{{Short description|Public school division serving Loudoun County, Virginia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox school district | name = Loudoun County Public Schools | native_name = | logo = | logo_alt = | logo_size = | image = LCPS 2023 Logo FINAL PRIMARY.svg | image2 = | image2_alt = | caption2 = | address = 21000 Education Court | city = Ashburn | state = Virginia | county = Loudoun | zipcode = 20148 | country = USA | coordinates = {{Coord|39.033609|-77.517316|format=dms|dim:250_region:US-VA_type:edu | name=Loudoun County Public Schools district office | display=inline,title}} | type = Public | grades = Pre-K through 12<ref name="LCPSprofile">{{Cite web |title=Loudoun County Public Schools Quality Profile |url=https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/loudoun-county-public-schools#desktopTabs-3 |access-date=Feb 14, 2026 |publisher=Virginia Department of Education}}</ref> | established = {{Start date and age|1870|4|2}} | superintendent = Aaron C. Spence<ref>{{Cite web |title=Superintendent / Aaron Spence, Ed.D., Superintendent |url=https://www.lcps.org/Page/249611 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.lcps.org |language=en}}</ref> | school_board = 9 members | chair_of_the_board = April Chandler (Algonkian District) | governing_agency = Virginia Department of Education | schools = 100<ref name="loudoun_dashboard">{{Cite web |title=LCPS Dashboards |url=https://dashboards.lcps.org/extensions/Dashboards/Dashboards.html |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=dashboards.lcps.org}}</ref> | budget = $1.9 billion (FY 2026)<ref name="LCPSBudget">{{Cite web |title=Loudoun County Public Schools FY26 Adopted Budget |url=https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4461/Business/7d7986e7-b7e7-45d7-b337-52fb8fcc1483/FY26-Adopted-Budget.pdf?disposition=inline |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250911194952/https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4461/Business/7d7986e7-b7e7-45d7-b337-52fb8fcc1483/FY26-Adopted-Budget.pdf?disposition=inline |archive-date=September 11, 2025 |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> | us_nces_district_id = {{NCES District ID|5102250||district_name=Loudoun Co Pblc Schs|access_date=February 14, 2026}} | students = 81,486 (2024–25)<ref name="nces_dist"/> | teachers = 6,719 (2024–25)<ref name="nces_dist" /> | staff = 6,736 (2024–25)<ref name="nces_dist" /> | ratio = 12.1:1 (2024–25)<ref name="nces_dist" /> | website = {{URL|www.lcps.org}} }} '''Loudoun County Public Schools''' ('''LCPS''') is a branch of the Loudoun County, Virginia, United States government, and administers public schools in the county. Its headquarters are located at 21000 Education Court in Ashburn, an unincorporated section of the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directions |url=https://www.lcps.org/page/13 |access-date=February 6, 2020 |publisher=LCPS}}</ref>
LCPS operates 100 schools and serves approximately 80,000 students, making it the third-largest school division in Virginia.<ref name="fact_sheet">{{Cite web |title=Loudoun County Public Schools 2025-2026 Fact Sheet |url=https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4461/Communications/b267b5e6-f74e-4d79-86af-61eacbd15276/2025-2026-LCPS-Fact-Sheet-Final-web.pdf?disposition=inline |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021919/https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4461/Communications/b267b5e6-f74e-4d79-86af-61eacbd15276/2025-2026-LCPS-Fact-Sheet-Final-web.pdf?disposition=inline |archive-date=February 9, 2026 |access-date=February 13, 2026 |website=Loudoun County Public Schools}}</ref>
== History ==
{{Expand section|date=February 2026}}
The public school system in Loudoun County was established in 1870 following a mandate by the Virginia General Assembly to provide public education for all children in the state. Prior to this, education in Loudoun County was primarily conducted through private means or informal community efforts. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Jelonek |first=A. j |date=February 12, 2019 |title=My Summer with Loudoun Schools: Creating a Climate for Success: A Look Back on Loudoun County Public Schools |url=https://lcpshistory.blogspot.com/2019/02/creating-climate-for-success-look-back.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250819185753/https://lcpshistory.blogspot.com/2019/02/creating-climate-for-success-look-back.html |archive-date=August 19, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=My Summer with Loudoun Schools}}</ref>{{additional|date=February 2026}}
LCPS was one of the last school districts in the nation to begin desegregation in 1967, more than a decade after the Supreme Court's decision in ''Brown v. Board of Education''. In 2020, the school board, the administration, and the county board issued a public apology for its "blatant disregard and disrespect of Black people".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aspegren |first=Elinor |date=September 25, 2020 |title='Blatant disregard and disrespect of Black people': Virginia district apologizes for segregated schools – 53 years later |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/09/25/virginia-school-district-apologize-school-segregation-racism/5645803002/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231005025402/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/09/25/virginia-school-district-apologize-school-segregation-racism/5645803002/ |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boorstein |first=Michelle |last2=Davies |first2=Emily |date=September 26, 2020 |title=Loudoun County Public Schools apologizes for history of segregation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/loudoun-apology-segregation/2020/09/26/0d4fe2ec-0037-11eb-8d05-9beaaa91c71f_story.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230116224217/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/loudoun-apology-segregation/2020/09/26/0d4fe2ec-0037-11eb-8d05-9beaaa91c71f_story.html |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |access-date=2026-02-13 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
For most of its history, LCPS served a rural population, until developments like the opening of Washington Dulles International Airport in 1962 brought about suburbanization and significant demographic changes to Loudoun County.
Between 2000 and 2020, LCPS opened 51 new schools, including 28 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 11 high schools, and one educational center. <ref>{{cite web |title=FY 2020 WABE Guide |url=https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY20-WABE-Guide.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241211212700/https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY20-WABE-Guide.pdf |archive-date=December 11, 2024 |access-date=2025-05-28}}</ref>
==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.
