Fairfax County Public Schools is changing how middle and high school students learn reading and writing, according to a May 22 announcement. The district is raising expectations for students while providing extra support when needed, with the goal of building student confidence and helping them understand more challenging texts.
The Academic Matters presentation on Secondary Literacy outlined that results are already evident. In fall 2025, the number of eighth grade students reading on or near grade level increased by 15.4% compared to the previous year. By winter 2026, fewer middle and high school students were considered at risk in reading. To further support student growth, schools created more than 7,100 personalized reading plans during the current academic year.
At Robinson Secondary School, teachers have shifted their focus toward deeper understanding rather than simple recall of material. Learning disabilities teacher Athena Burkett said, “The texts that students read every day are much more challenging than before. And it’s been exciting to see that they can do it.”
Teachers use both whole-class lessons and small-group instruction with state-approved materials to help all learners. Programs such as Lexia and NoRedInk provide practice in vocabulary and grammar skills, which has contributed to greater student engagement. English teacher Laura said, “Our students have become much more resilient over the past two years. They’re starting to understand that it’s okay for reading to be hard. It’s okay to not get an ‘A’ right away.”
For those needing additional help, Fairfax County Public Schools offers targeted support including small group work led by specialists like Michele McNiff at Thoreau Middle School, who focuses on decoding words and comprehension strategies with her students. The Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System allows teachers to identify specific needs for each learner so they can offer focused assistance.
McNiff said multilingual learners often show strong progress when literacy interventions are combined with English language classes: “I love it when our multilingual students pass the WIDA test and come back and say, ‘I wasn’t excited about the extra help, but I know it worked.’” Laura added that these efforts prepare young people for life beyond school: “The skills we teach aren’t just about English,” she said. “They’re about helping students grow into the people they want to become.”