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Very Good

#438 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 24% in state

South County High

High School · Fairfax County Public Schools

8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton, VA 22079

Enrollment

2,200

Student-Teacher

15.8:1

Score

7.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#438 of 1,851

In Lorton

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#75 of 199

Fairfax County Public Schools

Academic performance

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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South County High

7.7/10

High School in Lorton · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Laurel Hill Elementary

8.1/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

South County Middle

8.7/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About South County High

South County High is a public high school in Lorton, VA, part of Fairfax County Public Schools. South County High serves approximately 2,200 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. South County High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #438 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for South County High show 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.9
  • VA avg 6.9

What Parents Should Know

South County High is a large school: 2,200 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.0Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.6Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency84% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency93% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+8.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+17.3 pts
Overall Proficiency89% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)84% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+4.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
College Readiness8.5Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation36.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,975
Chronic Absenteeism19.2%

South County High — Students at South County High score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 84%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

23.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 84.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
75.4% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 89.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
75.7% (2025 SOL)

Based on 27 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
93%
ELA
95%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
95%
2011
Math
79%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
83%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
85%
ELA
93%
2014
Math
88%
ELA
95%
2015
Math
87%
ELA
95%
2016
Math
86%
ELA
92%
2017
ELA
95%
2018
Math
86%
ELA
88%
2019
Math
86%
ELA
88%
2020*
Math
71%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
71%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
84%
ELA
93%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.0/10.

How South County High Compares

See how South County High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
76th percentile in VA
Academic
8.6/10
Excellent
Growth
7.0/10
Very Good
Environment
6.5/10
Average
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.9
Sports
21
10 boys' · 11 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
24%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
139 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.2%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
36.3% participation·State avg: 2.9 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics21sports offered
10 boys'·11 girls'·36 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton, VA 22079

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering South County High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Silverbrook Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Fairfax Station), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sangster Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Springfield), which scores notably higher. Additionally, South County Middle (rated 8.7/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Lorton, see our Lorton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Laurel Hill Elementary Lorton 0.3 mi 8.1
South County Middle Lorton 0.5 mi 8.7
Halley Elementary Fairfax Station 1.2 mi 5.8
Newington Forest Elementary Springfield 1.5 mi 7.7
Lorton Station Elementary Lorton 1.3 mi 4.6
Saratoga Elementary Springfield 1.8 mi 8.1
Silverbrook Elementary Fairfax Station 1.8 mi 9.2
THE SPRINGS A MONTESSORI SCHOOL Springfield 2.2 mi 6.9
ANGELUS ACADEMY Springfield 2.5 mi 7.1
Gunston Elementary Lorton 2.7 mi 8.2
Hunt Valley Elementary Springfield 3.1 mi 7.9
RIVERMONT SCHOOL - NOVA Lorton 2.6 mi 8.0
Occoquan Elementary Woodbridge 3.3 mi 8.0
Rockledge Elementary Woodbridge 3.1 mi 6.4
Sangster Elementary Springfield 3.2 mi 9.0
Orange Hunt Elementary Springfield 3.5 mi 7.5
Rolling Valley Elementary Springfield 3.6 mi 7.2
West Springfield Elementary Springfield 3.7 mi 8.5
CARDINAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Woodbridge 3.9 mi 6.2
Belmont Elementary Woodbridge 4.2 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 22079 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$140,817

Median Home Value

$600,800

Median Rent

$2,457/mo

Population

36,523

College Educated

57.7%

Homeownership

76.2%

Avg Commute

31.2 min

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Median Age

38.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Kecoughtan High Hampton, VA 7.7
Marshall High Falls Church, VA 7.7
Midlothian High Midlothian, VA 7.7
Ocean Lakes High Virginia Beach, VA 7.7
Oscar F. Smith High Chesapeake, VA 7.7
Tallwood High Virginia Beach, VA 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about South County High

What grades does South County High serve?

South County High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South County High?

South County High has an enrollment of approximately 2,200 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South County High?

The student-teacher ratio at South County High is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South County High rank in VA?

South County High ranks #438 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is South County High's MySchoolScout rating?

South County High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at South County High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South County High has 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South County High a charter school?

No, South County High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South County High a Title I school?

No, South County High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South County High?

23.8% of students at South County High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
54 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,200
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
139
Free/Reduced Lunch
23.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Fairfax County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.2%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%

District

Fairfax County Public Schools
District Enrollment
180,714
Schools in District
223
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,975
District Rank
#75 of 199

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