The highly rated Fairfax County school system provides quality education for the Vienna area's young and old alike. Comprised of more than 160,000 students and 237 schools and centers, the Fairfax County public school system is the 12th largest school division in the country. But it's not just about size and volume; 93 percent of high school graduates of Fairfax County schools attend some form of post-secondary education, and more than 175 Fairfax County public school seniors were selected as semi-finalists in the 2000 National Merit Scholarship program. Additionally, students in Fairfax County public schools scored significantly higher on the SATs (1,094 composite) than the Virginia (1,007 composite) and national (1,016 composite) averages.

School-age children in the Vienna area are served by the Fairfax County Public Schools, one of the largest school systems in the U.S. Selected elementary and middle schools are designated centers for academically gifted students in grades three through eight. However, all elementary and secondary schools have school-based programs for identifying gifted and talented students.

Each high school provides extracurricular offerings including advanced placement courses. Each elementary school offers a half-day kindergarten program for children who meet state-mandated age requirements. At some elementary schools, Fairfax County provides before-school, after-school, and after-kindergarten care (call 703-449-8989).

Vocational programs and career-awareness opportunities are provided to all high school students. Off-site construction projects provide on-the-job training to students in the building trades; cooperative training programs seek to bridge the gap between school and the business world by allowing students to hold half-day jobs in the community and thereby earn while they learn.

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