School Services Agreement

In 1962, a School Services Agreement (SSA) was entered with the City of Fairfax Schools and FCPS. Under this agreement, FCPS manages and operates city schools, hires staff and develops curriculum, while the City School Board is responsible for the management of the contract and the four city-owned school buildings.

Please watch our School Board Chairman talking about this partnership. 

Key Elements of the SSA

The City of Fairfax welcomes county students so City schools can offer a wide variety of academic and extra-curricular opportunities.

• The City Superintendent is responsible for the oversight and management of the SSA.
• City students are educated in city schools.
• The City School Board appoints citizen representatives to serve on FCPS advisory committees.
• The City and County School Superintendents consult on topics such as boundary changes, school closings, selection of principals, citizen participation, special community needs, non-school activities and complaints.
• The City is responsible for major capital improvements to school buildings.
• Members of the City School Board collaborate with their County School Board colleagues through regular, ongoing communication, participation in regional and state School Board meetings and conferences, and an annual City/County Board meeting.

City students and parents are entitled to all of the services provided at any Fairfax County school. When parents have questions or concerns about school policies or practices, they are encouraged first to work with school staff to resolve issues. If issues cannot be resolved at the school level, parents will be referred to the Region 5 Office in Fairfax County Public Schools . The Region 5 Superintendent and staff works closely with the City Superintendent to supervise and support the four City-owned schools.