Marshall High School in Falls Church

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	7/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning data from Virginia Department of Education, and using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course data from Virginia Department of Education.
College Readiness	5/10	The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from Virginia Department of Education, using 2025 demographic data from the National Center for Education Statistics, and using 2025 demographic data from Virginia Department of Education.

Posted: May 19, 2026

My child has been in Marshall for 3 years now and is so excited to be a senior. These years have been amazing! They are involved in multiple clubs that have allowed them to find a healthy space for them to thrive and grow surrounded by great friends and teachers. Their teachers know them, check in on them, and are there to support them. Does that mean they have loved every teacher - no, of course not, but overall the environment is welcoming and supportive. Like anything - you get what you give and we have gotten back way more than expected.

Posted: May 19, 2026

Posted: September 20, 2025

This school has a lot of money and resources. It is also an International Baccalaureate school so there is a lot of focus (and celebration of its IB program). However, this school has a pretty toxic and elitist culture where it seems like the overall goal is to make school as unpleasant and unwelcoming as possible. Students are pretty much numbers here and while there are demanding academic standards, god forbid your student has other interests and just wants to graduate from high school and move on. Counselors & administrators push your students to enroll in honors and IB courses then are surprised when your student hates the classes. There is a lot of helicoptering by staff and teachers and yes, they dot the i's and cross the t's in their communications to parents but with the weapon detectors, supposedly 3 bathroom passes if teachers actually grant them during class, staff are aiming to create a school environment that is as close to a correctional facility as possible or at least as unwelcoming and unpleasant for students as possible. If you raise concerns, suddenly you are labeled antisafety. Few counselors really care about helping students and if they have a disability or special need, you're pretty much on your own as they expect you to be like most families there with the financial resources to help them yourself and make up for the school's apathy and gaps. There are the same robotic messages from the Principal about how the school cares and supposedly, there is support available when there are traumatic events. Compared to other high schools in the area, the athletic teams are terrible, mostly due to the apathetic or outright awful coaches (except for track or football). Even my academically focused child who did extremely well in classes (i.e., Adv. IB diploma, top 1% SAT score) hated this place. Like many of his friends, college is fairly easy because there was so much work and testing during high school. While staff (and parents) may value a strong academic program, it would be nice if teenagers could actually also enjoy their high school years with a curriculum with enough rigor that they can move on to college and be challenged - some balance maybe? You'll hear a lot about inclusivity and kindness but you'll see little of the touted "kindness" from staff and admin. The only really "haters" and bullies at the school are a majority of the staff and administrators. Really they only want you to donate time and money and leave them alone.

Posted: September 20, 2025

Posted: August 14, 2025

As a parent of a high school student, I couldnt have been more pleased with our experience at Marshal. From day one, weve seen strong communication from the staff and a genuine commitment to student success. The teachers are passionate about what they do and consistently go the extra mile to make sure students are not only learning but also staying engaged and motivated.

Academically, the school offers a rigorous curriculum with plenty of IB and advanced classes, which has helped our child feel challenged and prepared for college. Counselors are accessible and truly invested in helping students navigate college applications, scholarships, and career planning. Weve felt fully supported every step of the way.

Theres also a wide range of extracurricular activitiessports, arts, academic clubswhich has been great for helping our teen stay balanced and build friendships. The school culture is inclusive and focused on creating a safe and respectful environment.

Overall, this high school is giving our child a strong foundation for life after graduation, and were so grateful to be part of this community.

Posted: August 14, 2025

Posted: March 13, 2025

Had to transfer. I got bullied both online and in person for a rumor that started within the school. I went to my counselor for support with this situation, and she told me to talk it out, I did, and the girl started another rumor that led to me being sexually harassed (physically) by guys in the hallway. Keep in mind, this is in the same hallway that administrators "monitor." I went to my counselor again, telling her that I felt violated and I was losing the will to live, and instead of supporting me, she essentially told me to walk it off. The bullying was bad, I ended up eating in the bathroom for lunch (which by the way isn't much better, as half the time there's a group of dudes outside or inside the girls bathroom waiting to catcall someone.)

If you have a daughter, give her the gift of not sending her to this school, the people here are disgusting and will rip her self-worth apart. and the administrators won't care at all.

