Check out the 2026 LCPS Innovation & Achievement Report: Student Voice, Belonging and Achievement in LCPS to learn about all the accomplishments LCPS has to celebrate.
Every success story in these pages is the result of a shared commitment across the LCPS community working together to prepare all students for their next chapter.
2026 LCPS Innovation & Achievement Report
Twenty student publications and media programs from nine Loudoun County Public Schools high schools have earned recognition in the Virginia High School League's (VHSL) 2025-2026 Publications Awards, highlighting student achievement in journalism, creative writing, design and broadcasting. For a list of recognitions: https://lcps.pub/47XLCkk
Feedback Needed!
Attention Middle & High School Families, Staff & Students: In April 2025, after two years of extensive feedback from students, staff and parents/guardians, the School Board revised Policy 5030, Assessment and Grading. Now that the updated policy has been in place for a full school year (the updated policy went in effect during the 2025-26 school year), we want to know your thoughts on how it is working, what considerations we might review or how the policy could be further clarified.
We’re using ThoughtExchange so everyone has a chance to share their perspectives and understand what’s most important to the group. You can offer your feedback and rate others' thoughts now until Wednesday, Nov. 18. To learn more, visit the LCPS Assessment and Grading ThoughtExchange webpage.
Want to become more involved in your child’s school and stay connected with LCPS?
Join the LCPS FACE Family Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at noon for Getting Involved with Your School and LCPS. School principals will share ways families can get involved, navigate LCPS resources and build strong partnerships with school staff.
The free online session lasts approximately 30 minutes and will also be available afterward for on-demand viewing.
Learn more and register: lcps.org/familyacademy
Join the LCPS FACE Family Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at noon for Getting Involved with Your School and LCPS. School principals will share ways families can get involved, navigate LCPS resources and build strong partnerships with school staff.
The free online session lasts approximately 30 minutes and will also be available afterward for on-demand viewing.
Learn more and register: lcps.org/familyacademy
Share Your Feedback on High School English Instructional Resources
LCPS invites families, staff and community members to review and provide feedback on instructional resources being considered for English courses in grades 9-12. Materials are available for review online and in person through Nov. 13, 2026.
Learn how to review the materials and provide feedback.
For grades seventh and eighth, and all high school students: Advance Screening of the Title IX Student Bystander Training Video and Lesson: The Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Title IX Office has launched an initiative to educate students about Title IX, a federal law that protects students’ rights in school. For full information, go to: https://www.lcps.org/article/3207292
It’s celebration day – One LCPS Celebration Day, that is! Today, Thursday, Oct. 15, we are celebrating our staff and students. Wear your school’s spirit wear or colors so staff can take photos and tag us at #WeAreOneLCPS
It’s almost time for One LCPS Celebration Day, taking place this Thursday, Oct. 15!
Get ready to show your school and division spirit and join us for some friendly competition. From our photo contest to the creative ways schools are recognizing their students and staff, there’s plenty to look forward to.
Let’s come together, have some fun and show what makes LCPS so special! Let’s go!
#WeAreOneLCPS
Get ready to show your school and division spirit and join us for some friendly competition. From our photo contest to the creative ways schools are recognizing their students and staff, there’s plenty to look forward to.
Let’s come together, have some fun and show what makes LCPS so special! Let’s go!
#WeAreOneLCPS
Last Chance to Register for Credit Through Testing
Registration for the fall Credit Through Testing (CTT) exam is closing soon. This free assessment allows students in grades 9-12 to earn credit for languages they already know while continuing to build proficiency and advance in world language studies.
Registration closes: September 30, 2026
Testing: Six LCPS high schools this fall
Cost: Free
Visit lcps.org/ctt to learn more and register.
Congratulations to the 54 LCPS students who have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. These LCPS students were among the 1.2 million high school juniors who entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 PSAT, which served as an initial screen of scholarship program entrants. National Merit semifinalists are eligible to compete for one of the three National Merit Scholarships: National Merit $2,500 scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships. Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in phases next spring and summer. Read more: https://lcps.pub/4cSuP5a
Congratulations to Belmont Ridge Middle School, Blue Ridge Middle School, Eagle Ridge Middle School, River Bend Middle School, Smart’s Mill Middle School and Watson Mountain Middle School on being named Schools of Distinction by the Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE). This honor recognizes the schools’ commitment to young adolescent education and continuous improvement. In total, 13 LCPS middle schools have earned this recognition since AMLE began recognizing Schools of Distinction in 2022. https://lcps.pub/3Taf3f1
Our current One LCPS: 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence has helped guide our work and priorities. As we look ahead, we are developing a new Strategic Plan for 2027–2032 that will help us focus our collective efforts over the next five years. Our Strategic Planning Team has been listening, learning and working together to develop draft goals and strategies for the new plan, with feedback from the community along the way.
Now, we are inviting students, families, staff and community members to share their thoughts on the draft goals and strategies.
