High Schools in Fairfax County Public Schools

The Fairfax County Public Schools district in Virginia is home to 28 high schools serving grades 9-12. This diverse set of schools varies widely in academic performance, student demographics, and resource allocation, with some standout institutions like Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology consistently ranking among the top high schools in the state.

The top-performing schools in the district, such as Langley High School and West Springfield High School, tend to have lower percentages of economically disadvantaged students and higher percentages of Asian and White students. In contrast, schools with larger Hispanic and African American student populations, like Justice High School and Mount Vernon High School, generally have lower test scores and academic performance. This highlights the significant disparities in educational outcomes across the Fairfax County Public Schools district.

Interestingly, factors like student-teacher ratio and per-student spending do not appear to be direct predictors of academic success, as some of the highest-performing schools have relatively high ratios and lower spending levels. This suggests that other factors, such as school culture, curriculum, and access to resources, may play a more significant role in driving student achievement within the district.