Our grandson was painfully shy around adults and other children even after 2 years of preschool…read more  His parents were afraid distance learning kindergarten would be a disaster for him.  They enrolled him in kindergarten at Dominion and what a difference in a year!  Now he helps add up the scores when we play UNO and writes them down.  He reads the road signs to us when we travel.  But what really amazed us was the kindergarten graduation, when he was able to stand up in front of the assembly and read.  It wasn't the reading--all of the children had a chance to show off what they had learned.  It was the fact that he could speak in front of strangers, and afterward it warmed my heart to see him running around the playground with a pack of little boys.  He has gained so much confidence and I know that my son and daughter-in-law are very happy with the care and education our grandson received at Dominion.

THIS is THE best kept secret in NOVA education. They've been quietly building a tremendous…read moreeducation platform. There are 2 separate campuses-- one on Vale Rd for the lower school and one in Isaac Newton Square in Reston for mid/hi school. (If you have kids in both they run a shuttle.) GREAT bang for your buck-- particularly in mid and high school!!! (And there is plenty of assistance money to go around.) This is a CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN education. (Google classical education model for the pedagogy explanation.) The MIDDLE and HIGH school should be considered by any family who wants their kid to be a problem solver with strong reasoning, logic, writing, data synthesizing, presentation, morality-based skills. It certainly teaches from a Christian world view but the method allows kids to learn why they think what they think and to question and understand. It is still pretty small-- but it is Up and Coming. Check out the web site for the list of schools their kids get into and without all the hours of homework and drudgery you see in the traditional model schools-- The Ivies, UVA, Tech, Bucknell, --the list goes on. WHY are these kids getting in when others do not? -- The Classical Education model coupled with the Harkness instructional model (think Socratic/Phillips Exeter.) Don't miss out on their information sessions and take the tour and put your kid there for the shadow day. Your student will notice the difference in the quality of education and caliber of instructors. The instructors really are key in making kids take responsibility and own their own work product, habits etc. Engage a high schooler in a conversation. They will knock off your socks: eye contact, ease of conversation, graceful self-assurance, interest in and ability to discuss the world. (And that all comes through in those college applications and interviews!) Moreover, they are compassionate, aware of others, fun loving, accepting of others and dedicated to integrating the values of their faith into their lives and work. It really is a great combination. The lower school provides a good education. Small classes, conservative Christian ethos, very involved parents (some a little over the top but all seem to care about every kid there and you don't see the competition between parents you see so many places). Principal and teachers know every single kid and family and truly are knit into the families. Seems to work really well for kids who don't mind a fairly traditional classroom environment and homework. Instead of American Idol, these kids learn the basics through study of the ancient world and church history from a staff who cares about and prays with and for them. It has a throwback feel to it that is nice in today's world of shoving kids into too much too soon. Are there problems? Of course! Helicopter parents? Welcome to NOVA! I do think the administration here does a better job than most of hand holding those parents and taking their issues in stride. Lots of volunteer opportunities? You betcha! But the ethos is changing to better accommodate dual working families. The community overall is very accepting and is genuinely caring and supportive. Pretty much everybody in the community takes their walk with The Lord very seriously and incorporates that true essence in their dealings with their kids, the school and other parents. Does my child go there? Yes- and is quick to point out how strongly he feels about the quality of education he receives. Why only 4 stars? Because they haven't completed their metamorphosis to the level of excellence that I know they can achieve. They have new, strong, capable leadership to get them there. Make no mistake, they have already achieved excellence well worth considering for your student.

South Lakes. What a…read moreplace. I really loved my time here except for that I hated it because high school is the worst place on earth. Anyway, it gets such a bad rep but who gives a shit. It's a great school with great teachers. There are so many different types of people and it's so diverse. I wouldn't have gone anywhere else!

South Lakes High School is a public high school for grades 9-12 located in Reston in Fairfax…read moreCounty, VA. They have a great piece of land which allows for ample parking on both sides of the school. The inside of the school was renovated pretty recently, so classrooms, common areas, gymnasiums, etc. are in great shape and have top of the line technology. It also happens to share some land with Langston Middle School which is convenient for the county. The teachers and staff are wonderful. I've had a chance to work with them frequently through my volunteer role with the Relay For Life of Reston. A really unique thing about this school is that they have a huge JROTC program. It allows for the students to get involved with activities outside of the classroom, get mentored, learn leadership/organization skills, become more motivated and have more discipline, and really prepare them for the real world/college. I can't talk highly enough about the JROTC program and the influence it has in these kids lives, especially when they may not be receiving a lot of support at home. I have gotten to know Sargaent Handy and Major Schuler over the years; they are such wonderful role models and I'm so grateful for their service. Shout out to Linda and Susan in the activities office, they're a huge help to us too!

Decent high school located in Fairfax, VA. Came here on a field trip to watch the play Matilda…read more Staff was great while we were there.

Visited a High School that had special memories so so many years ago. There was the Annual Arts and…read moreCraft Fair and like so many parking was tough at the school so we took a bus ride to and from. The school has been renovated since we last visited and the Craft Fair took advantage of every room they could diss[play their merchandise. Easy to get to and navigate around. Nice to see it again.