=== School Board === {| class="wikitable" |+Loudoun County School Board (January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027)<br/>(Elected on November 7, 2023, and November 4, 2025) |- ! colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom" | Position ! style="text-align:center;" | Name ! valign="bottom" | Party ! valign="bottom" align="center" | First Elected ! valign="bottom" align="center" | District |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | Chair | April Chandler | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Algonkian |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | Vice Chair | Anne Donohue | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | At-Large |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Member | Deana Griffiths | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Ashburn |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | Member |Ross Svenson | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2025 | style="text-align:center;" | Broad Run |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Member |Kari LaBell | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Catoctin |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | Member | Jon Pepper | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2025 | style="text-align:center;" | Dulles |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" | | Member |Lauren Shernoff | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Leesburg |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | Member | Sumera Rashid | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 | style="text-align:center;" | Little River |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Member | Amy Riccardi | style="text-align:center;" | Nonpartisan | style="text-align:center;" | 2025 | style="text-align:center;" | Sterling |- |}
=== School Board Members History === {{Collapse top}} {| class="wikitable" |+School Board Members (1996-present) ! !At-Large !Algonkian (Sugarland Run 1996 to 2011) !Ashburn (Mercer 1996 to 2003)
(Potomac 2004 to 2011) !Broad Run !Catoctin !Dulles !Leesburg !Little River (Blue Ridge 1996 to 2023) !Sterling |- | rowspan="2" |1996-1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/80|title=Loudoun County November 7, 1995, General and Special Elections Results}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilgoren |first=Debbi |date=July 6, 1995 |title=3 Unopposed in Contest for School Board |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/07/06/3-unopposed-in-contest-for-school-board/bf697475-cbcb-49ea-bc9b-68292ea2a8ba/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> | rowspan="2" |Wendell T. Fisher | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Candyce Prichard Cassell | rowspan="2" |Edward John Kiley | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Ellen D. Oliver (Resigned 1999)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seymour |first=Liz |date=May 20, 1999 |title=School Board Candidates Quizzed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/05/20/school-board-candidates-quizzed/3b74898c-0cc4-4ffe-813d-b99d01154eb4/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Harry J. Brown | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Joseph William Vogric | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Jeffrey Michael Maged | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Harry Frank Holsinger | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Deborah Kim Price-Munoz |- |Susan N. Hembach (Appointed 1999)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seymour |first=Liz |date=October 28, 1999 |title=Differences Emerge in School Races |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/10/28/differences-emerge-in-school-races/f0788c6c-bcdf-47f3-aa55-cc83b25f48f6/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2000-2003<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/86|title=Loudoun County November 2, 1999, General and Special Elections Results}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Thomas Edward Reed | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Candyce Prichard Cassell |Patrick F. Chorpenning Jr.<br>(Resigned 2002)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=December 1, 2002 |title=Chorpenning to Quit County School Board |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/12/01/chorpenning-to-quit-county-school-board/3ba859f7-4da8-4340-b897-24831de5d8b8/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |John Albert Andrews II | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Geary Michael Higgins | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Joseph William Vogric | rowspan="2" |Frederick Felix Flemming | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Harry Frank Holsinger | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |James Warren Geurin |- | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Robert Floyd Dupree Jr.<br>(Appointed 2003)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=2003-01-19 |title=Vacant Seat Is Filled on School Board |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/01/19/vacant-seat-is-filled-on-school-board/cd1f355b-c3a2-47aa-a674-c8815d6ec14c/ |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2004-2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/90|title=Loudoun County November 4, 2003, General and Special Elections Results}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=November 9, 2003 |title=GOP Endorsements Make the Grade |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/11/09/gop-endorsements-make-the-grade/b9fc5f84-373f-44a1-bca8-c2950dc3249b/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=October 30, 2003 |title=Boundary Changes Shape Races |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/10/30/boundary-changes-shape-races/0e7b6761-1c5e-47e6-b8c9-fac217fafce7/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Thomas Edward Reed | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Joseph M. Guzman | {{Party shading/Republican}} |John Albert Andrews II<br>(Resigned 2007)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharbel |first=Andrew |date=Jun 1, 2011 |title=Ashburn gets fourth candidate for School Board |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/ashburn-gets-fourth-candidate-for-school-board/article_93e1c731-8616-54a3-bb16-264007567d43.html}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Robert Joseph Ohneiser | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Mark Joseph Nuzzaco | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Robert Floyd Dupree Jr. | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Sarah B. Smith | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Priscilla Bentley Godfrey | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |James Warren Geurin |- | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |John B. Stevens Jr.<br>(Appointed 2007)<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ch |first1=Michael Alison |last2=ler |date=2007-02-25 |title=With Board Complete, A Time to Celebrate |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2007/02/25/with-board-complete-a-time-to-celebrate-span-classbankheadschool-officials-honor-award-winning-1st-grade-teacherspan/3566be87-0930-4d4a-8f99-19e7c985033f/ |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2008-2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/95|title=Loudoun County November 6, 2007, General and Special Elections Results}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Thomas Edward Reed | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Joseph M. Guzman | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |John B. Stevens Jr. | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Robert Joseph Ohneiser | rowspan="2" |Jennifer Keller Bergel | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Robert Floyd Dupree Jr. | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Thomas Corbett Marshall | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Priscilla Bentley Godfrey | {{Party shading/Republican}} |James Warren Geurin<br>(Died 2011)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharbel |first=Andrew |title=Update: Sterling School Board member dies at his home |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/update-sterling-school-board-member-dies-at-his-home/article_dbc6daf8-bed8-5b44-a3ab-ee31214cb582.html |website=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}}</ref> |- | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Brenda L. Sheridan<br>(Appointed 2011)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nadler |first=Danielle |date=2016-01-05 |title=Hornberger, Sheridan Elected to Lead School Board |url=https://www.loudounnow.com/2016/01/04/hornberger-sheridan-elected-to-lead-school-board/ |website=Loudoun Now |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2012-2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1975|title=Loudoun County November 8, 2011, General and Special Elections Results}}</ref> | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Thomas Edward Reed | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Debra Kay Rose |Eric David Hornberger | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Kevin John Kuesters |Jennifer Keller Bergel | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Jeffrey Edward Morse | {{Party shading/Republican}} |William Dale Fox | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Jill Annette Turgeon | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Brenda L. Sheridan |- | rowspan="2" |2016-2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5104|title=Loudoun County November 3, 2015, General Election Results}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Elizabeth Ann Huck | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Debra Kay Rose | rowspan="2" |Eric David Hornberger | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Joy-Ann Rose Maloney | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Eric Joseph DeKenipp<br>(Resigned 2018)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nadler |first=Danielle |date=2018-10-23 |title=DeKenipp will Resign from Loudoun County School Board |url=https://www.loudounnow.com/2018/10/23/dekenipp-will-resign-from-loudoun-county-school-board/}}</ref> | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Jeffrey Edward Morse | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Thomas Corbett Marshall | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Jill Annette Turgeon | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Brenda L. Sheridan |- |Christina M. Croll<br>(Appointed 2018)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collazo |first=Veronike |date=Dec 4, 2018 |title=School Board appoints Croll to fill Catoctin seat |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/school-board-appoints-croll-to-fill-catoctin-seat/article_1f675cc0-f82e-11e8-b687-1b2fd65fbcbb.html}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" |2020-2023<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8989|title=Loudoun County November 5, 2019, General Election Results}}</ref> | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Denise Renee Corbo | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Atoosa Reza Reaser | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Harris Mahedavi | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Leslee Maureen King<br>(Died 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Times-Mirror Staff |title=Updated: Loudoun School Board member Leslee King dies at 74 |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/updated-loudoun-school-board-member-leslee-king-dies-at-74/article_7acb3e98-0a86-11ec-a469-17018614bfd5.html |website=LoudounTimes.com |language=en}}</ref> | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Republican}} |John Patrick Beatty | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Jeffrey Edward Morse | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Elizabeth Rae Barts<br>(Resigned 2021)<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |title=Loudoun school board member Beth Barts resigns her position |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/loudoun-school-board-member-beth-barts-resigns-her-position/2021/10/15/87608c52-2deb-11ec-8ef6-3ca8fe943a92_story.html |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ian Jeffrey Serotkin | rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Brenda L. Sheridan |- |Andrew Thomas Hoyler<br>(Appointed 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alas |first=Horus |title=Loudoun County School Board appoints Andrew Hoyler to fill Broad Run seat |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/loudoun-county-school-board-appoints-andrew-hoyler-to-fill-broad-run-seat/article_ea3d6d68-2b9d-11ec-89c3-033ab65e5e56.html |website=LoudounTimes.com |language=en}}</ref> | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Thomas Corbett Marshall<br>(Appointed 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bour |first=Hayley Milon |date=2021-12-14 |title=Marshall Tapped for Return to School Board Seat |url=https://www.loudounnow.com/2021/12/14/marshall-tapped-for-return-to-school-board-seat/ |website=Loudoun Now |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Tiffany L. Polifko<br>(Elected 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=2 New School Board Members Sworn In |url=https://www.lcps.org/site/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcps.org%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FPageType%3D3%26ModuleInstanceID%3D354105%26ViewID%3D7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f%26RenderLoc%3D0%26FlexDataID%3D446128%26PageID%3D247508 |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=www.lcps.org |language=en}}</ref> | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Erika R. Ogedegbe<br>(Elected 2022)<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Tiffany Polifko, Erika Ogedegbe projected winners of Loudoun school board race |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/11/14/loudoun-school-board-election-polifko-ogedegbe/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> |- |2024-2025 | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Anne Pogue Donohue | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |April Moore Chandler | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Deana L. Griffiths | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dr. Linda Worrell Deans | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |Karen Lee LaBell | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Melinda Marie Mansfield |Lauren E. Shernoff | rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dr. Sumera Rashid | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Arben Istrefi |- |2026-2027 | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |April Moore Chandler | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ross C. Svenson | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jonathon A. Pepper |Lauren E. Shernoff | {{Party shading/Republican}} |Amy M. Riccardi |} {{Collapse bottom}}
== Demographics == As of the 2023-24 school year Loudoun County Public Schools Demographics are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-15 |title=Loudoun County Public Schools |url=https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/loudoun-county-public-schools#desktopTabs-3 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Virginia School Quality Profiles |language=en-US}}</ref>
* 40.4% White * 26.0% Asian * 19.5% Hispanic * 7.3% Black * 5.9% Mixed Races * 0.7% American Indian
== Controversies ==
=== 2021 sexual assaults ===
==== Sexual assaults and charges ==== On May 28, 2021, a male teenager was accused of sexually assaulting a female student in a girls' restroom at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn.<ref name="WaPo">{{Cite news |last1=Hilton |first1=Jasmine |last2=Natanson |first2=Hannah |last3=Jouvenal |first3=Justin |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Loudoun Country student accused in sexual assaults at two schools, sparking outrage from parents |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/loudoun-schools-sex-assault-allegations/2021/10/13/02d3f144-2c61-11ec-8ef6-3ca8fe943a92_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211014021822/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/loudoun-schools-sex-assault-allegations/2021/10/13/02d3f144-2c61-11ec-8ef6-3ca8fe943a92_story.html |archive-date=October 14, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NeWe">{{Cite magazine |last=Palmer |first=Ewan |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Loudoun County Officials Address 'Misinformation' Over School Assaults |url=https://www.newsweek.com/loudoun-county-school-assaults-students-1638899 |url-status=live |magazine=Newsweek |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211014150206/https://www.newsweek.com/loudoun-county-school-assaults-students-1638899 |archive-date=October 14, 2021 |access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref> The two had agreed to meet in the restroom, where they had previously engaged in consensual sexual encounters.<ref name="WaPofelony" /><ref name="political firestorm">{{Cite news |last=Jouvenal |first=Justin |date=October 25, 2021 |title=In case at center of political firestorm, judge finds teen committed sexual assault in Virginia school bathroom |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/in-case-at-center-of-political-firestorm-judge-finds-teen-committed-sexual-assault-in-virginia-school-bathroom/2021/10/25/42c037da-35cc-11ec-8be3-e14aaacfa8ac_story.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211026011145/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/in-case-at-center-of-political-firestorm-judge-finds-teen-committed-sexual-assault-in-virginia-school-bathroom/2021/10/25/42c037da-35cc-11ec-8be3-e14aaacfa8ac_story.html |archive-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> School officials immediately reported the assault to law enforcement.<ref name="NeWe" /> Following a weeks-long investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, a 14-year-old male was arrested on July 8, 2021, and charged with two counts of forcible sodomy.<ref name="WaPo" /> The suspect spent time in a juvenile detention facility before being released<ref name="NeWe" /> and placed on electronic monitoring.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iannelli |first=Nick |date=October 20, 2021 |title=Youngkin calls for every Virginia school to have cops on campus |language=en |work=WTOP |url=https://wtop.com/virginia/2021/10/youngkin-calls-for-every-va-school-to-have-cops-on-campus/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022013546/https://wtop.com/virginia/2021/10/youngkin-calls-for-every-va-school-to-have-cops-on-campus/ |archive-date=October 22, 2021}}</ref> He was transferred to Broad Run High School in Ashburn.<ref name="NeWe" />