Besides the disgusting culture of racism and sexism in the school, the math department does not make up for it. My math teacher lost my unit test, gave me an F, and when I asked why I got an F she just told me she lost it and I couldn't retake it.

Finally, there's a huge drug problem that the admin won't ever discuss with you. I've seen kids snorting stuff in the C hall bathroom, half of the time there's a group of guys in the girls bathroom smoking or something, and seeing that every single day messes with you.

Music program is good though.

Posted: September 3, 2023

During my time at the school, as an African American student, I have faced immense racism from students and from staff as well. Ranging from stereotypes to even the N-Word. Being that the school is around 6% black, if you are a black student I would likely avoid this school at all costs, because the staff will disregard your grievances regardless of the severity. Unsurprisingly, this school has the reputation in northern virginia of being the racist school, and even had news coverage on the racist allegations regarding the football team. Furthermore, the IB program at this school is honestly pretty bad, and I would recommend you go to a school with AP instead.

Posted: September 3, 2023

Posted: May 17, 2023

The College Readiness rating is completely and egregiously wrong!!Marshall is an International Baccalaureate School. Its students obtain college credits through the IB program and do not take AP examinations. The rating should be based on IB partcipation not AP participation (of which there is none). US News rates Marshall as the number 4 school in the state and the top IB program in the state as well. What is disconcerting is that this discrepancy has been reported as early as two years ago and nothing has been done to produce an accurate rating.

Posted: May 17, 2023

Posted: January 2, 2023

GCMs academics are above average of other schools in the area and do their best to have a well rounded curriculum but really as a former student the most important thing in learning is having a good teacher that you can relate to and that is able to provide proper assistance catered to you as an individual. Some teachers and administrative staff when I was there (2021 grad) seemed like they did not want to be there as much as my peers and that definitely was not a great thing to have but there were on and off days. The IB program is the best. There is not doubt having your child taking IB classes instead of AP will make them stand out in college as they are the most like college level classes given the pace and amount of knowledge you gain from those classes. IB on the higher level can give your child college credit depending on how well they do on their final exams and it really is a lifesaver to getting through freshman year of college. I would also recommend students take advantage of the Academy classes as they also give you good work-life experience and can give you licensures to entry level positions such as a Medical Assistant or Certified Nursing Assistant (really helpful if you are looking into getting into healthcare). Few downsides though, As a student of mixed race I have had some racial profiling occur through fcps throughout my life deciding if I should be in ESOL despite English being my only language among other actions against me despite being a quiet and shy kid. Which made me feel alone sometimes at least by administrative staff and some teachers but most peers of mine were very reasonable and modern. Another downside, GCM has a lot of money going into their football and other sports teams respectively and not much going to their arts programs (fine or theatre) which was a big disparity that keeps a lot of the young artists at Marshall from doing much besides some art sales that usually get overlooked for sports events. Overall, they still need to work on a lot of stuff and teaching through COVID was a big rough patch that they were still figuring out by the time I left. I believe they have the room to grow more into being a more accepting community and to being one of the top schools in the county.

Posted: January 2, 2023

Posted: February 22, 2022

The IB program makes them really top notch. The renovated classrooms are also nicer than some college classrooms. Overall a great environment for learning.

Posted: February 22, 2022

Posted: December 17, 2021

Strong Leader, educators and staff that care about students, a plan for all students to succeed. A school that cares about who the student is becoming and encourages interests beyond academic. No school is perfect, but GCM has been a wonderful experience for my children. Strong academics, athletics, and arts. Excellent preparation for college and career. So grateful for Marshall!

Posted: December 17, 2021

Posted: April 11, 2021

There is so much racism and people in the school think it is funny is say these mean things.

Posted: February 3, 2021

It's a beautifully renovated school with attention on students excelling.

Posted: February 3, 2021

Posted: April 25, 2020

Marshal is a fantastic high school. Each of my 3 children has gotten an excellent education here and the older 2 were very well prepared for college (youngest is still at Marshall). We also love the diversity here. A friendly place where every kid can find their niche. The recent US News and World Report rankings show Marshall as the #4 high school in the state of Virginia and #1 IB school in Virginia. In college readiness we are ranked #2, only behind TJ. Well-deserved high rankings! Not sure why Great Schools gives us only a 7 out of 10, but some other FCPS rankings seem oddly low too.

