The Culpeper County School Board has approved the elimination of athletic participation fees for all middle and high school student-athletes beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, removing a financial barrier and expanding access to extracurricular opportunities for students.
Following a comprehensive review of athletics-related revenues and expenditures, Culpeper County Public Schools' Central Administration recommended eliminating the participation fees. The recommendation was developed in consultation with secondary school administrators and received unanimous support from the School Board.
“We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate in school athletics regardless of financial circumstances," said School Board Chair Barbee Brown.
Brown, a former high school and collegiate athlete, teacher, coach, and school administrator, emphasized the broader impact of athletics on student success. "Participation in school athletics connects students to their school community," Brown said. "Students who are involved in sports are often more engaged in all aspects of school life, including academics, clubs, fine arts, and other extracurricular activities."
Previously, families paid a participation fee of $100 per student for each high school athletic team and $90 per student for each middle school athletic team. Those fees helped offset the costs of operating athletic programs, including transportation, field and facility maintenance, and game officials.
By eliminating the fees, CCPS hopes to encourage greater student participation while ensuring athletics remain accessible to all interested students.
As part of the change, athlete admission passes to home athletic contests will no longer be offered. Instead, both Culpeper County High School and Eastern View High School offer student season passes for admission to home athletic events. Student passes will be available through GoFan for $50 per season (fall, winter, or spring) or $125 for the full school year. Students must present a valid school-issued student ID when using their pass.
The elimination of athletic participation fees reflects Culpeper County Public Schools’ continued commitment to providing equitable opportunities for students to learn, grow, and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.