School Services Agreement
About the School Services Agreement
In 1962, the City of Fairfax Schools entered into a four-way School Services Agreement (SSA) with the City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). The agreement, revised in 1978, continues to guide this partnership today. Under the SSA, FCPS manages and operates the City’s schools, hires staff, and develops curriculum, while the City School Board oversees the contract and maintains the four City-owned school buildings.
Welcoming Students
City of Fairfax schools welcome Fairfax County students, which helps provide a wide range of academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities.
Oversight
The City Superintendent is responsible for overseeing and managing the SSA.
City Education
City of Fairfax students attend City schools.
Advisory Participation
The City School Board appoints citizen representatives to serve on FCPS advisory committees.
Collaboration
The City and County Superintendents consult on topics such as boundary changes, school closings, principal selection, citizen participation, community needs, non-school activities, and complaints.
Capital Improvements
The City is responsible for major capital improvements to its school buildings.
Board Collaboration
Members of the City School Board maintain ongoing communication with their County counterparts, participate in regional and state School Board meetings and conferences, and hold an annual joint City/County Board meeting.
Access to Services
City students and parents have access to all services provided by Fairfax County Public Schools.
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Questions or Concerns
Parents with questions or concerns about school policies or practices are encouraged to first work with school staff to address the issue. If concerns remain unresolved, they may be referred to the FCPS Region 5 Office, where the Region 5 Superintendent collaborates with the City Superintendent to support and supervise the four City-owned schools.
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A Note from City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches
“The SSA benefits both city and county students. By welcoming county students into our city schools, we can offer a range of academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities that we could not achieve independently. We also thrive as a stronger community thanks to our culturally rich and diverse student body. We are proud to be part of one of the top school districts in the country and value all students attending our schools.”
If you’re new to Fairfax and unsure of your school boundaries, visit FCPS’ boundary map calculator to find your assigned school.
Please watch our School Board Chairman talking about this partnership.