Coordinates -
Background Info Joyce Kilmer Middle School (Region 2,) is a public school named after the journalist and poet
Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918). The school feeds into
James Madison High School,
Oakton High School,
George C. Marshall High School,
Langley High School,
McLean High School, and also (with admission)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Elementary schools that primarily feed into Kilmer Middle School include:
Lemon Road Elementary School,
Shrevewood Elementary School,
Stenwood Elementary School,
Vienna Elementary School,
Westbriar Elementary School,
Westgate Elementary School,
Freedom Hill Elementary School, and
Louise Archer Elementary School. The mascot of Joyce Kilmer Middle School is the Cougar. The current principal of Joyce Kilmer Middle School is Steven McFarlane.
School Programs Kilmer Middle School has a Student Government Association (SGA). The group serves as a liaison between the student body and school administration. The SGA is composed of officers and representatives. Officers include the 7th & 8th Grade Presidents & Vice Presidents, a treasurer, and a secretary. The SGA officers for the 2025-2026 school year are Barbod Seifollahi (7th grade president), Sophie Al-Douri (8th grade president), Layal Elias (7th grade vice president), Silvia Amatos (8th vice president), Mia Song & Eden Lanfried (dual secretaries), and Hugo Brizzi (treasurer). Notably, the 7th grade president Barbod, also known as Barbie, had a fire campaign video. Kilmer competes in its annual basketball tournament versus their main rival: Thoreau Middle School. Four games will be played in the evening of the game: 7th grade girls, 8th grade girls, 7th grade boys, and 8th grade boys. The annual basketball tournament is more popularly known as "Crosstown Hoops." Kilmer is a designated Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Level IV Center. As of 2026, Kilmer consistently ranks in the Top 10 public middle schools in Fairfax County and the Top 40 in Virginia. Kilmer Middle School is well-known for its Science Olympiad team, which has historically been one of the top-performing teams in both the state of Virginia and at the national level. Kilmer Middle School has a program where School Students Get “Written Up” for Good Behavior. These kinds of write-ups, called “Positive Referrals,” happen frequently at Kilmer. Staff members recognize students’ good deeds and positive habits by writing about them on a small print-out card and displaying them in the school cafeteria window. The students also receive a coupon with the write-up, which they can spend on a piece of candy or bag of chips, donated by the Kilmer PTA, in the school cafeteria. The school offers many electives for 7th and 8th graders, including Family And Consumer Sciences (Home EC), Drama, Tech Tools, Inventions and Innovations, Technological Systems, and Advanced Technology Tools. Kilmer is also known for its outstanding band and orchestra program. Under the direction of conductor Sharon Bonneau, the Kilmer Symphonic band has been recognized as one of the best middle school bands in the state. The Kilmer Symphonic Orchestra, led by conductor Robert Katz has been recognized as one of the best middle school orchestras in the state. Orchestra classes at Kilmer (least to most advanced) include String Ensemble 1, String Ensemble 2, Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphonic Orchestra. Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra are both advanced-level classes. Additionally, Kilmer has a choir program led by Kevin Sapp.
Demographics and Statistics Kilmer's student body of approximately 1200 as of 2026 is 41.7% White, 26.3% Asian, 18.3% Hispanic, 4.8% Black, and less than 1% Native American. 22% of Kilmer students are recognized as economically disadvantaged. 48% of the teachers have a bachelor's degrees, and 52% have master's degrees. There are 88 full-time certified teachers with a student to teacher ratio of 14:1.
Administration The Kilmer Middle School administration is consisted of Principal Steven McFarlane, Asst. Principal Emily Castro, Asst. Principal Erin Kestler, Asst. Principal Nishi Langhorne, and Director of Student Services Sarah Groh. Additionally, Kilmer's Office of Student Services include Brian Sirdofsky (7th grade counselor L-Z), Cara Engel (7th grade counselor A-K), Kristen Reighard (8th grade counselor L-Z), and Kara Prokopius (8th grade counselor A-K).
No contact rule controversy In June 2007, Kilmer Middle School, a school in the FCPS system, attracted national controversy after a 13-year-old student was reprimanded for putting his arm around his girlfriend during a break. The school had a strict policy of "no physical contact", meaning that contact such as high fives or hugs between friends are not allowed. Despite opposition from some parents and students, and coverage on
Fox News,
CNN,
Time and
The Washington Post, the school system and the former principal of the school, Deborah Strayhorn, stood behind the rule and refused to rescind it. ==Lake Braddock Secondary School==