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Fairfax County to add metal detectors at middle and high schools

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Published  August 7, 2025 4:59pm EDT
Fairfax County
FOX 5 DC
Fairfax County to add metal detectors at middle and high schools

Fairfax County to add metal detectors at middle and high schools

Officials say 23 middle schools across Fairfax County Public Schools are getting metal detectors ahead of this school year.

The Brief

    • Fairfax County Public Schools will install weapon screening systems in all middle and high schools this fall, making it one of the few districts in the region with metal detectors at the middle school level.
    • Nearby school systems like Stafford, Loudoun, Prince William, and Montgomery County do not currently use metal detectors in middle schools, though D.C. Public Schools does.
    • The expansion follows a pilot program in high schools last spring, and comes just weeks before the new school year begins on August 18.

FAIRFAX, Va. - 23 middle schools across Fairfax County Public Schools are getting metal detectors ahead of this school year.

It will make Fairfax County Public Schools one of few districts in the region to have metal detectors in middle schools. 

FOX 5 has learned there are no metal detectors at middle schools in

  • Stafford Schools
  • Loudoun County Public Schools
  • Prince William County Public Schools
  • Montgomery County Public Schools

DC Public Schools has metal detectors in its middle and high schools. 

The letter from Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is dated August 4 and was addressed to middle school families.  Beyond saying the school district is continuing to work hard to keep students safe by constantly reviewing the latest in school safety practices, FCPS does not offer additional reasoning for the last-minute expansion.

The school district’s first day of school is less than two weeks away on Monday, August 18.

The metal detector program expansion comes after FCPS says it piloted a weapon screening system across its high schools last spring.

We’re told this weapon screening system will be expanded to all middle and high schools this fall.

"That’s quite scary. There’s guns and knives being brought into schools and that is worrying," said Megan Stimart, a McLean resident who also lives in London.

"If that’s something that’s being looked at then obviously it’s a concern. What the right answer is though, I don’t know," said Stimart.

"I think in today’s society with things happening to youngsters you just never know," said Ernesto George who lives in Lorton.

Fairfax County Public Schools says its weapons detection program is similar to ones that have been used at sporting events and concerts for many years.

A spokesperson with Fairfax County Public Schools declined to discuss the expansion with FOX 5 DC Thursday. 

FCPS also says it will provide more details as they prepare for the coming school year to ensure that students, staff and families understand and feel comfortable with the process. 


 

Fairfax CountyNews