Weapons detection systems are bringing an additional layer of security to every Chesterfield County middle school and high school. Starting in August when school opens, students and school visitors (including CCPS staff members who do not have badge access to a building) will enter through OpenGate scanners, which are similar to those used at amusement parks, concerts and sporting events.
Weapons detection will be active from the start of the school day until dismissal, working to improve safety while maintaining a welcoming school environment. The system is designed to detect a variety of weapons. But no system is perfect, so it will sometimes alert on acceptable metal items and may sometimes miss items that should not be in school.
Here’s how the automatic, noninvasive screening will work:
Students and school visitors (including CCPS staff members who do not have badge access to a building) will pass through freestanding pillars that use advanced technology to detect weapons that may be concealed on a person, in backpacks or in other bags.
Because some safe items may cause nuisance alerts, students should remove them from their bags and hand them to a school staff member before going through the scanner: Chromebooks, three-ring binders, musical instruments, umbrellas, metal lunch boxes, metal pencil cases and metal eyeglass cases. These are the most common items that can trigger nuisance alerts.
After going through the scanner, students should retrieve their belongings and head to class.
If a potential weapon is detected, the system will flash red and beep. When that happens, the student or school visitor will step to one side so a closer search can be conducted.
If a weapon or other contraband is found, then school administrators and/or the police will be notified, and the person may face both school and legal consequences.
While this will change how students and school visitors enter, school leaders believe the weapons detection system will quickly become part of the school routine. The automatic scanning process is designed to keep people moving with minimal delays.
Families should discuss the weapons detection system with their students before school starts, so that no one is surprised by this new safety measure.
This webpage provides answers to questions about weapons detection and details safety and security measures in Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Nothing is more important than ensuring a safe environment for students and staff members of Chesterfield County Public Schools. We are all partners in efforts to keep schools safe. So if you see something, then say something. If you know something, then make sure someone at your school knows it too.
Additional information
School safety is always a top priority in Chesterfield County Public Schools, and schools remain on alert year-round. Weapons detection is another part of safety measures already in place in Chesterfield County Public Schools:
Every middle and high school has an on-site school resource officer (a police officer trained to work in educational environments). Additionally, school security officers are on site at every elementary, middle and high school.
School doors are locked, and visitors cannot enter before communicating with front office staff members.
Secure vestibules restrict visitors to the front office at every school.
More than 8,000 security cameras continuously monitor Chesterfield County Public Schools. Additionally, four mobile camera systems are used as needed to monitor large parking lots and athletic events.
Security film is installed on windows and doors at school entrances to keep broken glass from flying inward.
In December 2024 and January 2025, Chesterfield County Public Schools tested weapons detection systems at two schools. Data from the demonstrations helped school leaders make decisions about adding weapons detection systems at middle schools and high schools. In May, the Chesterfield County School Board voted to procure OpenGate systems and the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors appropriated $2.7 million to cover the cost of the equipment. During summer school on July 14, the school system conducted a trial run at two schools to work through the process before implementing weapons detection at all middle schools and high schools at the start of the 2025-26 school year.