School History
Opening Date: September 1998
Fort Belvoir Primary School, a Fairfax County public school, opened its doors in September 1998 as Fort Belvoir Elementary School, serving military-connected students in grades pre-K-6. The school replaced the three existing elementary schools (Cheney, Markham, and Barden) that closed in June 1998 and is one of the largest elementary schools within Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Washington Metropolitan area.
In the summer of 2014, Fairfax County Public Schools was awarded $23,798,603 in grant federal funds by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) which was combined with $5,949,651 in non-federal matching funds to expand Fort Belvoir Elementary School by building another school building on an adjoining piece of land at the U.S. Army installation at Fort Belvoir, and to renovate the existing elementary school on the base. Funding for the grant was provided under the DOD's Public Schools on Military Installations program.
The new school, Fort Belvoir Upper School, opened on September 6, 2016. This school houses students in grades 4-6, while children in grades pre-K-3 attend Fort Belvoir Primary School. Our schools now have a total available capacity for approximately 1,594 students, which will allow FCPS to address both current and future capacity needs and allow for enrollment growth.
Fort Belvoir Elementary facilities are fully networked and equipped with the latest technologies. iPADS, document cameras, SMARTBoards, multiple wireless mobile and stationary computer labs, and computers found within each classroom immerse students in tools for the digital age. Staff members participate in ongoing training to naturally embed instructional technology tools into day-to-day instruction.
We applied for and were awarded a 1.5 million dollar STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) in 2010 and a 1.6 million dollar STEAM grant in 2013. Operation Patriotic STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) provides extended learning for students after-school and during the summer. The school has a STEAM Lab, Science Center and a STEAM resource teacher providing inquiry-based hands-on lessons to all students. New this year, through Fairfax County Public Schools staffing, our school also has a Technology Integration Resource Teacher who instructs students in grades K-6. Fort Belvoir has outdoor classrooms that include native plant gardens and vegetable gardens that enable students to collect authentic data. The STEAM programming is enhanced through our STEAM Innovative Pyramid of Schools, relationships with business partners and professionals that continue to support teachers in making connections to STEAM careers.
Fort Belvoir Elementary special education programming and Advanced Academic programs serve students in Pre-K through Grade 6 and provide varied supports for students qualifying for services. Fort Belvoir Elementary School (FBES) received funding from the Department of Education Activity (DoDEA) for a new program, Mindful Attention to Instruction (MATI). This program has three main components:
- Math intervention programming for students who need assistance beyond Core Instruction
- A new curriculum called "Mindful Schools". This program will provide students with the essential life skills of being mindful of ones feelings and emotions in a non-judgmental way in order to regulate them, allowing them to achieve to their fullest potential.
- Finally, the MATI program will increase parent understanding of the school's special education programs and policies by offering a family outreach training program to encourage constructive parent involvement, thereby having a beneficial effect on student achievement.
Band, Strings, and Choral programs are offered to develop and support our budding musicians. Student leadership is nurtured through such programs as Safety Patrols, Student Council Association, Peer Mediators and WFBES News Show.
Our PTO continues to support strong home/school partnerships and offers extra-curricular activities in a variety of ways to include, but not limited to a Scholastic Book Fair, a Parent Volunteer Program, a School Store, and Spirit Wear. Dedicated volunteers support all aspects of school-based operations.