If you want criticism that's fair and realistic, here are some common complaints students sometimes…read morehave about Oakton High School: Heavy academic pressure and competition School can feel overly focused on academics instead of student balance Some students say it's harder to stand out because the school is highly competitive Older parts of the building or inconsistent maintenance complaints Homework load can feel intense depending on teachers/classes

never again experience, teachers are rude don't help students at all ESPECIALLY the band teacher…read moreAND the orchestra teacher. no matter what teacher you get depends on your grade. did i mention the band and orchestra teacher? TRASH

Nurturing environment that expects every child to rise to excellence, but appreciates every child…read moreas unique. Emphasizes character, sports, & STEM learning. Great parent community. Students from many different backgrounds and countries. I feel that every adult in that building knows and loves every child in that building.

I have 4 kids two of which are attending Green Hedges. Also, I have attended both private and…read morepublic schools growing up. From my personal experience, this school's attention and love for the kids is as good as it gets. The experience and education these kids get is amazing. I feel so lucky every time I think about having such an amazing school for my kids to attend. Both of our kids just love the program and it has felt amazing to see how much they have grown from attending the school and interacting with the other kids. The staff is amazing and the families that we have met clearly have core values and a focus that we want our kids to be around.

I returned briefly to James Madison High School to request my official high school transcript in…read moreapplying for university, having spent some time after graduation doing other things. I entered Ms. Geary's office requesting that she send my official transcript due to my computer failing to send to her a corresponding form for the university. Immediately upon entry, I was greeted with an unfriendly face and repulsive attitude. Apart from having to pry her to do her job, she remained snarky, and made for an unpleasant conversation. For someone I remembered to be pleasant years ago, I was caught off guard.

This high school student population was so small I only had a few good friends left over from…read moremiddle school and couldn't find new ones. :/ The teachers were a lot nicer than elementary and middle school but some tend to have favoritism with the jocks and you can definitely tell. Also the counselors weren't helpful in selecting classes, recommendations, and college prep at all. The new principal sucks and the way he is renovating the school with the building designs looks really cheap.

Eww, eww, EWWWW!! Keep your kids away from this place! It's quite diverse, socio-economically,…read morebut in an undesirable way. The teachers and administrators are miserable and horrible. None of the kids from this school end up doing much with their lives. In my U.S. History class at this school, I was informed that "some people treated their slaves well !"... !!! Despite that you may have heard that Fairfax County Public Schools are (relatively) very good, unless you can get your kid into McLean High School (and whatever middle school feeds into it), your best option is private school.

Better than elementary school. Some teachers were nice, but some were moody af. I attended Thoreau…read morewhen the school's buildings were old and dirty. There was drama with bullying and gossip around but not as bad like it used to. The counselors can be somewhat helpful to straighten that out. However, the student population was so small it was hard to make really good friends.

Our family completed 9-12 here, and I say family because we attended Oakcrest not just as a…read morestudent, but also the involvement and commitment as parents and siblings to foster and support the formation of our daughter brought us to the school functions several times a week. Our daughter is not academically inclined and Oakcrest is an elite college preparatory school. With that being said, we have asked on several occasions if she wishes to explore easier alternatives. She refuses to and has cried over it because of how much she loves her teachers and her friends. Our family and extended family have joined efforts in investing in our daughter's education at Oakcrest specifically in hopes that she will form into a beautiful, young lady and that she will have a safe place to learn about God, to love herself, and to build friendships that last a life time. The smiles and cheerfulness is not just on brochures, it's actually in person as well! How incredible it is to see the girls are so happy here at this school. By following the Opus Dei teachings, the school has been able to be mindful of what those teachings really mean as they've built a culture surrounding it. The social norms and mainstream media issues are not completely isolated from the girls, but they definitely are kept at bay. We find this to be vital as the girls already have enough on their plate during these teenage years to navigate through the hormones and self-identity struggles. They know those things exist and they can be exposed later once they've learned who they are and how they want to perceive the media rather than the media having a say over their life. Our family is heavily involved in the school functions and appreciate Oakcrest's faculty and staff for their dedication. We would be happy to recommend Oakcrest to others with similar values who are looking to have a Christ-centered education and for the girls to see their personal worth and how that plays a role in living out the sanctity of daily life.

Oakcrest prepared my daughters for the colleges of their choice. The teachers are amazing -…read morechallenging and supportive.

Outstanding experience with Edlin so far. Diana and Gloria are a perfect team, balancing academic…read morerigor with organized leadership. The accelerated curriculum has challenged our daughter and enabled so much growth in her first year. We're grateful for the Edlin community and highly recommend the school.

Edlin School has been a wonderful experience for our family. I truly appreciate how the school…read morechallenges students to learn at an advanced level, encouraging them to think deeply and grow beyond the standard curriculum. The teachers are excellent, attentive, and committed to each child's success. It's clear they genuinely care about both the academic and personal development of their students. I also love how the administration works seamlessly as a team. They are approachable and proactive in creating a supportive learning environment. The combination of strong academics and dedicated teachers make Edlin a great school. I'm so glad we chose Edlin for our child. This school sets the bar high and delivers! It's also a great school for events and community that we have not seen in other private school in the area.