Potomac Falls High School

46400 Algonkian Pkwy

Potomac Falls, VA 20165

School District

Loudoun County Public Schools
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Loudoun County Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 02, 2023

This school's athletic program is the worst that I have ever come across. The coaches here play favorites all season long and do not give opportunities to the other players. After spending all of your time and money on pre-season practices and camps and having had experience on the teams before plays no part in anything if the coach does not consider your child to be their favorite. They pick and choose who they want to be nice to and who they want to include. Half of these coaches are not even qualified enough to teach these sports to children. This school has always had issues with their athletic department but there has been nothing done. The coaches here make these children fall out of love with the sports they play.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2023

If your child has a mental health issue, this is not the school for you. Loudoun keeps sending emails about what to look for about eating disorder, teen anxiety, depression, etc. Then you ask the school to provide support for your child, help is non-existent. They will only help kids that miss a lot of school days, failing grades - the typical kid in trouble. If your child still goes to school but silently suffering, you won't get any help.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2022

If I could give this school a 0 I would. The math teachers cannot teach, they get angry if you don’t understand. This schools main priority is not education. It is sports especially Varisty Football which is where all the money goes. There is no hot water in the sinks. There is a extreme health code violation. People are extremely rude and people pick physical fights everyday. Teachers raise their voices on students when they don’t understand material. I’ve been accused of cheating on tests because of ridiculous reasons. Please do not register for this school.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2021

The staff has been excellent in resolving all of my issues and I've had great experiences with the teachers as well as their coaches in the sports programs. Many extra-curricular activities and a strong reputation in the community.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2021

It's a school, so just like any other school lol.
Submitted by student on September 15, 2019

-4000/10 that is what i think of potomack falls high school
Submitted by student on July 18, 2019

1/10. Its pretty bad you have kids jumping others for juuls or in the bathroom vaping or doing drugs, while the teachers fail to do their jobs effectively (besides a few), every kid there is pretty below average because of the aforementioned bad teachers and struggling to keep a 3.0 or above gpa so its over a bad school
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2018

Wonderful educational setting, resources, parent and teacher support systems
Submitted by student on March 26, 2018

When it comes to faculty at PFHS, teachers are either a hit or a miss. Out of my four years being there, I've had about 2 teachers who I felt truly made an impact on my education and about 3 teachers who I just liked because I felt like I could be friends with them. Aside from that, the administration is a truly a mess. In my senior year, we went through 3 different principles.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2017

Potomac Falls is an excellent school with caring teachers who go above and beyond to help students succeed. The academics are top notch. It has a really strong English department. The students can choose from many AP programs and electives. The school offers vast array of extracurricular activities and clubs. My son had a wonderful experience there and he got accepted to every college on his list.
Submitted by other on October 20, 2016

Excellent High School and Administration. My two children attended Loudoun County Public schools starting in Kindergarten through high school. I highly recommend Loudoun County schools!
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2016

Potomac Falls HS is the fourth school district my daughter has attended, and by far the least impressive. In brief, the counseling department is disorganized and unhelpful even if you and your child has your act together. I question whether some of the adults working at this school actually have the disposition to be working with older teens. On more than one occasion, I've had the impression that "whatever has gone wrong is the student's fault". If I didn't know any better, I would think most of Potomac Falls students were just up to no good, period. My daughter is going into her second year at Potomac Falls, and I would say that she is engaged by half of her teachers. If your child is bright (and yes, mine is with a 4.14 GPA), but not interested in joining the AP rat race, well, that could be a real problem. Maybe it's me, but I don't feel that Loudoun County is offering a particular engaging and challenging educational environment. Oh, it's tough...90% of a student's grade is based on test/quizzes. FYI As of 2015, my children have not reported any opportunities of "retesting" and there is certainly NO opportunities for "extra credit". I find the grading system even less distressful than the fact that the curriculum is not an integrative, learn by doing environment. In general, I'm disappointed in the school district and very concerned for my middle schooler. Guess it's time to move...
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2015

Loudoun County has terrible grading policy- 90% tests/quizzes and 10% homework- basically discourages kids from doing homework and essays because only 10% of their grade. Honors English class had 5 page essay due and 2 kids turned it in- my child was one of those. A 5 page essay should be a test grade not homework grade. Teacher blew up at class over it. One bad test or quiz can bomb your grade. Pop quizzes are killers on grades and seem unfair to me if they are 90% of grade. HOWEVER you can retake tests 2 times if you want depending on teacher in first semester. Second semester retakes depend on class. This is not teaching our kids how things are done in real life. Secondly it is called "Pot Falls" for a reason. Lots of drugs here unfortunately. Daughter is not challenged very much in course work, pretty easy to maintain a 3.75 or above GPA. Administration is terrible to work with. The are rude. Counselors are a joke and not helpful. Study hall is a joke. Kids sing, dance, are on their phones, get into fights in hallway- it is not enforced as a study hall at all. Very disappointing school over all. Daughter has attended 9 schools in life time and this one ranks at the bottom. Had I known this at the beginning of our move, we would have moved to Fairfax County instead.
Submitted by other on May 20, 2015

Potomac falls is a terrible school... The administration is rude and unorganized and the teachers are either mean or they ignore the class. Many of them fail to update the gradebook, leaving students anxious and unaware of their grades. Again, just a terrible school.