Fairfax County Public Schools more than doubled its inclusive sports programming over the past year, growing its Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program from 23 to 49 campuses countywide.

The 113 percent expansion, announced Monday, means more FCPS students with and without intellectual disabilities will compete on the same teams when the 2026-27 school year begins. Unified Sports pairs roughly equal numbers of athletes with disabilities and general-education partners on the same roster. The Virginia High School League officially sanctions the program and offers grants of up to $1,500 per school to launch a first Unified Sport, with $1,000 available for a second and third.

At Annandale High School, one of the program's flagship campuses, practices are built directly into the school day so every student gets equal court time. The school's annual FanQuest basketball game and Inclusion Revolution Week have turned standard pep rallies into school-wide celebrations.

"Growth is not just happening for our Special Olympics athletes," said Jae Lee, vice principal at Annandale High School. "They are truly learning lifelong leadership skills."

Lee said promoting inclusion supports academic success across the student body, not only athletes in the program.

Three FCPS schools have earned the Unified Champion School Banner, a national honor from Special Olympics recognizing year-long inclusion standards: Bush Hill Elementary, Woodson High School and Marshall High School. At Bush Hill, teachers Lydia Peters and Mandy McGroarty run cross-grade reading buddies, unified basketball and track-and-field "Little Feet Meets."

According to the FCPS announcement, the district's long-term goal is for every school in the division to earn Unified Champion status, which would make Fairfax County a Unified Champions Division. Special Olympics Virginia says it leads North America in school-based K-12 program partnerships, with more than 400 statewide.

South Lakes High School posted the district announcement on its news page, though FCPS has not confirmed which specific schools are among the 26 new participants. Schools interested in joining for 2026-27 must commit to a two-year participation window.