Marshall High School

My son has just completed his Freshman year at Marshall. Unfortunately it looks like we may have to move away from the area which we are very sad about. We moved to U.S two years ago from U.K. Our son went into the final year of middle school and the transition was tough for him. When he moved up to Marshall and became involved in the athletic teams everything changed for him, he's been very happy at Marshall. The school is small but very diverse and it appears to me that there is as much parent involvement in the school as an individual wants. The only difficulty we came across was getting time with teachers to discuss progress reports. There's the option for children to do the IB course or just take a few subjects( if the student is ready) at IB level. All in all Marshall is a wonderful high school and has just been rated the third best school in Virginia!
—Submitted by a parent

I currently have two children attending Marshall HighSchool: Exceptional teachers! Great faculty! Wonderful IB and honors programs as well as vocational training programs. The school is currently under going a total renovation and will be beautiful upon completition. It is the smallest high school in Fairfax County and it is the best kept secret.
—Submitted by a parent

I feel as if all the teachers think that everyone will go to VT or UVA, or some other VA state school, and in doing so, they fail to care about your perspective, your academic needs or your future. Sure they are fine schools, but it is unfair for a student like me, who has other pursuits in mind, to be neglected and not taken seriously. The teachers are unmotivating and regretfully unqualified. I am in the IB program, taking the hardest HL courses: math and physics, so evidently, I place a great deal in my education.
—Submitted by a student

Smaller High School - lovely teachers - wonderful IB Program - very organized
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from Marshall two years ago and I can't say enough good things about this school. The school's 'Small School Big Heart' motto fits the bill perfectly. The IB program prepared me for college better than anything I could imagine and the school was small enough that I was able to get personal attention from teachers and develop great relationships with my peers. The Academy classes were also great, especially the Marketing classes. Marshall really allows a student to pursue almost anything he or she wants to and, most importantly, succeed.
—Submitted by a student

Its great school. teachers are great, keep students motivation positive, which boost up students confidence.
—Submitted by a parent

As a current student, I find the school as a friendly environment that you can feel welcomed into immediately. The IB program is rigorous and really is meant for people who know what good it can do for them. I find that there is a lot of school spirit in the student body and that students try to get involved with school events often. I enjoy the extra-curricular activities such as Future Business Leaders of America to get involved with the community. Personally I'm taking Network Administration and as a female, I am a minority since it's a male-dominant field. Even though I'm one of two girls in my class, I feel as if I'm like everyone else. The teacher has high expectations, but it is easy to understand the subject because he is the best at what he does. You can expect that from all the teachers.
—Submitted by a student

Great academics, improving sports and excellent diverse comunity
—Submitted by a parent

I think Marshall's relatively small size compared to other Fairfax County high schools is a definite asset. The current principal is quite engaged and energetic, and the guidance counselors are actually helpful. Most of the teachers are caring and enthusiastic. The student body is quite diverse, both geographically and economically, but achievement is rewarded and far fewer cliques appeared to exist than at other schools. I have heard parents at neighboring schools such as Madison complain that students that are neither top athletes nor academic stars get scant attention and easily grow disaffected; this is not the case in my experience at Marshall.
—Submitted by a parent

With two children who have attended Marshall I can only say that we are very pleased with the school. The International Baccalaureate program is excellent. The school is one of the smallest high schools in the area which mean smaller class sizes and more room for student participation in both academic extra-curricular programs.
—Submitted by Alan C, a parent

marshall highschool is indeed one of the best schools in va everyone there is very open and willing to help if asked there are no gangs their or drugs there ...yes there is some bad apples there but it doesnt make the whole school bad..marshall is a wonderful school
—Submitted by a teacher

Of 5 high schools my children have attended throughout the U.S., this one is far and away the best. George Marshall High school has it all; excellent theater, sports, clubs, an IB program, and a trade school academy. There's so much diversity in the student body (more than 60 languages spoken) that it's hard for cliques to form--you are who you are and it's just fine. The school is small enough that the students can feel like real people. If you can afford to live here, this is a primo school.
—Submitted by a parent

Outstanding and very rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Students go to Ivies, MIT, Cal Tech, and more impressive schools than the Mason High students in Falls Church City, which is over-rated. Smallest school in Fairfax County with great counselor to student ratios. Award-winning programs, drama, music, everything. By far, one of the best in Fairfax County.
—Submitted by a parent

Marshall High School is ranked 198 th on the list of 1000 Best High Schools in America that appeared in the May 8 issue of Newsweek. It is a great school in great location.
—Submitted by a parent

A wonderful, enthusiastic principal; highly-qualified and similarly enthusiastic teachers; outstanding drama, journalism, and DECA (mock marketing) extracurriculars; safe school *despite* outside attempts to increase gang activity (school resource officer was just named best in the county); small student body but one of the largest IB programs in the *world* (and this is flat numbers, not percentages)
—Submitted by a teacher

I think folks should be more careful when slamming a school...a few bad apples does not make the whole school bad. Alot of home buyers take parent reviews of schools very seriously so let's all try to be fair and impartial in our reviews.
—Submitted by a parent

very bad school. you'd be very surprised. There are a lot of gangs and drugs all around the campass. Not much parent involvement but extracurriculars and electives are good.
—Submitted by Stephanie you wish you knew me, a student

Fantastic school small, very caring, devoted teachers, high standards. Very safe. Terrific drama program best in the entire state of VA. IB program. Tremendous number of parent volunteers.
—Submitted by a parent