| Metric | Fairfax County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 180,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 198 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $16,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 9/10 — Great | — | Top 10% nationally |
About Fairfax County Public Schools
Families in zip code 22102 (Mclean, Virginia) are assigned to Fairfax County Public Schools for public education through 12th. This overview covers the district’s funding levels, scale, rating, and what to expect from the enrollment process if you’re moving to or within this zip code.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Fairfax County Public Schools runs approximately $16,000 annually, placing it 19% above the Virginia state average of approximately $13,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
Fairfax County Public Schools is a major metropolitan district with 198 schools serving students from Pre-K–12th. The district enrolls approximately 180,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.
Understanding the 9/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Fairfax County Public Schools 9 out of 10 — top-tier among Virginia public school districts. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Fairfax County Public Schools is among the highest-rated public school districts in Virginia. Top-tier ratings reflect strong per-pupil investment, stable enrollment, and structural indicators consistent with high-performing educational systems. Homes in and around zip code 22102 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for school quality will find a well-resourced district. Even within top-rated districts, individual school quality varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 22102
Children in zip code 22102 are assigned to Fairfax County Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K–12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 22102, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Fairfax County Public Schools at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Virginia districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Mclean
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Fairfax County Public Schools serves zip code 22102, homes in and around zip code 22102 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Virginia, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Fairfax County Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 22102.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Fairfax County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 22102 data.
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