Fairfax County Public Schools is making history through a groundbreaking partnership with Connected DMV and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority that will bring an operational quantum computer directly to students at Skyview High School, creating a first-of-its-kind opportunity for K-12 public education.
The partnership gives FCPS students the chance to work with an emerging science as it moves from research laboratories into fields such as cybersecurity, medicine, materials science, finance, logistics, and national security.
The quantum computer planned for Skyview is about the size of a small refrigerator and is designed for learning. Students will have hands-on experience with a technology that operates very differently from everyday computers, exploring fundamental quantum concepts, testing problems such as finding the most efficient way to organize a schedule, and comparing how a quantum computer approaches a problem with how a traditional computer would solve it. They will also learn about the technology's current limitations.
Students will develop skills in coding, mathematics, experimentation, data analysis, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
"Our responsibility is to prepare our students for their future not our past. Their future is yet to be imagined with careers that do not yet exist," said FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid. "This initiative creates meaningful and authentic learning experiences that connect our students' unique passions and talents with industry leaders, educators, and community partners."
The system is expected to be installed in December, with student learning experiences beginning in spring 2027. The program will begin with a quantum computing pathway and may grow into a credit-bearing course with dual-enrollment opportunities and industry-recognized credentials.
"Fairfax County Public Schools is taking a pioneering step by putting a real quantum computer in the hands of students," said Dr. Gopalakrishnan Balasubramanian, Founder and CEO of XeedQ. "Students need to be part of the breakthroughs as they happen, learning on real hardware and understanding the technology from the inside."
Skyview is also expected to become a regional hub for quantum learning. Through Connected DMV's Potomac Quantum Innovation Center, FCPS and its partners are working to build connections with universities, researchers, federal laboratories, and other school systems across Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
"Regions that lead in quantum will be the ones that build the talent first," said George D. Thomas, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. "The quantum companies growing in Greater Washington today will hire from this generation, and we intend to have them ready."