September 15 to October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 21 - Yom Kippur (School Holiday)

October 7 - PSAT (10th-11th Grade) / SAT (12th Grade) Day; No-School 9th grade/non-testers

June 8 - Class of 2027 Graduation Ceremony

Upcoming Events

September 15 to October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.

September 21 - Yom Kippur

Monday September 21, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.

October 7 - PSAT (10th-11th Grade) / SAT (12th Grade) Day; No-School 9th grade/non-testers

See the Testing Information section below for details.

June 8 - Class of 2027 Graduation Ceremony

Save the date! Class of 2027 Graduation Ceremony is on Tuesday, June 8, 2027, at 10:00 AM at DAR Constitution Hall.

Student Achievement

Do you know a student, club, or team that has done something amazing? We want to hear about it! We're looking for accomplishments big or small to feature on the school website and in our weekly newsletter. Whether it's an academic achievement, an athletic victory, a creative project, or an act of community service, we want to shine a spotlight on the incredible things happening at McLean. Please fill out our Google Form to submit an accomplishment. To see a full list of student accomplishments, check out the Student Recognitions page on the McLean website.

Back-to-School Information

Importance of Strong Attendance Habits

September is Attendance Awareness Month. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success by helping them build good habits.

For procedures and policies regarding student attendance, visit McLean High School's Attendance webpage here.

Attendance questions can be directed to Ms. Brigette Wood at bvwood@fcps.edu or Ms. Renee Yates at 703-714-5726.

Review and Sign the SR&R by September 30

The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12.

Families, please review the SR&R and discuss these expectations with your child. Be sure to sign the SR&R acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or signing and returning the Signature Sheet to our school.  

Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.

Morning Entry Update: Door #9 and Cafeteria Flow

To help prevent morning congestion and to keep student entry moving efficiently, we have made a minor adjustment to our weapons screening process at the rear of the building near The Rock and tennis courts.

Students entering from the back of the building should continue to approach Door #9 as usual. Staff members stationed at Door #9 will direct students into the adjacent Door #10, which opens directly into the cafeteria.

This new setup will allow our team to operate more efficiently and keep lines moving smoothly. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to make morning entry safe and hassle-free!

Wednesday Workshop

Wednesday Workshop Returns!

All students interested in receiving support in the core subjects and executive functioning are invited to attend Wednesday Workshop! Staff, in addition to peer tutors will be available to support students in the academic content areas. Late bus transportation is provided, buses depart at 4:45 PM.

• Where: Library
• When: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM every Wednesday

Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Ashley Lowry, aclowry@fcps.edu.  

Student Services

SEL Screener (Fall Administration) - Wednesday, October 14

The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in October. Students complete the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. At McLean High School, students in grades 9-12 will take the fall administration of the SEL Screener on Wednesday, October 14 during Advisory.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Contact Emily Williams (eswilliams1@fcps.edu), SEL Screener Lead, or Jenna Jablonski (jmjablonski@fcps.edu), Director of Student Services, with any questions.

Testing Information

SAT School Day and PSAT/NMSQT - Wednesday, October 7

SAT School Day and PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) exams will be held at each high school on Wednesday, October 7, at no cost to families. The digital SAT School Day exam is offered to 12th grade students who have pre-registered, and the digital PSAT/NMSQT exam is provided to all 10th and 11th grade students. 

Prior to test day, students will complete a digital readiness check during an advisory lesson at school. During the digital readiness check, students will see a voluntary pre-survey that asks questions about a variety of topics. You may opt out of this pre-survey for your student. If you choose to opt your student out of the pre-survey, please notify the Assessment Coach Melissa Sobchak at msobchak@fcps.edu by Thursday September 17, 2025, and include your student’s full legal name and FCPS ID number in the email.

9th and 12 Grader Unscheduled School Day - Wednesday, October 7

Due to PSAT and SAT testing, Wednesday October 7, 2026, will be an unscheduled school day for most 9th graders and 12th graders who have not registered for the SAT. On this day ninth and twelfth grade students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.

Please note that ninth grade students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (students receiving low incidence special education services) will continue to receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release on October 7.

If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT administration or alternative activities, please contact the Assessment Coach, Melissa Sobchak, at msobchak@fcps.edu.

Weekly Reminders

McLean HS Tech Support for Students