Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is a branch of the Loudoun County, Virginia, United States government, and administers public schools in the county. LCPS's headquarters is located at 21000 Education Court in Ashburn, an unincorporated section of the county.
Due to rapid growth in the region, LCPS is one of the fastest-growing school divisions in Virginia and the third largest school division in the state. For the 2022–2023 school year, LCPS educated approximately 82,233 students
History
The public school system in Loudoun County was established in 1870 to fulfill the needs for free education during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. For most of its history, LCPS served a rural population known mainly for its dairy farms. Since the opening of Washington Dulles International Airport in 1962, Loudoun County's population has skyrocketed, accompanied by that of the school system. For example, since the 2000–2001 school year, LCPS has opened 51 schools: 28 elementary, 11 middle, 11 high and one educational center.
In the 20th century, including during the civil rights movement and the era of massive resistance, LCPS was one of the last school districts in the nation to begin desegregation in 1967. In 2020 the school board, the administration, and the county board issued a public apology for its "blatant disregard and disrespect of Black people".
Administration
The LCPS system, while operated on a day-to-day basis by the Superintendent (Dr. Aaron C. Spence), is managed under the direction and authority of the Loudoun County School Board, a nine-member panel elected by citizens in the county. Eight of the nine board positions are divided among voting districts that represent communities throughout the county, while the ninth seat is elected at-large by the entire county. The voting districts correspond to those used for Loudoun County Board of Supervisors elections. Unlike the Board of Supervisors, the chairmanship of the School Board is elected annually by its members, while the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is always the at-large seat. While the School Board makes decisions relating to school policy and curriculum, it receives funding through the Board of Supervisors.
On August 31, 2021, the Broad Run District member, Leslee King, died from complications due to a heart surgery. On October 12, 2021, Andrew Hoyler was appointed to serve as the interim Broad Run District member through November 15, 2022. Hoyler ran against King in 2019 and lost with 37% of the vote to King's 61%. A special election was held in November 2022 with Tiffany Polifko elected in a three-way race, by a 98-vote margin, to serve as the Broad Run member through the end of the term on December 31, 2023. On October 15, 2021, the Leesburg District member, Beth Barts, announced her resignation effective November 2, 2021, citing threats and fear for her and her family's safety. Barts was facing a recall petition over claims that her participation in a private Facebook group violated the School Board's Code of Conduct and open meeting laws. On December 14, 2021, Tom Marshall was appointed to serve as the interim Leesburg District member through November 15, 2022. Marshall previously served on the School Board from 2008 to 2011 and from 2016 to 2019, both terms as the Leesburg District member. A special election was held in November 2022 with Erika Ogedegbe elected in a three-way race to serve as the Leesburg member through the end of the term on December 31, 2023. Sterling District member, Brenda Sheridan, and Algonkian District member, Atoosa Reaser, are also facing recall petitions for similar reasons as Barts. Sheridan and Reaser served as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, in 2020 and 202. Sheridan also served as Vice-Chair from 2016 through 2019. Dulles District Member, Jeff Morse, served as Chair of the School Board in 2022 with Blue Ridge District Member, Ian Serotkin, serving as Vice-Chair. Morse previously served as Chair from 2017 through 2019. In January 2023, Serotkin was elected to serve as Chair with Ashburn District Member, Harris Mahedavi, elected to serve as Vice-Chair.
Demographics
In the 2021–2022 school year, LCPS students were 42.7% White, 25.4% Asian, 18.3% Hispanic/Latino, 7.1% Black/African American, 5.7% Multiracial, 0.6% Native American, and 0.1% Pacific Islander.