Varina Elementary School honored with ‘Purple Star’ designation
Varina Elementary School has been recognized with the 2026-27 “Purple Star School” designation for its commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.
The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children founded the Purple Star Designation Program for Schools in 2018 to highlight the challenges many military-connected students face and how schools can provide support for them to thrive.
“We are honored to receive the Purple Star Award from VDOE,” said Dr. Lianna Moss-Everhart, principal of Varina Elementary School. “This recognition reflects Varina’s commitment to supporting all students and families, while intentionally ensuring that our military-connected students and families feel welcomed, valued, and connected from the moment they join our school community.”
Along with the award, Varina Elementary School will receive a special Purple Star Challenge Coin from the VDOE and a recognition from the Henrico School Board at its upcoming Nov. 12 meeting.
Families with military ties are often required to move frequently. This can make acclimating to new schools and communities difficult. To earn the Purple Star honor, schools must meet specific standards to address these challenges through professional development sessions and project plans. These efforts, supported by the HCPS Department of Student Support and Wellness, focused on empathy, communication, inclusivity and leadership.
The designation, presented during Military Family Appreciation Month, is awarded for a three-year period, after which schools can reapply for Purple Star status. Virginia was the second state to establish the Purple Star program, which has been adopted by 44 states.
Varina Elementary School is one of Henrico’s closest schools to Fort Lee, located south of Richmond. Henry D. Ward Elementary School, also located in the Varina District of Henrico, has held status as a Purple Star School since the 2023-24 school year.
“HCPS is committed to the ongoing care, support and education of its over 600 military-connected students whose parents or guardians are active-duty military service members, National Guard or reservists,” said Starlette Anderson, elementary school counseling specialist. “Frequent moves, family separations through deployments, and reintegration following deployments can make school, home, and community-life challenging for military-connected children. Yet, even in such circumstances, military-connected students continually demonstrate resilience and courage.”
Read more about the Purple Star Designation Program for Schools on the Virginia Department of Education’s website.