Anonymous
03/07/2026 10:30
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
South Lakes does have strong athletics winning states in various sports many if not most years. Madison is probably the top sports school overall in Northern va.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 09:57
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
In Fairfax County, Fairfax HS (Fairfax City) or Madison HS (Vienna) are your best bets for what you want. South Lakes HS (Reston) is surrounded by lots of bucolic walking trails and forests. The trails are what make Reston walkable. Do note it's a planned community famous for its architecture and utopian vision. People either love it or not.
Anonymous
03/07/2026 09:38
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Area walkabililty(nearish to walkable shopping centers, rec centers), Good school leadership, low teacher turnover preferably.. What areas would be ideal?
You lost me at good school leadership and low teacher turnover.
Why? I’m a Marshall teacher. We have very low teacher turnover and a stable admin as well. I definitely think that’s one of its strengths. Of course it has its issues, but teachers actually enjoy working there and many stay for a very long time (including myself).
Anonymous
03/06/2026 15:30
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Anonymous wrote:Area walkabililty(nearish to walkable shopping centers, rec centers), Good school leadership, low teacher turnover preferably.. What areas would be ideal?
You lost me at good school leadership and low teacher turnover.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 13:24
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Anonymous wrote:Arlington is the only real walkable option. Yes you can walk in other areas but they aren’t exactly walker friendly (I.e. too many cars). Maybe parts of Reston or Vienna.
+1 Washington-Liberty
Anonymous
03/06/2026 13:21
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Fairfax City. Fairfax HIgh is diverse, solid in the middle of the county high schools, good athletics, lots of extracurriculars, Including a great theater program. There are neighborhoods walked to the high school and Old Town Fairfax. The principal was Honored by the County last year. I just really love Fairfax City. Lots of fun festivals, great summer camp program, nice parks with many recently upgraded.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 12:34
Subject: Re:If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would look at Marshall. It's an IB school, very low teacher turnover, diverse population (racial and socio-economically), good extracurriculars and sports. The area right around Marshall isn't really pretty, but it has a couple of strip malls nearby, and Tysons Corner is right down the street. Parts of Marshall also are really close to Falls Church City.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/marshall-high-school-20451
Thank you!
+1. We are a Marshall family over towards Falls Church City. Our neighborhood is on the W&OD trail, and is walkable to the City of Falls Church. If you go a little farther on the bike trial, you could bike easily to Vienna or Dunn Loring (my kids starting doing this in sixth grade). The sports teams are generally good and some are competitive to make, but others have spots available each year. As far as diversity, I am a WASP who grew up in NY in a minority-majority HS, and in many ways Marshall reminds me of that a bit. Both of my kids' friends groups are diverse, both racially and socio-economically.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 11:51
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Arlington is the only real walkable option. Yes you can walk in other areas but they aren’t exactly walker friendly (I.e. too many cars). Maybe parts of Reston or Vienna.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 11:15
Subject: Re:If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Anonymous wrote:I would look at Marshall. It's an IB school, very low teacher turnover, diverse population (racial and socio-economically), good extracurriculars and sports. The area right around Marshall isn't really pretty, but it has a couple of strip malls nearby, and Tysons Corner is right down the street. Parts of Marshall also are really close to Falls Church City.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/marshall-high-school-20451
Thank you!
Anonymous
03/06/2026 11:12
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Almost all the high schools in northern Virginia are minority majority.Anonymous wrote:Thank you soo much for the suggestions.
Fairfax City seems to be solid
Alexandria - Couldnt find any areas that fit this criteria?
Oakton/McLean seems to be missing an AA representation but its beautiful out there
Chantilly/S.Lakes - Seems great; Quiet? But very well rounded looking communities -thank you!
Lake Braddock/Robinson - Seem like awesome, large schools..the area seems similar to the Chantilly one, kind of removed from everything but it also looks like it has alot in the area overall
What kind of diversity? A balance of ethnic backgrounds, which looks like it doesnt really exist at any of the top rated public schools in N.VA?
Anonymous
03/06/2026 10:57
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
What do you mean by diversity. Most of the high performing schools will be highly south/east Asian or cockasian
Anonymous
03/06/2026 10:35
Subject: Re:If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
I would look at Marshall. It's an IB school, very low teacher turnover, diverse population (racial and socio-economically), good extracurriculars and sports. The area right around Marshall isn't really pretty, but it has a couple of strip malls nearby, and Tysons Corner is right down the street. Parts of Marshall also are really close to Falls Church City.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/marshall-high-school-20451
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/marshall-high-school-20451
Anonymous
03/06/2026 10:29
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Thank you soo much for the suggestions.
Fairfax City seems to be solid
Alexandria - Couldnt find any areas that fit this criteria?
Oakton/McLean seems to be missing an AA representation but its beautiful out there
Chantilly/S.Lakes - Seems great; Quiet? But very well rounded looking communities -thank you!
Lake Braddock/Robinson - Seem like awesome, large schools..the area seems similar to the Chantilly one, kind of removed from everything but it also looks like it has alot in the area overall
What kind of diversity? A balance of ethnic backgrounds, which looks like it doesnt really exist at any of the top rated public schools in N.VA?
Fairfax City seems to be solid
Alexandria - Couldnt find any areas that fit this criteria?
Oakton/McLean seems to be missing an AA representation but its beautiful out there
Chantilly/S.Lakes - Seems great; Quiet? But very well rounded looking communities -thank you!
Lake Braddock/Robinson - Seem like awesome, large schools..the area seems similar to the Chantilly one, kind of removed from everything but it also looks like it has alot in the area overall
What kind of diversity? A balance of ethnic backgrounds, which looks like it doesnt really exist at any of the top rated public schools in N.VA?
Anonymous
03/06/2026 09:51
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
Anonymous wrote:What kind of diversity? Economic? Educational? Ethnic Background? Religious? Regional background? Political? Age?
Yeah, this needs to be explained for the best answer.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 09:50
Subject: If you were considering N.VA and wanted strong academics(ap or ib), strong athletics, extracurriculars, diversity,
The area right by Woodson has all of this.