Katherine Johnson Middle School

Katherine Johnson Middle School
https://johnsonms.fcps.edu/
Principal: Chris Smith
Social Media: @kjms_fcps 
Enrollment 1172
Grades 7-8

Katherine Johnson Middle School was built in 1960 and, like most Fairfax County middle schools, was named after a poet or writer of distinction when it was named after Sydney Lanier, a poet who fought for the Confederacy. In 2020, the City of Fairfax School Board voted to rename the school after Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician. The name was officially changed to start the 2021-2022 school year. 

At KJMS, staff and community members work collaboratively to create a supportive, nurturing, and encouraging environment. Our mission is to help students grow into critical and creative thinkers, active problem-solvers, effective communicators, and engaged citizens. We are committed to fostering the social, emotional, and academic success of every student.

Students at KJMS are grouped into teams of approximately 130 peers, sharing the same English, science, and social studies teachers. Each team is supported by a dedicated school counselor who participates in weekly team meetings and parent conferences. Through department-based professional learning communities, staff collaboratively assess, plan, and deliver targeted instruction. This approach ensures rigorous, engaging learning experiences while offering enrichment and remediation opportunities. These efforts aim to close achievement gaps and help students reach higher levels of proficiency.

Recognizing the importance of the two critical middle school years, we prioritize seamless transitions by maintaining close communication and collaboration with our feeder elementary schools and Fairfax High School. Positive and productive partnerships with parents are also a cornerstone of our approach. At KJMS, we strive to meet the unique developmental needs of middle school students with respect, responsiveness, and care.