Fairfax County Public Schools was named a recipient of the 2026 Gold Award for Achievement of Excellence by The Partnership for Excellence, according to a May 11 announcement. This marks the first time an education applicant has won the Gold Award during their initial application process.
The award is based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program and represents the region’s highest level of recognition that a U.S. organization can receive for demonstrating performance excellence, resilience, and long-term success. The evaluation process included comprehensive applications, site visits from more than a dozen Baldrige examiners, and interviews with staff members.
The assessment highlighted several best practices at Fairfax County Public Schools: visionary and ethical leadership from senior leaders; alignment of key processes across its 266 schools and centers; and a focus on students as primary judges of performance and quality.
Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, said, “I appreciate everyone on Team FCPS who helped us receive the prestigious Regional Gold Level Award, which reflects FCPS’ unwavering commitment to sustaining excellence for our students, staff, families, and all of Fairfax County. In addition, this award recognizes the best practices that set FCPS apart from other educational institutions: our visionary and ethical leadership, alignment of our key processes, and our relentless focus on students.”
Fairfax County Public Schools will be formally recognized at an awards banquet in September 2026. The district previously received Spirit and Pioneer awards from The Partnership for Excellence in 2025.