We are using ThoughtExchange, an online platform that gives everyone an opportunity to share their perspectives and rate others' ideas.
Please take a few minutes to participate between September 16 and October 1. Participate in the 2027-2032 Strategic Plan ThoughtExchange and learn more: lcps.org/thoughtexchange
Now, we are inviting students, families, staff and community members to share their thoughts on the draft goals and strategies.
We are using ThoughtExchange, an online platform that gives everyone an opportunity to share their perspectives and rate others' ideas.
Please take a few minutes to participate between September 16 and October 1. Participate in the 2027-2032 Strategic Plan ThoughtExchange and learn more: lcps.org/thoughtexchange
Learn, connect and support your student with the LCPS FACE Family Academy!
The LCPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Family Academy offers seven free online sessions during the 2026-2027 school year to give families practical information, resources and tools to support their children’s education.
Beginning Oct. 6, sessions will cover study skills, getting involved with your school, math and writing resources, college and career pathways, digital citizenship, summer opportunities and more.
Sessions begin at noon and last approximately 30 minutes. Can’t attend live? Sessions will also be available afterward for on-demand viewing.
Explore the full schedule and register: lcps.org/familyacademy
The LCPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Family Academy offers seven free online sessions during the 2026-2027 school year to give families practical information, resources and tools to support their children’s education.
Beginning Oct. 6, sessions will cover study skills, getting involved with your school, math and writing resources, college and career pathways, digital citizenship, summer opportunities and more.
Sessions begin at noon and last approximately 30 minutes. Can’t attend live? Sessions will also be available afterward for on-demand viewing.
Explore the full schedule and register: lcps.org/familyacademy
Trailside Middle School History and Government teacher Dr. Marcus White has been awarded a Fulbright Specialist Program award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. As part of the award, Dr. White will travel to Uruguay in October, where he will conduct educational and training activities exploring the connections between youth mental and physical development and the psychology of exercise and athletics. Dr. White is one of more than 400 U.S. citizens who share their expertise with institutions abroad through the Fulbright program each year. Congratulations to Dr. White on this achievement. Read more: https://lcps.pub/4hsa2rx
We know our community wants to have a say in how LCPS allocates its budget to best support student learning and achievement. We are asking for your thoughts on what the School Board might consider as they develop the 2027-2028 School Year (FY28) budget. Our teachers, counselors, principals, school nutrition workers, and bus drivers work to support students throughout the year and are part of the budget that funds school programs and classroom instruction from early childhood through graduation. Our budget also supports facilities and maintenance, staff benefits, technology, and overall operations that make our division thrive.
At a time when we anticipate a slowing rate of revenue growth over the next few years, we are taking a close look at existing spending, identifying where we can achieve better results with different investments, and investing in ways to improve student outcomes. Our students are at the center of this work.
We need our staff and community’s input to learn what is most important to everyone and help inform our next steps. To do that, we are asking everyone to participate in a ThoughtExchange to share their ideas and let us know how they feel about other ideas the community suggests.
Participate in the ThoughtExchange and return anytime before September 15 to rate new ideas. You can also visit the LCPS ThoughtExchange page.
Before the first day of school, LCPS community partners donated backpacks and school supplies to students who needed additional support. Through the generosity of these organizations and their partnership with the LCPS Division of Family and Community Engagement, students began the school year not only with the tools they need to succeed, but also with a greater sense of connection to their school community. Read more: https://lcps.pub/3UoDMwy
This school year, LCPS has further enhanced our commitment to digital safety. In addition to our digital citizenship classes, Lightspeed, Gaggle, and Safe2Talk, we have partnered with Safer Schools Together (SST) to maintain awareness of publicly available concerning or potentially threatening online behavior. This awareness will allow us to provide informed interventions and appropriate support. Read full details on LCPS.org.
Parents of seniors are invited to attend the SchooLinks College Application Manager webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 6 to 7 p.m. to learn how this platform can support your senior as they apply for colleges. See the LCPS Schoolinks webpage for the webinar link. For families who are unable to attend this live webinar, a recording will be posted on this webpage at a later time.
Speak a second language? Get credit for it! Loudoun County Public Schools students in grades 9-12 can earn up to three high school credits and the VDOE Seal of Biliteracy just by taking the free Credit Through Testing (CTT) exam. Whether you learned a language at home or through life experience, this is your chance to fast-track your graduation requirements.
The fall registration window is open September 1 through September 30, 2026. Testing will be held at six LCPS high schools. Check-in is from 5 – 6 p.m., and students have up to two hours to complete the assessment.
With over 100 languages available, don't miss out!
Learn more and sign up today: lcps.org/ctt
The School Board would like to receive some early feedback from parents, staff and community on the programs, investments, and needs to consider for the budget development process for the 2027-2028 School Year (FY28) with the goal of improving student outcomes. Please share your ideas and perspectives through ThoughtExchange, and return anytime before September 15 to rate new ideas. You can also find it at www.lcps.org/thoughtexchange.
