Military-Friendly Purple Star Schools Named In Route 1 Corridor

BELLE HAVEN, VA — Schools in the Richmond Highway corridor 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 have been named Purple Star Schools. In the Route 1 corridor, that includes West Potomac High School and Woodlawn Elementary School being recognized for the first time. Schools being recognized for a second time include Fort Hunt Elementary School, Mount Vernon High School, Sandburg Middle School, Stratford Landing Elementary School, Washington Mill Elementary School, Whitman Middle School and Woodley Hills 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."

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

Fairfax County Public Schools has 53 Purple Star Schools, or over a quarter of its 198 schools. Fairfax County's Richmond Highway corridor is home to some of these schools, given its proximity to Fort Belvoir. Other Purple Star Schools recognized in the Richmond Highway corridor in the past are Waynewood Elementary School and Riverside Elementary School.