Military-Friendly Purple Star Schools Named In Kingstowne Area

KINGSTOWNE, VA — Schools in the Kingstowne and Springfield areas have been named Purple Star Schools for meeting the needs of military families.

The Purple Star School designations are made by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Schools qualify by having a designated staff member as a contact for military students and families and providing resources and programming on issues important to military families like transitions between schools.

In all, 40 schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools system were named Purple Star Schools in 2022. In the Kingstowne and Springfield areas, schools were recognized for being included for both the first and second time:

First Time Purple Star Schools in Kingstowne/Springfield area:

• Edison High School
• West Springfield High School
• Twain Middle School
• Irving Middle School
• Springfield Estates Elementary School

Second Time Purple Star Schools in Kingstowne/Springfield area:

• Franconia Elementary School
• Hayfield Elementary
• Hayfield Secondary
• Key Center School
• Lane Elementary School
• North Springfield Elementary School
• Saratoga Elementary School

"This is an honor for FCPS, our first-time Purple Star schools and those who continue to be recognized year over year," said FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid in a statement. "I commend our school and division staff for everything they continue to do to support the complex needs of our military-related students and families."

Schools have different ways of supporting their military students and families. Springfield Estates Elementary School established a twofold approach to supporting military children with their Military Kid Club and Student Ambassador Program, according to FCPS.

Student ambassadors welcome all new students, including military-connected students, and collaborate with them during their first two weeks of school. The Military Kid Club supports military-connected students throughout the school year, building comradery, understanding and fellowship.

At Edison High School, its Student Ambassador Program is run by an advisory panel that is composed of school counselors, the librarian, classroom teachers and their JROTC lead. Panel members are all connected to the military in some way. The advisory panel allows staff to collaborate with multiple departments to address the needs of military-connected students and their families.

This is the fifth year Purple Star Schools have been designated in Virginia. Schools keep the designation for three years and can reapply afterward.

Over the past five years, Fairfax County Public Schools has had 53 Purple Star Schools, or over a quarter of its 198 schools.