Falls Church High School
Falls Church High School (FCHS) is a high school located in West Falls Church, Virginia, in unincorporated Fairfax County. While the school has a Falls Church mailing address, the school does not serve the City of Falls Church, which is served by Meridian High School. The school serves grades 9 through 12. It was relocated from its former site in downtown Falls Church to the current address, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, Virginia 22042, in 1967 Falls Church High's school motto is "Building on Our Success." The mascot for the school is a Jaguar. The  school colors are dark green and white. The principal is Benjamin Nowak. Demographics. There were 2,029 students enrolled in Falls Church High School 2018–2019 school year. Of those, 1,038 (51.16%) were Hispanic, 410 (20.21%) were Asian, 369 (18.19%) were white (non-Hispanic); 128 (6.31%) were black (non-Hispanic); and 84 (4.14%) were from another ethnic group. In terms of gender, 935 students identified as females (46.08%) and 1,094 identified as male (53.92%). Most of Falls Church High School's students (90%) are enrolled in general education. Some students are enrolled in special education, and some receive English Learner services. The  graduation rate is 85%. Location. Prior to 1967, the school was located at Hillwood Avenue and Cherry Street in Falls Church, Virginia. It then moved to its current location at 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. It is located off Arlington Boulevard, near Kingsley Commons, formerly Jefferson Village Apartments, and Graham Road Shopping Center. Test scores. Falls Church High School is fully accredited based on its Virginia Standards of Learning test performance. The school was listed as the 603rd best high school in America by "U.S. News & World Report" in 2013. Recent history. On December 5, 2006, Falls Church  High School was named a National Demonstration Site for the elective class Advancement Via Individual Determination, (AVID). Falls Church is one of only two schools in Fairfax County that have a full four-year AVID program. Lynne Cheney, author, scholar, former talk-show host, and wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, was the guest commencement speaker for the class of 2004 at the inaugural graduation ceremony held at the George Mason University Patriot Center. On June 1, 2007, at the Jaguars' graduation at the Patriot Center, on the campus of George Mason University, Ben Affleck made a special appearance  as the guest speaker thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. With the start of the 2010–2011 school year, Falls Church gained some of Annandale High School's population as the result of the Annandale Border Control Force (ABCF) and their actions. In the winter of 2010, two students qualified for the state Intel science fair: Junior Amanda Harbison and sophomore Maggie Cullather. Extracurricular activities. Band. The FCHS Marching Jags were named honor band in 2006. They also won a superior rating in 2008, with their show "Music of the Police" and another superior rating in 2009 concert festival with  selections titled "True Blue March," "Chant and Jubilo," and "Dominion in the Sky." Football. During the 2009 football season, The Jaguars maintained a 5-5 record, led by varsity quarterback Ajay Kashyap, during the regular season. The high note of the season was during week seven, when the Jaguars upset the AAA National District powerhouse Thomas A. Edison High School (Fairfax County, Virginia) Eagles 16-14. This was the Jaguars' first win over the Eagles since 1998 and the Eagles' first AAA National District loss since 2005. The Jaguars also won their homecoming against the Mount Vernon High School Majors  42-32 and also the Bell Game against rival J. E. B. Stuart High School 42-20. During the season, senior running back Marcus Hughes rushed for a region high 1,741 yards on 245 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per carry and 19 touchdowns. In 2014, the Jaguars went 7-3, and lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 2016, the Jaguars went 7-3, again winning the conference, and again losing the Albemarle in the first round of the playoffs. Baseball. In 1984, the school's baseball field was named Al McCullock Field for baseball coach Al McCullock , whose son has the same honor at Herndon High School.