LCPS Head Start and STEP (Starting Toward Excellence in Preschool) are preschool programs serving at-risk preschoolers and their families at certain elementary and high schools throughout the county. The federally funded Head Start program provides high-quality preschool instruction with the addition of health and family services. Students must be 4 years-old by September 30^th (or 3 years-old at certain sites). The state-funded STEP program provides high-quality preschool instruction for 4 year-old students who may qualify for the program. Complete eligibility requirements are listed on the website www.lcps.org/headstart. For additional information, please contact the Head Start/STEP office at 571-252-2110.

Instructional Assistance

Extra attention is given to children who need special help in developing essential academic skills. Students who are not successful in the regular curriculum or who perform below certain levels on standardized tests receive remedial help in mathematics, language arts, and reading through classroom teachers and reading specialists. Eligible students may receive support from the federally funded Title I Program which focuses on the young student having difficulty learning to read.

Gifted Program

The LCPS Gifted Education Program provides opportunities to extend, enrich, and accelerate the core academic curriculum through a variety of program options - some are available to all students and others are provided for students who are formally identified in need of gifted services. 

The SEARCH program is open to all students in grades K-3. Gifted resource teachers visit classrooms on a bi-weekly basis to engage students in lessons that encourage them to think critically and creatively, problem solve, take intellectual risks, and develop an excitement for learning and discovery across a variety of thinking skills such as perceiving, reasoning, connecting, creating, and evaluating.

EDGE is a talent development program designed to nurture and challenge students with advanced academic potential from groups historically underrepresented in LCPS advanced academic opportunities and gifted programs. The program provides additional academic challenges for students to develop their individual potential through rigorous lessons and activities.

FUSION is a new model for delivering gifted services for 4^th and 5^th grade gifted learners. It was established to provide gifted services for students at their home schools. A gifted resource teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to challenge gifted learners in their regular classrooms by enriching and extending the general curriculum and by integrating curricula developed for gifted learners. In addition, gifted learners meet during the week with other gifted learners to collaborate on a variety of challenging, interdisciplinary projects focused on the topics of leadership and innovation.  

SPECTRUM is designed to meet the needs of middle school students (grades 6-8) who have been identified in need of gifted services. Students attend SPECTRUM for a half block (approximately 45 minutes) every other day.  The SPECTRUM curriculum framework focuses on four themes that are explored each year:  Business & Economics, Communication & Culture, Technology & Engineering, and Ethics & Perspectives. Students engage in project-based learning, research and inquiry, and problem solving. They are challenged to collaborate, communicate, and apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Learning experiences are designed to develop initiative, creativity, and leadership skills. 

High school gifted and high-ability learners have opportunities to take advanced-level courses such as honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment. In 8th grade, they may apply to special programs such as The Academies of Loudoun and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. As sophomores and juniors in high school, they may apply to the Summer Residential Governor’s School Program. Governor’s School offers academic, World Language, and visual/performing arts programs.

English Learner Program

The English Learner (EL) program is an instructional program focused on developing English skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing for students eligible for English Language services. The purpose of the EL program is to increase the English language proficiency of EL students to ensure that they can participate meaningfully and equally in the same educational programs and services as their native English-speaking peers. EL services are available to all students in grades Kindergarten through 12 at their home school. Additional information on EL services is available online at https://www.lcps.org/el or by contacting the Division of English Learners at (571) 252-1390 or via email at ELProgram@lcps.org.

Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) offers courses to students in grades 6 through 12 that contain (1) competency-based instruction, (2) career and technical student organizations, (3) industry credentials,* and (4) work-based learning experiences.
In Career and Technical Education (CTE):

• We communicate and model high expectations for all students, which includes emphasizing and valuing multiple pathways for students after high school (i.e., college, entering the workforce, military) and collaborating with students to identify personal interests, aptitudes and strengths to establish goals for the future.

• We believe that all students deserve to have access to a conducive learning environment and relevant and rigorous coursework, including honors and dual-enrollment opportunities, opportunities to earn credentials and to engage in robust work-based learning experiences. 

• We provide scaffolds and supports to ensure all students can access the curriculum and authentic learning experiences that support their identified interests and goals.
   
  

Visit www.lcps.org/cte for additional information on Career and Technical Education within the school division.

*Industry credentials are only offered to students in grades 9 - 12.

Alternative Education Program

The Alternative Education Program at The North Star School in Leesburg serves middle and high school students who have difficulty adjusting to, or being successful in, a traditional school program. Students complete the same requirements for promotion or graduation as do students in other LCPS.

Summer School

Summer school offers remedial reading and mathematics, grades 1-5; remedial instruction for required subjects, grades 6-8; and a selection of courses in English, mathematics, social studies, science, business, and driver education, grades 9-12. 

Educational Technology

School Libraries 

School Libraries in the county provide and manage the circulation of more than 1.5 million copies of print and digital resources for students and staff to use for curricular assignments as well as personal reading and interests.  Certified teacher-librarians provide group and individual information literacy instruction to help our learners become effective users of information.

Report Cards and Parent/Teacher Conferences

Report Cards are issued four times during the year for all grade levels. Parent/teacher conferences are strongly encouraged and may be scheduled through the school offices.