South Lakes High School

My daughter is a freshman at South Lakes and we have found this school to offer a wonderful blend of academic challenge, nuturing support and a strong community. Led by a fantastic principal, the teachers and staff do a great job of encouraging and mentoring the students. My daughter is on track to receive the IB Diploma and has found the classes to be rigorous, but manageable. We have been pleased with the sports and performing arts programs as well. My daughter -- and our family -- are looking forward to her next 3 1/2 years at South Lakes.
--Submitted by a parent

South Lakes has a principal like no other that goes above & beyond to know his students, teachers, curriculum, parents, etc. Bruce Butler is the most aware and involved principal and cares about each student. The admin. staff is wonderful also. They work to keep the students & parents involved &i nformed. The IB program is very challenging & requires a large amount of writing. When an IB graduate student of South Lakes moves on to a challenging college they comment that the college don't seem so difficult in comparison. The students & teachers are welcoming. The facility itself is the best I have seen in Fairfax Cnty with it's high technology in each classroom, bright skylights, large & functional gym, well designed theatre, etc. With the newly re-districted students and new enthusiasm this school's test scores will soar!
--Submitted by a parent

There is no comparison to the Seahawk Community. Students are pushed to do their best, and success is always rewarded, either by a handshake from the principal or congratulations from all teachers.
--Submitted by a student

South Lakes does a great job with a very diverse population - racially, economically, ethnically (including many languages) and includes students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
--Submitted by a parent

South Lakes is a family, we always take care of our own.
--Submitted by a teacher

South Lakes High School is very diversified racially and as well as it is a well thought of IB school.
--Submitted by a parent

I have always found South Lakes to be challenging and stimulating for my kids. Neither are in the IB program, but that does not exclude them from taking IB or AP courses. As a matter of fact, I found the AP courses much more demanding on them than the IB courses. The teachers are tough, but fair. They have always responded to my many inquiries and work hard to help my kids succeed. I could not be happier with the curriculum offerings at South Lakes. My daughter found her calling when she discovered The Academy for Communications and the Arts offered at South Lakes and other Fairfax County Schools. She now attends Columbia, continuing her dream in life.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school ,especially if you are in the IB program.
--Submitted by a student

Princeton. Juilliard. Berkeley. M.I.T. Virginia Tech. Cornell. UVA. USC. W&M. NYU. Penn State. West Point. These are just a few of the schools that my classmates and I went on to after graduating from South Lakes in 2006. Since that time, the quality of education at the school has only improved, and the school has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation. The IB program at SLHS is vastly superior to the AP program at any university in the nation; freshman year at an Ivy Leaugue school is easy in comparison to the IB workload. The music and arts programs at South Lakes are also fantastic, with students frequently performing at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
--Submitted by a student

I loved this school. I had 3 boys graduate in the last 2 years- they were all accepted into good colleges (inc W&M and VT) and they felt that South Lakes prepared them for the next level ( they made Deans list etc). They have a diverse group of friends and still communicate with their teachers. Strong administration and great new facility. I saw no negatives in our time there.
--Submitted by a parent