Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is making history through a partnership with Connected DMV and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) that will bring an operational XeedQ quantum computer directly to students at Skyview High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. It will be the world’s first quantum computer in a K-12 school. The plans were unveiled on stage at Quantum World Congress 2026 (QWC26), where FCPS, Connected DMV, FCEDA, and XeedQ discussed what happens when a real quantum computer is put in the hands of students.
The four-qubit XeedQ system planned for Skyview is about the size of a small refrigerator, operates at room temperature, and is designed for learning. Students 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 classical computer would solve it. Along the way, they will learn not only what quantum computing can do, but also its current limitations.
“Our responsibility is to prepare our students for their future and 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.”
“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. “Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology, and it demands a refreshing approach to education. We cannot wait for quantum computing to mature and then teach the next generation how to use it. Students need to be part of the breakthroughs as they happen, learning on real hardware and understanding the technology from the inside. This is how we build the quantum workforce the United States needs, and we are proud to partner with FCPS to make that possible, and take this pioneering first step.”
“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. “Putting a working quantum computer in a public high school gives Fairfax County students hands-on access to a technology most people only read about. The quantum companies growing in Greater Washington today will hire from this generation, and we intend to have them ready.”
The system is expected to be installed in December 2026, 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. 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 building connections with universities, researchers, federal laboratories, and other school systems across Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
For XeedQ, the project is the natural next step after its programmes with universities in Germany and India: a compact system that runs without cryogenic infrastructure, can live in a classroom, and gives learners access from Qiskit circuits down to pulse-level control of the diamond spin qubits.
A Quantum Leap for Public Education: Fairfax County Public Schools to Host the World’s First K-12 Quantum Computer (Connected DMV; originally published by Fairfax County Public Schools, 25 September 2026)
