Emerging Technology, Quantum Education

Quantum Computer Arrives in Public Education, Fairfax County Schools Leads Way

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September 26, 2026 by Ivy Delaney

Fairfax County Public Schools will install the world’s first quantum computer directly within a public high school, with Skyview High School designated as the location for this learning environment. The system, described as being about the size of a small refrigerator, is designed to demystify quantum technology and provide hands-on experience for students exploring fields from cybersecurity to medicine.

Students will apply the computer to practical problems, such as “finding the most efficient way to organize a schedule,” and compare its approach to traditional computing methods. “Our responsibility is to prepare our students for their future and not our past,” said FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid, emphasizing the initiative’s focus on skills for careers that do not yet exist.

FCPS and Partners Launch First K-12 Quantum Computer Program

Skyview High School will be a regional hub for quantum learning following the installation of an operational quantum computer expected in December, a development facilitated by a partnership between Fairfax County Public Schools, Connected DMV, and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Through Connected DMV’s Potomac Quantum Innovation Center, FCPS and its partners are actively building connections with researchers and federal laboratories throughout Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, extending the reach of this educational opportunity beyond a single school. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority will further integrate this initiative with the local business and technology community, providing students with direct exposure to industry leaders and emerging career paths within quantum technology.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan Balasubramanian, Founder and CEO of XeedQ, emphasized the need for a proactive approach to quantum education, stating, “Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology, and it demands a refreshing approach to education.” He explained that waiting for the technology to mature before introducing it to students would be a disservice, and that hands-on experience with real hardware is important for building a skilled quantum workforce in the United States. XeedQ’s partnership with FCPS aims to achieve this by allowing students to participate in breakthroughs as they happen, fostering a deeper understanding of the technology from its foundations.

This hands-on experience will extend beyond theoretical understanding, equipping students with valuable skills in coding, mathematics, experimentation, data analysis, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The program will initially launch as a quantum computing pathway, with potential expansion into a credit-bearing course offering dual-enrollment opportunities and industry-recognized credentials.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid stated, “Their future is yet to be imagined with careers that do not yet exist.” She further elaborated that this initiative creates meaningful and authentic learning experiences, connecting students’ passions and talents with industry leaders and community partners, ultimately building their confidence and preparing them for an ever-changing world.

George D. Thomas, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, echoed this sentiment, asserting that providing Fairfax County students with hands-on access to this emerging technology is important, ensuring they are well-positioned to fill the roles in the growing quantum industry within the Greater Washington area. The initiative reflects FCPS’s broader commitment to 22nd century learning, providing students with opportunities to explore emerging technologies and develop real-world skills.

Reid added, “These are the kinds of opportunities that help students discover what is possible, build the skills and confidence to navigate an ever-changing world, and ultimately lead us into the future.” Student learning experiences utilizing the quantum computer are scheduled to begin in spring 2027.

Fairfax County Public Schools is taking a pioneering step by putting a real quantum computer in the hands of students.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan Balasubramanian, Founder and CEO of XeedQ

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Avatar of Ivy Delaney

Ivy Delaney

Ivy Delaney has been working with neural networks and machine learning since the mid-nineties, back when a couple of hidden layers and a long afternoon of training counted as ambitious. She has watched the field go from academic curiosity to the thing quietly running underneath everything, and she brings that long view to quantum computing. For Quantum Zeitgeist she covers the ground where the two fields meet. That means quantum machine learning and the variational algorithms it leans on, and it also means the less glamorous but more interesting story of classical machine learning already doing real work inside quantum machines, decoding error-correcting codes, calibrating noisy hardware and learning the error models that simulators depend on. She writes about the hardware those algorithms have to run on too, and about the post-quantum cryptography scramble that the same hardware has set off. Her stories typically start with the paper, whether that is peer-reviewed work, conference proceedings or an arXiv preprint, with the source linked so you can hold a claim up against the research it came from. She is unimpressed by benchmarks that will not say what they beat, and by demonstrations that only work in the press release.

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