John R. Lewis High School

6540 Franconia Road

School District

Fairfax County Public Schools
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Fairfax 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 January 05, 2025

As parents of three outstanding students at John R. Lewis High School, we are incredibly proud of the exceptional education and support our children have received. Each of them has achieved GPAs that surpass the national average, reflecting the school’s commitment to academic excellence.From the very beginning, it was evident that John R. Lewis High School prioritizes academic rigor. The curriculum is both challenging and engaging, motivating our children to excel. The teachers are dedicated professionals who genuinely care about their students’ progress, fostering an environment that encourages questions and support.The school offers a rich array of extracurricular activities and advanced placement courses, allowing our children to explore their interests in both the arts and sciences. This holistic approach has equipped them with valuable skills for their future endeavors.We are especially proud to share that one of our children has been accepted into one of the top three colleges in the country! This achievement speaks volumes about the strong foundation provided by John R. Lewis High School. Our other two children are also on track to pursue their college aspirations, benefiting from the excellent college counseling resources available.The sense of community at John R. Lewis High School is commendable. It fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued. The school’s commitment to character development encourages students to engage with their community, instilling pride and responsibility.However, we are concerned that despite these strengths, John R. Lewis High School continues to receive lower national ratings and less funding compared to surrounding schools. Given the impressive achievements of its students, this raises questions about resource allocation and the need for greater support.In conclusion, John R. Lewis High School has played a pivotal role in shaping our children's futures. The combination of rigorous academics, diverse opportunities, and a strong sense of community has set them on a path to success. We wholeheartedly recommend this school to any parent seeking an environment that fosters excellence and hope it receives the recognition it truly deserves.
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2021

2018 National School Library Program of the Year2020 School of Excellence Award Winner from from State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and ACT's American College Application Campaign2021 Fairfax County New Principal of the YearSadly, these distinctions are not included in GreatSchools scores.GreatSchools still has Lewis High School listed as Lee High School more than a year after it was renamed (as of 6/12/2021). This gives you an indication of how much you can rely on GreatSchools information.
Submitted by teacher on September 03, 2020

I have taught at this school for 22 years. Wonderful students and wonderful staff. The AP test rating on this page is very deceptive-- we are an IB school and only offer AP courses for those classes that are not covered by the IB program-- so of course our AP rating is low. It should be. Also-- the IB program is only offered to 11-12 graders (that is the rule for IB) so to display it as grades 9-12 is incorrect. I would suggest that this website fix these issues so as to not give such a negative impression of this school. I would also suggest a parent visit the school and not this website to see what is really going on at Lewis High School.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2019

Excellent. The teachers are highly qualified and truly care for the students. the demographic makeup is the true "melting pot" that America has always been and will always be. the school is safe and clean. I have nothing but good experiences with Lee and my children feel the same way.
Submitted by student on September 29, 2018

This school might seem shabby to some but it actually provides an amazing education and most of the teachers are really good
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2018

Overall, really positive. Lots of opportunities, ways to fit in and make a place for yourself. Caring and professional teachers and counselors really helped my child transfer into the school. My child was able to maintain an excellent academic record and enjoyed the challenge and friendship of many equally able and passionate classmates. Don't read the scores. They are not reflective of current data. This is a wonderfully international school which great staff and students. A hidden gem.
Submitted by other on January 02, 2018

GreatSchools is reckless. They use 4 year old information to rate our schools. For instance, look under “College Readiness” for Lee High School. It lists 0% under AP participation. This is odd. Lee has had AP courses since the 2014-15 school year. When you click on the “Sources” you find out the information is from 2014 Civil Rights Data Collection.There is no mention of Lee’s Internationale Baccalaureate (IB) program. This should be listed under “College Readiness” also.Because of these ratings, parents pupil place their students in other schools thus adversely affecting the numbers. GreatSchools is complicit is slowing this school’s gains.
Submitted by student on May 02, 2016

Graduated 2015. I would say the Chemistry department is absolutely useless. Flooding the students with busy work like they were substitutes. Non-honor classes don't have a curriculum. SOOO MANY ESOL Students
Submitted by other on October 01, 2014

