2 West Springfield Schools Named 2020 Purple Star Schools

WEST SPRINGFIELD, VA — Two schools in West Springfield have been named Purple Star Schools by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The designation identifies military-friendly schools that have demonstrated commitments to meet the needs of military families.

The schools recognized in 2020 are Keene Mill Elementary School and West Springfield Elementary School. There were 18 Fairfax County public schools named Purple Star schools in 2019, and 14 in 2018, the first year of the program. Springfield area schools that were designated in 2019 were Key Center, Orange Hunt Elementary and Saratoga Elementary.

To qualify, schools must have a point of contact for military students and families. In addition, the schools must provide resources and programming on issues important to military families, which could include academic planning and transitions between schools, districts and states. Fairfax County Public Schools offers online planning resources for military families, covering moves to and from the county, academic programs and more.

Schools maintain the Purple Star designation for three years before they must reapply.