On October 6, 2021, the same male teenager, aged 15 at the time, was accused of sexually assaulting a female student in an empty classroom at Broad Run High School.<ref name="WaPo" /> The male student was arrested the following day<ref name="NeWe" /> and charged with sexual battery and abduction of a fellow student.<ref name="WaPo" /> He was again held in a juvenile detention facility.<ref name="NeWe" /><ref name="WJLA-Nov3">{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2021 |title=Loudoun officials question sheriff's deputies about how school sex assaults were reported |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-sheriff-public-school-broad-run-high-sex-assault-broad-run-board-of-supervisors-meeting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211113195211/https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-sheriff-public-school-broad-run-high-sex-assault-broad-run-board-of-supervisors-meeting |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |access-date=November 13, 2021 |website=WJLA-TV}}</ref>
On October 25, 2021, the suspect was found guilty on all charges for the May 28 assault.<ref name="political firestorm" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Scott Taylor |last2=7News Staff |date=October 25, 2021 |title=Teen suspect found guilty in Loudoun County school bathroom assault |url=https://wjla.com/features/i-team/teen-suspect-found-guilty-in-loudoun-county-public-school-stone-bridge-high-bathroom-assault |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211026053957/https://wjla.com/amp/features/i-team/teen-suspect-found-guilty-in-loudoun-county-public-school-stone-bridge-high-bathroom-assault |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=WJLA-TV}}</ref> On November 15, 2021, the suspect pleaded no contest to a felony charge of abduction and a misdemeanor count of sexual battery for the October 6 assault.<ref name="WaPofelony">{{Cite news |last=Jouvenal |first=Justin |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Va. teen pleads no contest in politically charged sexual assault case at high school |language=en |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/loudoun-schools-sexual-assault-cases/2021/11/15/6502e79a-461e-11ec-95dc-5f2a96e00fa3_story.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211116025812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/loudoun-schools-sexual-assault-cases/2021/11/15/6502e79a-461e-11ec-95dc-5f2a96e00fa3_story.html |archive-date=November 16, 2021 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> He was set to be sentenced on December 13, 2021,<ref name="WaPofelony" /> but sentencing was delayed until January 2022 in order for the court to perform a psychology evaluation on him and explore residential treatment facility options.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jouvenal |first=Justin |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Sentencing hearing delayed in sexual assaults at Virginia high schools |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/12/13/loudoun-school-student-assault-sentencing/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213185606/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/12/13/loudoun-school-student-assault-sentencing/ |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In January 2022, the suspect was found guilty on all four charges and was sentenced to complete a "residential program in a locked-down facility" and placed on supervised probation until he turned 18, and ordered to register as a sex offender in Virginia.<ref name="wjla-220112">{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Scott |date=January 12, 2022 |title=Teen convicted in 2 Loudoun schools sex assaults sentenced to 'locked residential program' |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-public-schools-sex-assaults-teen-sentenced-locked-residential-program-supervised-probation-offender-registry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220113210214/https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-public-schools-sex-assaults-teen-sentenced-locked-residential-program-supervised-probation-offender-registry |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |access-date=January 13, 2022 |website=WJLA-TV}}</ref><ref name="nbcwa-210112">{{Cite web |last=Wilder |first=Drew |date=January 12, 2022 |title='This One Scares Me': Teen Convicted in Loudoun School Sex Attacks to Register as Sex Offender |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/this-one-scares-me-teen-convicted-in-loudoun-school-sex-attacks-to-register-as-sex-offender/2935054/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220113210459/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/this-one-scares-me-teen-convicted-in-loudoun-school-sex-attacks-to-register-as-sex-offender/2935054/ |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |access-date=January 13, 2022 |website=NBC Washington}}</ref> Loudoun County Juvenile Judge Court Judge Pamela L. Brooks said she had never previously ordered a minor to register as a sex offender, stating, "You scare me. What I read in those reports scared me and should scare families and scare society. You need a lot of help."<ref name="wjla-220112" /><ref name="nbcwa-210112" /> The perpetrator apologized to the two victims in court. Judge Brooks said that there was a third victim who had not come forward to press charges.<ref name=wjla-220112/><ref name=nbcwa-210112/> Later that month, Brooks decided against placing the perpetrator on the sex offender registry, due to the offender's young age and data indicating that teenagers placed on the registry go on to have higher recidivism rates.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Va. judge reverses decision to place teen on sex offender registry in bathroom assault case |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/27/loudoun-school-sex-offender-registry/ |access-date=2022-02-18 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
In October 2023, one of the victims filed a lawsuit against the school district for $30 million, alleging that school officials failed to heed warning signs about her attacker and attempted to cover up her sexual assault.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Victim of school bathroom sexual assault sues Va. school district |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/10/05/loudoun-sexual-assault-stone-bridge/|date = October 5, 2023}}</ref>
