Purple Star Designation

Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children designate Purple Star schools. The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.

Fairfax County schools recognized as 2020 Purple Star schools include Keene Mill Elementary School and West Springfield Elementary School. Eighteen Fairfax County public schools were named Purple Star schools in 2019, and 14 schools were recognized in 2018, the first year of the program.

To qualify for a Purple Star, schools must have a staff member designated as the point of contact for military students and families who serves as the primary link between the military family and the school. Schools must also demonstrate their commitment to meeting the needs of military students by providing resources and programming on issues important to military families, such as academic planning and transitions between schools, districts, and states.

This is the third year VDOE and the Virginia Council have designated Purple Star schools. The Purple Star schools retain the designation for three years before being required to reapply.

As part of North Springfield Elementary PTA's School of Excellence application, we called upon parent volunteers with direct experience in military transitions to share information about the school they wish they had known at the beginning of the school year. Click to view the document.

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