George Mason High School


George Mason High School is a comprehensive public high school serving the independent City of Falls Church. Until January 2014, it was located in Idylwood, an unincorporated area of Falls Church, in Fairfax County, Virginia, adjacent to Falls Church City. As part of Fairfax Water's agreement to purchase the Falls Church Water System, the parcel with GMHS was transferred to Falls Church City.
The school serves some 750 students in grades 9-12. The school is the sole high school of the Falls Church City Public Schools system.
The school was the first in Virginia to use the International Baccalaureate program.
The school ranks gold in US News and World Reports Best High Schools Ranking for 2020; George Mason ranks #16 among all schools in Virginia and #649 in the United States.
A newly renovated George Mason High School design was unveiled in 2017. Construction began on the new building in 2019.

Demographics

George Mason's racial breakdown in the 2008-09 class was 73% White, 11.6% Asian or Pacific Islander, 9% Hispanic, 6.2% Black, and 0.1% Other. For comparison, the demographics of the City are: 85% White, 8.4% Hispanics of any race, 6.5% Asian, 3.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races.

History

GMHS was built on the site of a single-room school house which burned down in 1857. After the fire, the land sat empty until Falls Church was founded as an independent city in 1948 when residents sought greater control over their local school system, which, at the time, was segregated by race. GMHS, since its establishment in 1952, has become a hub of activity in the city for its facilities and athletic fields.

Sports and activities