==== Policy 8040 and responses ==== Policy 8040, which was passed in August 2021, a few months after the first assault occurred, allows students to use locker rooms and bathrooms corresponding to their "consistently asserted gender identity"; the policy was adopted to comply with a state mandate.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wilder |first1=Drew |last2=Staff • • |first2=NBCWashington |title=Loudoun Schools Adopt Transgender Student Policy Over Protests |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/loudoun-schools-adopt-transgender-student-policy-over-protests/2770535/ |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Karen |title=Loudoun School Board passes transgender policy 8040 |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/loudoun-school-board-passes-transgender-policy-8040/article_6a583872-faff-11eb-9a3f-e7f735eb41ab.html |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=LoudounTimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-15 |title=Loudoun Co. judge weighs rules regarding students and preferred pronouns |url=https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2021/11/loudoun-co-judge-weighs-rules-regarding-students-and-preferred-pronouns/ |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The Education of Glenn Youngkin |url=https://time.com/6191623/glenn-youngkin-interview-education-masks/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |magazine=Time |date=June 30, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The parents of the Stone Bridge victim have said the perpetrator of their daughter's assault identified as gender fluid.<ref name="WP20211015">{{Cite news |last1=Natanson |first1=Hannah |last2=Jouvenal |first2=Justin |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Loudoun schools chief apologizes for district's handling of alleged assaults, promises changes to disciplinary procedures |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/loudoun-virginia-school-assault-apology/2021/10/15/10853e8e-2ddc-11ec-8ef6-3ca8fe943a92_story.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211016005716/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/loudoun-virginia-school-assault-apology/2021/10/15/10853e8e-2ddc-11ec-8ef6-3ca8fe943a92_story.html |archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> While discussing a draft of Policy 8040 at a school board meeting on June 22, 2021, superintendent Scott Ziegler stated that, to his knowledge, there were no reports of any assaults occurring in the school system's restrooms and that a "predator transgender student or person simply does not exist".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Palmer |first=Ewan |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Scott Ziegler, Loudoun County Supt., Faces Calls to Resign Over School Assault Allegations |url=https://www.newsweek.com/loudoun-county-scott-ziegler-resign-student-assault-1638536 |url-status=live |magazine=Newsweek |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211013205504/https://www.newsweek.com/loudoun-county-scott-ziegler-resign-student-assault-1638536 |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> The father of the Stone Bridge victim stated he was angered by Ziegler's comments due to his daughter's assault,<ref name="NeWe" /> and was arrested at the meeting after getting into an argument with a fellow attendee; he was found guilty of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest on August 17, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Renss |date=August 17, 2021 |title=Smith Found Guilty in School Board Scuffle |url=https://loudounnow.com/2021/08/17/smith-found-guilty-in-school-board-scuffle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211012225042/https://loudounnow.com/2021/08/17/smith-found-guilty-in-school-board-scuffle/ |archive-date=October 12, 2021 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |website=Loudoun Now |language=en-US}}</ref> The parents of the Stone Bridge victim accused the school system of covering up the assault to push Policy 8040.<ref name="NeWe" /> The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office stated they were immediately made aware by school officials of the assault on May 28.<ref name="NeWe" /> Authorities have not commented on the parents' "gender fluid" characterization of the perpetrator, but have said he was wearing a skirt at the time of the assault.<ref name="WaPofelony" /> On October 15, 2021, Ziegler said he "wrongly interpreted" questions posed to him at that meeting and apologized, calling his comments "misleading".<ref name="WJLA">{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Loudoun schools superintendent: we 'failed' to provide safe environment after assaults |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-public-schools-superintendent-scott-ziegler-sex-assault-students-response |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211015213025/https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-public-schools-superintendent-scott-ziegler-sex-assault-students-response |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=WJLA-TV}}</ref> Later that month, the perpetrator's lawyer disputed the characterization of his then-client as gender fluid or transgender.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Caputo |first=Marc |date=October 28, 2021 |title=School sexual assault roils Virginia governor's race |url=https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2021/10/28/sexual-assault-schools-virginia-governor-race-517481 |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=www.politico.com}}</ref>
At a school board meeting on October 12, 2021, parents criticized the handling of the assaults, expressing fear for their children's safety in Loudoun County Public Schools and calling for the school board, and superintendent Ziegler, to resign.<ref name="WaPo" /> During an October 15, 2021 press conference, Ziegler acknowledged that the school system had "failed to provide the safe, welcoming, and affirming environment" they aspired to.<ref name="WP20211015" /><ref name="WJLA" /><ref name="change on handling">{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Loudoun Schools Head Promises Change on Handling of Sex Assault Reports |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/loudoun-schools-superintendent-sex-assault-cases-lcps-stone-bridge-high-broad-run-high/2832259/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211018204310/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/loudoun-schools-superintendent-sex-assault-cases-lcps-stone-bridge-high-broad-run-high/2832259/ |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=NBC Washington}}</ref> He went on to state that federal policy contained in Title IX had required a full investigation of the assaults before certain disciplinary actions were allowed to be taken and that he would lobby for changes to this part of Title IX.<ref name="WP20211015" /><ref name="WJLA" /><ref name="change on handling" /> He also proposed local policy changes that he said would "place greater emphasis on victim rights".<ref name="WJLA" /><ref name="change on handling" /> These local changes, Ziegler said, would ensure the future separation of "alleged offenders from the general student body" and allow disciplinary actions to begin before the end of any future investigations of assault.<ref name="WP20211015" />
A September 29, 2021 letter from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to President Joe Biden characterized parents from various school board meetings as "domestic terrorists", including the father of the Stone Bridge victim, citing his arrest at the June 22 meeting. In October 2021, the father demanded an apology and retraction from the NSBA. His attorneys said that the NSBA released an apology to other NSBA members on October 22 but "did not include any specific apology" to him or other parents.<ref name="WJLA25">{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Scott |date=October 25, 2021 |title=Loudoun County assault victim's dad wants apology for being called 'domestic terrorist' |url=https://wjla.com/features/i-team/loudoun-county-public-school-parents-called-domestic-terrorists-scott-smith-sex-assault-victim-father-wants-apology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211026060421/https://wjla.com/features/i-team/loudoun-county-public-school-parents-called-domestic-terrorists-scott-smith-sex-assault-victim-father-wants-apology |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=WJLA-TV}}</ref>
School students across Loudoun County, including students at Stone Bridge High School and Broad Run High School, performed walkout protests on October 26, 2021, in support of the victims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Scott |date=October 26, 2021 |title='This is BS': Loudoun County, Va. students walk out in protest of sexual assault reports |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-public-schools-virginia-students-walkout-protest-stone-bridge-high-bathroom-sexual-assault |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211026172609/https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-public-schools-virginia-students-walkout-protest-stone-bridge-high-bathroom-sexual-assault |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |website=WJLA-TV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Downey |first=Caroline |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Loudoun County Students Stage Walk-Outs to Protest Sexual Assault in Schools |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/loudoun-county-students-stage-walk-outs-to-protest-sexual-assault-in-schools/ |url-status=live |magazine=National Review |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211026175307/https://www.nationalreview.com/news/loudoun-county-students-stage-walk-outs-to-protest-sexual-assault-in-schools/ |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref>