Posted: April 25, 2020

Posted: September 18, 2019

Marshall is an incredible school w/many resources to help you with subjects/tutoring/ college and SAT help.

Posted: September 18, 2019

Posted: March 25, 2019

If you're in the IB program it sounds like smooth sailing, but if you're everyone else, don't expect to receive much guidance or encouragement. The best instructors and most resources go to the top. Parents are not consulted regarding their childs academic program. Counselors come and go, and their role and accessibility is not clear to the students, so they fail to form trusting, encouraging, guiding relationships.

Posted: March 25, 2019

A bullying incident was dealt with swiftly.

Posted: March 25, 2019

Instructors use the online systems for posting homework and grades inconsistently; it varies by instructor.

Posted: March 25, 2019

Some instructors do appear to care about the student's growth and achievement; others seem less interested. I feel like there's a lot of wasted time where instead of teaching, instructors give students time to do their homework and other non-classroom activities during class time, or they watch movies. This is especially true on short days or days after standardized tests; those days often appear to be a wash, with no real lesson plans, until the regular calendar kicks in again. Instructors also often fail to recognize or escalate bad behavior. On a positive note, instructors are easy to reach, responsive and helpful via email.

Posted: March 25, 2019

I think the school focuses too much on fundraising activities, rather than inspirational and creative activities. The level of inspiration, as well as amount of instructional variety and creativity provided by the faculty, is low.

Posted: March 25, 2019

While leadership is quick to clamp down on specific problems, overall, it is inconsistent.

Posted: March 25, 2019

This school is like a tale of two schools. On one hand, it seems to have great support for already high-achieving individuals. But on the other, if you're just a normal kid, there are many places you can fall through the cracks. I do not see this school encouraging my children to be their best. I see this school encouraging my children to do just enough to graduate.

Posted: March 24, 2019

Teachers, staff, and administrators are so helping and welcoming. I have a senior and she is doing Full IB diploma and we feel she is so ready for college and beyond. Thanks to teachers for helping her grow as a responsible person.

Posted: March 24, 2019

Posted: November 17, 2018

How is it that we have 95% graduation, test scores are 8/10 yet no AP test participation and below average in SAT, resulting in college readiness score of 4?! Was there an error in reporting? Something's not right with this rating method.

Posted: May 13, 2018

my experience at this school has been a nightmare

Posted: May 13, 2018

the teachers here give hours of homework in the guise of being challenging but are not teaching the students anything

Posted: May 13, 2018

these teachers only care about the scores onto IB test and the 5 -10 kids in their classes who understand the other kids are being ignored and not taught but still graded harshly

Posted: May 13, 2018

this school is not developing character because the faculty has no character

Posted: May 13, 2018

the leadership here is horrible and does not care

Posted: May 13, 2018

this is laughable - this school only has teachers here who wants geniuses in their classes

Posted: May 13, 2018

this school does not pay attention to anything

Posted: March 23, 2018

Excellent. Two children attended all four years. Both did well, were embraced by their community, and look back fondly on their time spent there.

Posted: March 22, 2018

Not as great as you would expect for the amount of taxes paid in this county. They are teaching the same curriculum I had 40 years ago in thses schools. Same field trips, same material, no new reading material has been introduced in english. Still reading catcher in the rye, what year is this? Has no new literature been written? All they want is more money more money more money.

Posted: March 22, 2018

Never have homework? They do it in class so when are they actually teaching?

Posted: March 22, 2018

Average at best, alrwady teaching to the SOL tests, grades for the teachers

Posted: March 22, 2018

They are too busy raising money for themselves, have not seen any charity efforts from the school.

Posted: March 22, 2018

What leadership? Kids are vaping IN classrooms, my daughter sits on phone ALL day, who is in charge over there?

Posted: March 22, 2018

Posted: March 7, 2018

Excellent staff, lots of student Extra curriculars and sports , great experience for my 3 kids

Posted: February 28, 2018

Our child chose to go to this school instead of the school to which she was assigned in order to participate in the school's IB diploma program. We have never regretted the decision to change schools. The classes have been mostly challenging and interesting. The administration cares about the well-being of students. Students who want to be involved in activities, sports, etc. can be. Students can find a place to fit in without difficulty. The school is more diverse than some other high schools in the district, and the diversity is considered to be a positive by the administration. Where else does the high school principal accompany the school orchestra during concerts by playing the drum kit??

