What is the best public high school in Fairfax County?
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Anonymous
| We are moving to the area and can afford any school district in the county. Have heard lots of opinions on the best high school. Thoughts? |
Anonymous
| TJ |
Anonymous
| This should be interesting. There are quite a few very good HS in the area. A shorter commute is more important than the small differences between about half of the HS in Fairfax (there are 25). Where will you be working? |
Anonymous
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TJ is a crapshoot.
Other than that, move into Langley as #1 and McLean as #2. I am surprised that you have heard lots of opinions as most people here seem to agree on that. |
Anonymous
 If you account for SES, Langley is one of the dozen or so good HS, but I wouldn't say it is the best.
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Anonymous
It's hard to say whether there is a "best" for everyone - FCPS is an extremely highly-rated school system and I would put a higher value on the commute as others have stated. Close-in to DC, it's hard to go wrong with Langley, McLean, Madison, or Marshall. I went to Marshall, so I'm biased there 
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Anonymous
| Woodson is great in Fairfax. Thomas Friedman wrote about it a few months ago. |
Anonymous
Between you and USNWR, I'll go with USNWR and agree that Langley is the best non-TJ public in Fairfax County. McLean also offers some of the best and relatively decent commuting houses. |
Anonymous
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Define best please.
Richest families? Highest test scores? Leader in sports? STEM? Most welcoming community? Smallest? Top performing arts? Lots of variations to what is the "best" when you are talking about schools. |
Anonymous
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(gonna give you the benefit of the doubt that you aren't a pot-stirring troll)
You've heard lots of opinions because so many area great. If there was one clearly "best" then there would be more a consensus. Take all the ones that you've heard are "best" and investigate them with your specific child's needs in minds. That is the only way you'll find out which one is best for your child. |
Anonymous
Many people who could affort to move to Langley don't because of the particular dynamics of that school. These people do not think Langley is #1. Langley has the highest population of students from very wealthy families and not much diversity. The school has the reputation of snobby students who look down on those not as wealthy as them. For some of us, the small difference in test scores is not worth the poor social dynamics. |
Anonymous
And they probably get that attitude from their parents. |
Anonymous
| Any of the large high schools in FCPS can offer a good range of competitive classes. |
Anonymous
Asian Americans don't count as diverse? In the 2011-12 school year, Langley High School's student body was 71.15% White, 19.20% Asian, 4.60% Hispanic, 1.70% Black and 3.35% Other.[4] |
Anonymous
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1) TJ if you can get in
2) Langley 3) McLean 4) the rest |