During his successful campaign for governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin responded to the assaults by arguing for an increased police presence in the state's schools.<ref name="political firestorm" /> On his first day in office, January 15, 2022, Youngkin signed an executive order requesting that the Virginia Attorney General, Jason Miyares, conduct an investigation into the school system's handling of the assaults.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cain |first=Andrew |title=Youngkin signs executive orders to bar 'critical race theory,' COVID-19 mandates |url=https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/youngkin-signs-executive-orders-to-bar-critical-race-theory-covid-19-mandates/article_72423217-d285-5946-86f5-5a55274cd7a4.html |access-date=2022-01-26 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref>
The assaults coincided with vocal opposition among some parents towards the Loudoun County school system's COVID-19 prevention strategies and racial equity programs.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Saul |first=Stephanie |date=2021-11-14 |title=How a School District Got Caught in Virginia's Political Maelstrom |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/14/us/loudoun-county-school-board-va.html |access-date=2022-01-26 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Amid these controversies, several members of the Loudoun County School Board were harassed and received death threats.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Death threats, online abuse, police protection: School board members face dark new reality |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/death-threats-online-abuse-police-protection-school-board-members-face-dark-new-reality/2021/11/09/db007706-37fe-11ec-9bc4-86107e7b0ab1_story.html |access-date=2022-01-26 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' noted that conservative media coverage of the assaults "zeroed in on the transgender angle",<ref name=":1" /> and Youngkin's Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, argued that conservatives were exploiting the issue as a "transphobic dog whistle".<ref name=":0" /> ''The New York Times'' further noted that early media coverage of the assaults failed to report that the victim and assailant "had an ongoing sexual relationship" before the assault occurred "and had arranged to meet in the bathroom."<ref name=":1" />
On March 8, 2022, the Loudoun County School Board voted to adopt an overhaul of the school's Title IX policies that had been in development since the beginning of 2020. Under the reformed policy, a Title IX coordinator is charged with ensuring an immediate investigation and response to instances of "sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Loudoun school system updates Title IX policies after much-criticized handling of sex assault cases |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/09/loudoun-schools-update-title-ix-policies/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-09 |title=Loudoun Co. schools tweak Title IX policies after assaults |url=https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2022/03/loudoun-co-schools-tweak-title-ix-policies-in-wake-of-sex-assaults/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}</ref> The reformed policy also states, "If appropriate and regardless of whether a criminal or regulatory investigation regarding the alleged conduct is pending, the school division shall promptly take interim action to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for all students."<ref name=":2" />
==== Dismissal and criminal conviction of Superintendent Ziegler ==== On December 6, 2022, Superintendent of LCPS Scott Ziegler was fired with immediate effect by a unanimous vote after a closed session school board meeting.<ref name="WTOP-07Dec2022">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-07 |title=Loudoun Superintendent Scott Ziegler fired |url=https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2022/12/loudoun-co-school-board-fires-superintendent-scott-ziegler/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}</ref> He was fired due to the school district's response to the 2021 sexual assault cases. Specifically, a grand jury report had concluded that Ziegler was informed about the assault on the day that it happened but he later lied about his knowledge of the event during a school board meeting the following month.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Loudoun fires superintendent after grand jury blasts schools' handling of sex assaults |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/12/07/loudoun-superintendent-scott-ziegler-fired/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Glenn Youngkin reacted on December 7, 2022, by tweeting "The special grand jury’s report on the horrific sexual assaults in Loudoun has exposed wrongdoing, prompted disciplinary actions, & provided families with the truth. I will continue to empower parents & push for accountability on behalf of our students."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tarrant |first=Tavleen |date=2022-12-08 |title=A Virginia superintendent is fired after a state report into handling of sexual assaults at school is issued |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/us/virginia-school-superintendent-fired-report-sexual-assaults/index.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Ziegler's removal was faced with positive statements from people in Loudoun County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saiyid|first=Amena H. |title=LCPS Superintendent Scott Ziegler fired |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/education/lcps-superintendent-scott-ziegler-fired/article_6924bdf8-75d9-11ed-9fb0-6f16e7609ebe.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=LoudounTimes.com |language=en}}</ref> According to a source, because he was dismissed "without cause", Ziegler will continue to receive full benefits and his $323,000 annual salary for the next year.<ref name ="WTOP-07Dec2022" /> Three criminal charges against Zeigler were made public days later, on December 12, following a judicial order to unseal the grand jury indictments against him and a district employee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Poff |first=Jeremiah |date=12 December 2022 |title=Loudoun grand jury indicts ousted Superintendent Scott Ziegler following report on sexual assault response |work=Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/loudoun-special-grand-jury-issues-indictments-against-former-superintendent-scott-ziegler}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cho |first1=Aimee |last2=Stabley |first2=Matthew |last3=Barakat |first3=Matthew |last4=Wilder |first4=Drew |date=12 December 2022 |title=Former Loudoun County Superintendent Indicted by Special Grand Jury |work=NBC Washington |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/former-loudoun-county-superintendent-indicted-by-special-grand-jury/3231538/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davison |first=Kate |date=12 December 2022 |title=Loudoun Co. former superintendent Ziegler, school official indicted by special grand jury |work=7News |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-schools-indictments-grand-jury-charges-scott-ziegler-wayde-byard-pio-superintendent-virginia-attorney-general-jason-miyares-lcps-sex-assaults-report-cases-fired-interim-emergency-meeting-va-education}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jouvenal |first1=Justin |last2=Natanson |first2=Hannah |date=12 December 2022 |title=Former Loudoun superintendent, schools spokesman indicted by Va. grand jury |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/12/12/loudoun-school-officials-indicted-by-virginia-special-grand-jury/}}</ref>
On 29 September 2023, a jury found Ziegler guilty of retaliating against a teacher in a separate case. The teacher had reported repeated sexual assaults from a student and that Ziegler had retaliated after she went public about her treatment and lack of a response from school administrators.<ref>Jouvenal, Justin, "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/09/29/loudoun-superintendent-ziegler-retaliation/ Former Loudoun schools chief guilty of retaliating against teacher]", ''Washington Post'', 29 September 2023</ref> In March, 2024, Judge Joseph Fleming, citing a legal error, set aside the guilty verdict. A move which Courthouse News Service called a "victory" for Ziegler.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hennessy |first=Joan |date=March 6, 2024 |title=Judge withdraws guilty verdict of school superintendent charged with retaliation |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-withdraws-guilty-verdict-of-school-superintendent-charged-with-retaliation/ |access-date=September 15, 2024 |website=Courthouse News Service}}</ref>
