Fairfax County Schools Plans Quantum Computer Program at High School

Insider Brief

• Fairfax County Public Schools plans to install an operational quantum computer at Skyview High School, giving K-12 students hands-on access to quantum computing.
• The system is expected to be installed in December, with student learning experiences beginning in spring 2027 through a planned quantum computing pathway.
• FCPS, Connected DMV, FCEDA and XeedQ are developing the program as part of a broader effort to connect students with universities, researchers, federal laboratories and the regional quantum industry.

PRESS RELEASE — Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is making history through a groundbreaking partnership with Connected DMV and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) 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.

This partnership creates a unique opportunity for FCPS students 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 the computers we use every day. They will explore fundamental quantum concepts, test problems such as finding the most efficient way to organize a schedule, and compare how a quantum computer approaches a problem with how a traditional computer would solve it. Along the way, students will learn not only what quantum computing can do, but also its current limitations.