Posted: February 28, 2018

Posted: August 1, 2017

It's a good school, but it is focused on IB and only has a few AP classes. The IB diploma students get the most attention, along with the students taking vocational classes at Marshall Academy. The average and above-average kids get the short end of the stick.

Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

top notch school. IB is very underrated. Great experience!

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: June 20, 2017

Had a horrible experience with my children. Staff and teacher cooperation is terrible. Especially the English department. One teacher in the English department is simply terrible. She is highly unprofessional and rude.

Posted: June 20, 2017

Teachers at the school are biased, unethical, racist, and unqualified.

Posted: October 7, 2016

I went to McLean High School but I took a few electives in the Marshall Academy Culinary program. I loved the diversity of the school, and the acceptance. Not cliquey at all. Great experience

Posted: August 23, 2015

The school is really good, everyone I meet made me feel safe and felt like a big family. I left the McLean School of Maryland do to bullying and I have to say Marshall high school is the best. They helps students and try to do everything right. I know it's hard to stop bullying but Marshall does a great job at it.

Posted: August 23, 2015

I love Marshall!! The school is amazing, the teachers are super nice and so are the kids. Yes there are gangs and drugs but the school is doing their best to teach and inform students not to join gangs or do drugs. Their athletes program is wonderful. I can't wait for this year of school to start.

Posted: September 22, 2014

I would have to give the principal a D+. He does not listen to parents. The school has a major drug problem, and the school is quick to embarrass kids for dress code violations but allow cheerleaders and the dance team can flaunt their bodies in front of crowds, .

Posted: June 14, 2012

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!

Posted: October 21, 2011

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.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Shreevewood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Falls Church	VA	1.8 mi
2	Falls Church City	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Falls Church	VA	2.8 mi
3	Barkley	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fairfax	VA	3.2 mi
4	Stonehurst	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fairfax	VA	4 mi
5	Broyhill Crest	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annandale	VA	4 mi
6	Leeway Overlee - N Arlington	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Arlington	VA	4.1 mi
7	Willow Woods	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annandale	VA	6.1 mi
8	Long Branch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annandale	VA	7.1 mi
9	North Springfield	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	7.2 mi
10	The Elms	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Burke	VA	7.3 mi
11	The Willoughby	Condominium/Townhouse	Chevy Chase	MD	7.6 mi
12	Shirlington	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Arlington	VA	8.1 mi
13	Twenty400	Apartment Complex	Arlington	VA	8.1 mi
14	Kings Park West	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fairfax	VA	8.2 mi
15	Burke Station Square	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Burke	VA	8.2 mi
16	Cardinal Forest	Neighborhood/Subdivision	West Springfield	VA	8.3 mi
17	Cameron Station	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	8.3 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Falls Church	Falls Church	VA	1.5 mi
2	West Falls Church	Falls Church	VA	1.7 mi
3	Vienna	Vienna	VA	2.9 mi
4	Arlington	Arlington	VA	4.9 mi
5	Annandale	Annandale	VA	5.3 mi
6	Springfield	Springfield	VA	8.2 mi
7	Fairfax County	Springfield	VA	8.2 mi
8	Pentagon City	Arlington	VA	8.5 mi

Base	Distance
Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church	2.7 mi.
Fort Myer	7.3 mi.
Mark Center Alexandria	7.3 mi.
Henderson Hall	7.8 mi.
Pentagon	8.7 mi.
Walter Reed Medical Center	9.1 mi.
Fort McNair	10.7 mi.
Coast Guard Headquarters DC	11.1 mi.
Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia	11.4 mi.
Washington Navy Yard	11.7 mi.
Marine Barracks Washington	11.8 mi.
NRO Chantilly	13 mi.
Fort Belvoir	14 mi.
Andrews AFB	18.7 mi.
Indian Head Naval Base	22 mi.
Fort Meade NSA	28.6 mi.
Quantico Marine Base	28.6 mi.
Fort Detrick	38.5 mi.
US Naval Academy	39.3 mi.
Coast Guard Curtis Bay	39.9 mi.
Dahlgren NSWC	40.1 mi.
Annapolis Naval Station	40.2 mi.

Marshall High School

Falls Church, VA 22043

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Marshall High School

Falls Church, VA 22043

School Ratings

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