=== Fentanyl overdoses === In September and October 2023, 19 students at Loudoun schools overdosed on fentanyl. At least four of the overdoses took place on school property at Park View High School, with medical personnel administering Narcan in three cases and CPR twice. LCPS officials delayed informing other parents in the school community of the overdoses for almost three weeks, prompting Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin to issue an executive order mandating public schools notify all parents within a school division of a school-related overdose occurring within 24 hours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Governor Glenn Youngkin Issues Executive Order to Prevent Student Overdoses and Require Prompt Parental Notification |url=https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2023/november/name-1016638-en.html |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=www.governor.virginia.gov |language=en}}</ref>
=== Title IX<!-- There is a technical issue here on Wikipedia that is causing this citation (https://wjla.com/news/local/jason-miyares-glenn-youngkin-loudoun-county-public-schools-lcps-school-board-locker-room-recording-title-ix-transgender-nonbinary-policy-8040-boys-girls-donald-trump-department-justice-education) not to be cited, and instead puts one of the Washington Post citations in -->=== Loudoun County Public Schools has been heavily criticized by parents, and the Attorney General of Virginia, Jason Miyares, for "weaponizing" their Title IX policy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minock |first=Nick |date=2025-06-02 |title=VA AG Miyares says LCPS is 'weaponizing' Title IX, has 'pattern of bad judgment' |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/jason-miyares-glenn-youngkin-loudoun-county-public-schools-lcps-school-board-locker-room-recording-title-ix-transgender-nonbinary-policy-8040-boys-girls-donald-trump-department-justice-education |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=WJLA |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Minock |first=Nick |date=2025-06-09 |title=Loudoun Co. parents say LCPS wrongly accused their 9-year-old of attempted sexual assault |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/loudoun-county-parents-wrongly-accused-sexually-assault-round-hill-elementary-boy-child-title-ix-school-investigation-leaders-superintendent-legal-reactions-documents |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=WJLA |language=en}}</ref>
Around October 2024, Loudoun County Public Schools opened a Title IX investigation against three boys, who attended Stone Bridge High School, for voicing concerns to each other about a female student using the boy's locker room.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Minock |first=Nick |date=2025-05-05 |title=Exclusive: LCPS investigates boys uncomfortable with female student in boys locker room |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-loudoun-county-public-schools-lcps-gender-identity-boys-locker-room-female-student-policy-8040-president-donald-trump-stone-bridge-high-school-title-ix-complaint-department-of-education-bathroom |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=WJLA |language=en}}</ref> One of the students, who was Christian, told his PE teacher, Hunter Manspile, about his objection to sharing a locker room with a female student, and was told not to mention anything about the situation.<ref name=":3" /> On May 6, 2025, the Attorney General of Virginia, Jason Miyares, launched an investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools for retaliation against the three boys.<ref>{{Cite web |title=May 6, 2025 - Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares Announce Investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools |url=https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2864-may-6-2025-governor-youngkin-and-attorney-general-miyares-announce-investigation-into-loudoun-county-public-schools |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=www.oag.state.va.us |language=en-GB}}</ref> Loudoun County Public Schools was found "weaponizing" their Title IX policy during Attorney General Miyares' investigation into LCPS.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=June 2, 2025 - Attorney General Miyares Announces Results of Title IX Investigation into LCPS |url=https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/2870-june-2-2025-attorney-general-miyares-announces-results-of-title-ix-investigation-into-lcps |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=www.oag.state.va.us |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Schools==
=== High schools ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ High schools in Loudoun County, Virginia ! Name ! Location ! Mascot |- |Briar Woods High School |Ashburn |Falcons |- |- |Broad Run High School |Ashburn |Spartans |- |- |Dominion High School |Sterling |Titans |- |- |Freedom High School |South Riding |Eagles |- |- |Heritage High School |Leesburg |Pride |- |- |Independence High School |Ashburn |Tigers |- |- |John Champe High School |Aldie |Knights |- |- |Lightridge High School |Aldie |Lightning Bolts |- |- |Loudoun County High School |Leesburg |Captains |- |- |Loudoun Valley High School |Purcellville |Vikings |- |- |Park View High School |Sterling |Patriots |- |- |Potomac Falls High School |Sterling |Panthers |- |- |Riverside High School |Leesburg |Rams |- |- |Rock Ridge High School |Ashburn |Phoenix |- |- |Stone Bridge High School |Ashburn |Bulldogs |- |- |Tuscarora High School |Leesburg |Huskies |- |- |Woodgrove High School |Purcellville |Wolverines |- |}
===Magnet schools===
thumb|Academies of Loudoun from bus loop
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Magnet schools in Loudoun County, Virginia ! Name ! Location ! Mascot ! Notes |- |Academies of Loudoun |Leesburg | Raptors | STEM-focused magnet school that houses three programs: Monroe Advanced Technical Academy (MATA),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monroe Advanced Technical Academy |url=https://www.lcps.org/o/acl/page/mata |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251011184654/https://www.lcps.org/o/acl/page/mata |archive-date=October 11, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Loudoun County Public Schools}}</ref> Academy of Science (AOS), and the Academy of Engineering & Technology (AET).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academy of Engineering & Technology |url=https://www.lcps.org/o/acl/page/aet |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119045449/https://www.lcps.org/o/acl/page/aet |archive-date=November 19, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Loudoun County Public Schools}}</ref> |- |- |Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology |Alexandria |Colonials |Public magnet high school in the Fairfax County Public Schools district. LCPS students are eligible <ref>{{Cite web |title=TJHSST Eligibility Requirements - Fairfax County Public Schools |url=https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-admissions/eligibility-requirements |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=www.fcps.edu |language=en}}</ref> to apply to TJHSST. |- |}
=== Middle schools ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Middle schools in Loudoun County, Virginia ! Name ! Location ! Notes |- |Belmont Ridge Middle School |Leesburg | |- |- |Blue Ridge Middle School |Purcellville | |- |- |Brambleton Middle School |Ashburn |Grade 8 only, Grades 6 and 7 attend Watson Mountain<ref name="AttendanceMap1">{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2025 |title=2025–2026 Attendance Zone |url=https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4461/Support/e6e12423-9589-4fb9-9798-75b72e063938/Brambleton_WatsonMountainMS25-26.pdf?disposition=inline |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250912000401/https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4461/Support/e6e12423-9589-4fb9-9798-75b72e063938/Brambleton_WatsonMountainMS25-26.pdf?disposition=inline |archive-date=September 12, 2025 |access-date=February 13, 2026 |website=Loudoun County Public Schools}}</ref> |- |- |Eagle Ridge Middle School |Ashburn | |- |- |Farmwell Station Middle School |Ashburn | |- |- |Gum Spring Middle School |Aldie |formerly Mercer Middle School |- |- |Harmony Middle School |Hamilton |formerly Harmony Intermediate School |- |- |Harper Park Middle School |Leesburg | |- |- |J. Lupton Simpson Middle School |Leesburg | |- |- |J. Michael Lunsford Middle School |Chantilly | |- |- |River Bend Middle School |Sterling | |- |- |Seneca Ridge Middle School |Sterling | |- |- |Smart's Mill Middle School |Leesburg | |- |- |Sterling Middle School | Sterling | |- |- |Stone Hill Middle School |Ashburn | |- |- |Trailside Middle School |Ashburn | |- |- |Watson Mountain Middle School |Leesburg |Grades 6 and 7 only, Grade 8 attends Brambleton<ref name="AttendanceMap1" /> |- |- |Willard Middle School |Aldie |formerly Willard Intermediate School |- |}
===Elementary schools===
''Serves grades K–5.''
