, providing professional learning, resources and programming on issues important to military families and have an active peer-led transition team to welcome new students from military families. At FCPS, the peer-led transition teams are student ambassadors that support military students' transition to school.

Schools maintain the Purple Star designation for three years before they must reapply. There are 69 Fairfax County public schools with a current Purple Star School designation — about a third of the schools at FCPS.

Other Purple Star Schools in Fairfax County recognized in 2023 are:

• Belle View Elementary School
• Canterbury Woods Elementary School
• Centreville Elementary School
• Chesterbrook Elementary School
• Herndon Elementary School
• Katherine Johnson Middle School
• Lemon Road Elementary School
• Lynbrook Elementary School
• Rolling Valley Elementary School
• Rose Hill Elementary School
• South County Middle School
• South County High School
• Wakefield Forest Elementary School
• Westfield High School

These schools and the Burke area schools were recognized as Purple Star Schools for the first time. In addition, West Springfield Elementary School was recognized for the second time after being recognized in the 2020-2021 school year.