Lee is an amazing school. The teachers, clearly, care a lot about their students and go through great lengths to help them succeed. Lee is a prime example of what a community should be like. When I attended Lee, I was a chubby, quiet bookworm who practically lived in the library. I knew the librarians by name and would even volunteer there in my free time. Even so, I never felt alone or bullied. The students were very welcoming and, not once, did I feel like I was unsafe or unwelcome. Of course, the building is not ideal and the school could probably do better with handling their budget, but every school has their imperfections. Some people say that high school was the worst four years of their life and that college was their best four years. For me, it was the complete opposite. I found myself missing Lee because the teachers that I had were amazing (give or take one or two) and the friends I made in the unlikeliest social groups were the closest friends I've ever had. There were no dumb jocks, cool Asians, Plastics, or art freaks - we were all just students taking the same journey through the education system and that's how we saw each other.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2014

Lee HS is a great school. Many people want to give it a bad reputation and they have never set foot in the school. The diversity of the student population is one of its strongest assest, students are blessed to have such diversity and learn from it. My son has been at Lee for 4 years and has enjoyed it. Teachers do care and so does the administration. Our new principal is very proactive and I feel will keep Lee on its path of moving forward. I had another child that attended adn graduated from West Springfield HS and if they had to do it over again they would choose Lee over WSHS. If more parents would get involved (and it they have over the past few years) Lee would be the best school in the county. Go Lancers!
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2014

I have to girls that graduated from this school 2012 and 2014. They had a wonderful experience! They were able to participate in sports that they never would have been able to in a different school in this county. Both girls did Honors/IB courses. Teachers genuinely care about the students and seem enjoy their jobs. I have never seen anything like it. My daughter attended Irviing middle school which has high ratings but I did not feel the connection/nurturing with this school's teachers as lee high school. I moved here from another state and people tried to scare me about sending my girls here. However, I read the parent comments on this site and decided to give it a try. I never regretted it. Last but not least the kids are wonderful and all know each other!
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2014

I was very disappointed in this school, that my son attended for his sophomore year. They don't enforce the dress code or the behavior code. It was very difficult and sometimes took several days to contact the counselor and some teachers. I was also disappointed in the band program.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2014

I am glad we have a good communication with staff, and teachers. It is important to allow freshmen to begin the independent study, and work load without parent and teachers reminders.
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2013

Lee High School's educators are absolutely tops. We have a freshman and sophomore attending and we find that all of their educators from counselors to teachers are deeply invested in preparing our girls for college. The staff avails itself of technology to provide us timely information and feedback on all academic issues and this allows us to do our parts as parents. Equally important they make themselves routinely available through Lancer Time and after school to review challenging course material. We appreciate them all. comprehend the material. The educators are making numerous sacrifices to tur
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2013

My daughter goes to Lee High School. She is getting an excellent education through the AB program. The principal is excellent and the class sizes are small. The teachers work hard and are very responsive. Good school overall. I give it an A.
Submitted by teacher on November 22, 2013

Lee High School is an incredible place to work! Filled with caring faculty, staff and students, Lee is a welcoming learning environment focused on our vision of graduating students to be successful in whatever follows their high school years. We challenge our students with rigorous coursework, build strong positive relationships, and are continually looking for ways to make our content relevant to the lives of our students. We are a school of great diversity with over 25 spoken languages and our students hail from over 60 countries. I've worked in nine high schools over my twenty one year career and none have been as great to work in as Lee. LEE HIGH SCHOOL s VISION: Our students will graduate prepared for success by mastering challenging and rigorous curricula. Our students will participate in clubs, sports, and/or fine and performing arts programs. Our students will build strong positive relationships with the staff and each other. Our students will demonstrate critical thinking skills, creativity, an ability to collaborate, and will take responsibility for their own decisions. Our students will develop actionable and achievable goals.
Submitted by student on August 15, 2013

I actually go to this school and I can say that its quite awesome. Compared to other schools the teachers are good, and the environment even better. Instead of learning for 7 1/2 hours a day we have lancer time which actually helps me academically and phsyically. I love my school.
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2012

Better than it's rating. Had a great experience. Both kids well prepared for college. One did IB Diploma (1 year college credit) and other did partial IB program earned 2 college classes. Better opportunities (compared to other schools) for interested & not privately coached athletes to participate in sports. Excellent SGA Leadership Program where the students organize & run school activities. Outstanding English Department. Smaller school. Excellent teachers.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2012

Just a flat out terrible school. I would not recommend anyone to send their child here. We have experienced inadequate staffing, prejudice and an utter lack of spirit.The administration as a whole needs to be replaced. We are emotionally drained and are seriously contemplating transferring our child out of this misery.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2011

I was informed that discinplinary action had been bestowed by a student prior to any type of investigation of the situation at hand. Staff informed a student what his disciplinary action was going to be before the student was questioned or told by the administration staff. It leaves a feeling that some students may be prejudged without even knowing the full story. Does not appear to be fair to all students.