*Aldie Elementary School, Aldie *Algonkian Elementary School, Sterling *Arcola Elementary School, Aldie *Ashburn Elementary School, Ashburn *Ball's Bluff Elementary School, Leesburg *Banneker Elementary School, Saint Louis *Belmont Station Elementary School, Ashburn *Buffalo Trail Elementary School, Aldie *Cardinal Ridge Elementary School, Centreville *Catoctin Elementary School, Leesburg *Cedar Lane Elementary School, Ashburn *Cool Spring Elementary School, Leesburg *Countryside Elementary School, Sterling *Creighton's Corner Elementary School, Ashburn *Discovery Elementary School, Ashburn *Dominion Trail Elementary School, Ashburn *Elaine E. Thompson Elementary School, Arcola *Emerick Elementary School, Purcellville *Evergreen Mill Elementary School, Leesburg *Forest Grove Elementary School, Sterling *Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Leesburg *Goshen Post Elementary School, Aldie *Guilford Elementary School, Sterling *Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton *Henrietta Lacks Elementary School (grades PreK-2), Aldie *Hillsboro Charter Academy (formerly Hillsboro Elementary School), Purcellville *Hillside Elementary School, Ashburn *Horizon Elementary School, Sterling *Hovatter Elementary School (grades 3-5), Aldie *Hutchison Farm Elementary School, South Riding *John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School, Leesburg *Kenneth Culbert Elementary School, Hamilton *Leesburg Elementary School, Leesburg *Legacy Elementary School, Ashburn *Liberty Elementary School, South Riding *Lincoln Elementary School, Purcellville *Little River Elementary School, South Riding *Lovettsville Elementary School, Lovettsville *Lowes Island Elementary School, Sterling *Lucketts Elementary School, Leesburg *Madison's Trust Elementary School, Ashburn *Meadowland Elementary School, Sterling *Middleburg Community Charter School (formerly Middleburg Elementary School), Middleburg *Mill Run Elementary School, Ashburn *Moorefield Station Elementary School, Ashburn *Mountain View Elementary School, Purcellville *Newton-Lee Elementary School, Ashburn *Pinebrook Elementary School, Aldie *Potowmack Elementary School, Sterling *Richard and Mildred Loving Elementary School (Formerly Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School), Leesburg *Rolling Ridge Elementary School, Sterling *Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School, Ashburn *Round Hill Elementary School, Round Hill *Sanders Corner Elementary School, Ashburn *Seldens Landing Elementary School, Lansdowne *Sterling Elementary School, Sterling *Steuart W. Weller Elementary School, Ashburn *Sugarland Elementary School, Sterling *Sully Elementary School, Sterling *Sycolin Creek Elementary School, Leesburg *Waterford Elementary School, Waterford *Waxpool Elementary School, Ashburn
===Alternative schools===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Alternative secondary-level school programs in Loudoun County, Virginia ! Name ! Location ! Notes |- | The North Star School (formerly Douglass School) |Leesburg | Programs focused on students who may benefit from more extensive individualized academic and social support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The North Star School |url=https://www.lcps.org/o/nss |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251027050159/https://www.lcps.org/o/nss |archive-date=October 27, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Loudoun County Public Schools}}</ref> |- |- |William O. Robey High School |Sterling |Non-traditional high school intended to serve students that are working, parenting, or otherwise need to earn credits more quickly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Choose Robey - William Obediah Robey High School |url=https://www.lcps.org/o/wor/page/why-choose-robey |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=www.lcps.org}}</ref> Co-located with Dominion High School |- |}
== Special programs ==
=== Dual Language Immersion (DLI) ===
In 2023, LCPS launched a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program at Potowmack Elementary School in Sterling and Sanders Corner Elementary School in Ashburn. The program is open to all kindergarten students in the district, and enrollment is determined through a lottery system.
In the program, students spend half of each school day learning math, science, language arts, and computer science in Spanish, and the other half studying social studies and English language arts in English.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonk |first=Valerie |date=August 25, 2023 |title=New dual language immersion program kicks off with new school year in Loudoun Co. |url=https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2023/08/new-dual-language-immersion-program-kicks-off-with-new-school-year-in-loudoun-co/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250725012837/https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2023/08/new-dual-language-immersion-program-kicks-off-with-new-school-year-in-loudoun-co/ |archive-date=July 25, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}</ref>
As of 2024, the current program is expected to expand through each grade level at the existing schools up to the fifth grade, with each grade being added during each subsequent year through fiscal year 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2024 |title=Dual Language Immersion Update |url=https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/files/D3QJTZ4D2F97/$file/DLI%20SPC%20April%202024%20-%20Teaching%20and%20Learning.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240508051051/https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/files/D3QJTZ4D2F97/$file/DLI%20SPC%20April%202024%20-%20Teaching%20and%20Learning.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |access-date=February 13, 2026 |website=Loudoun County Public Schools}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Virginia|Schools}} *List of school divisions in Virginia
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * [https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/loudoun-co-pblc-schs-105672 LCPS] at ''U.S. News & World Report''{{'}}s Best High Schools
{{Loudoun County Public Schools}} {{Loudoun County, Virginia topics}} {{authority control}}
Category:School divisions in Virginia Category:Education in Loudoun County, Virginia Category:Education in Northern Virginia Category:1870 establishments in Virginia Category:Government in Loudoun County, Virginia