Falls Church High School

Opened in 1945, Falls Church High School has a rich history. It’s located in Fairfax County, Virginia, not within the city of Falls Church itself. The school serves grades 9 through 12. Falls Church High School’s motto is “Building on Our Success.” Their mascot is the Jaguar, and their colors are green and white. Originally, Falls Church High School was located on Hillwood Avenue. It moved to its current location on Jaguar Trail in 1967. This building actually first opened in 1959 as John Greenleaf Whittier Intermediate School. The school boasts a diverse student body, representing 118 countries and speaking 78 languages. Falls Church High School was recognized in 2023 with the Virginia Board of Education’s Exemplar Award for Continuous Improvement. They earned this by improving their graduation rate and lowering their dropout rate for three consecutive years. In 2024, the school started a senior internship program. This gives students a chance to explore different careers during their final two weeks of school. In the same year, Falls Church High School was named to the Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, earning a silver distinction. A student at Falls Church, Elizaveta Plis, won the Grand Prize at the FCPS Regional Science & Engineering Fair in 2023. This was a major accomplishment, marking the school’s first grand prize winner. The school’s chamber orchestra was selected to perform at the VMEA conference, showcasing contemporary composers of Asian descent. The choral program also received a $5,000 grant from Wolf Trap. They will work with composer Sherry Blevins on a collaborative piece to celebrate the program’s 75th anniversary. Did you know that Falls Church High School has an annual 5k race? This tradition, started in 2006, brings together students, alumni, and the community. The school is currently undergoing a major renovation. This will add significant space for more students and new facilities. Falls Church High School is dedicated to helping students plan for their future, whether it be college, vocational training, military service, or employment. They offer a wide range of resources and programs to support students in this process. A fascinating piece of trivia is that numerous Falls Church alumni have become published authors. One author even dedicated a book to her former English teacher at the school.