My family toured many of the private schools in the area before landing on Nysmith for our child…read more The whole family, including our child, couldn't be happier with our choice. I am a Nysmith alum and know firsthand the value of the education they provide. It's been amazing to see how they've preserved and built upon the core experience and vision that founder Carol Nysmith built. To be clear, I have no incentive to post this review other than to help other families in the area consider Nysmith as a choice for their children. Before we chose Nysmith, e considered and toured a number of schools, including Basis Independent, Flint Hill, Ideaventions, Pinecrest, and Edlin. Most of these are among the top ranked schools in Northern Virginia. We felt that Nysmith had the best blend of factors for our child. - Academics: Nysmith has incredible academics, highly personalized to meet each individual child's needs. Nysmith's roots are in nurturing gifted/talented children, and with that approach comes the understanding that not every child is equally advanced in every subject. Some other schools will assign lots of homework to kids, which isn't really our vision for academic success. We like Nysmith's approach, which is to cultivate and nurture a love of learning rather than to put kids on a treadmill of endless homework. We also like that Nysmith integrates subject matter expertise into their curriculum from kindergarten onward: math experts teach math, science teachers teach science, rather than one teacher teaching all or most subjects - Size: Nysmith is bigger and more established than some of the younger "startup" schools. The classes are big enough that your child will have multiple sections of students to be friends with, they won't be siloed with only 5 or 10 classmates. Teacher ratios are still great - Teachers and Staff: Nysmith's teachers are qualified and smart, which you'll get at most private schools. But there's a key difference: they seem happier and more engaged than at any other school in the area. Retention is incredible: some of the Nysmith teachers have been there for over 25 years - since I was a student in the 90s! - Facilities and resources: Nysmith has a great facility that still has the DNA of a school rather than a country club. The facility is big, the playground is great, everything feels new, bright, and spacious - Community - We're still early in our experience with Nysmith but the PTO seems very engaged with many events scheduled. By reputation, Nysmith has one of the strongest communities of any school in the area

They tout coding and robotics, but their approach is likely to produce robots that code, not…read morecritical thinkers who can innovate. Beneath Ken Nysmith's slick salesmanship and the forced smiles that greet you, lies a far more sinister reality that belies the promise of "joy-filled, personalized learning". If you're seeking a school that truly nurtures your child's heart and mind, look elsewhere! Wellbeing and emotional support are woefully neglected at Nysmith. This place sees no problem in breaking spirits, crushing individuality and forcing students into a rigid mold that stifles their unique potential and confines them to narrow expectations. Question the status quo, and you'll be met with contempt. Conformity is the sole currency valued here! Think The Bible, Torah, or Quran -- immutable and infallible. . . I have met a few great teachers but admin pressure seems to leave them little bandwidth to connect, coach, or inspire students (despite the low student-to-teacher ratios). Humans are wired to thrive in safe, supportive spaces where even mistakes become stepping stones to learning. Nysmith is NOT that space. You've been warned!

LOVE this school! My son transferred to OH from a public school and I must say, he has…read moreexceptionally excelled in his reading, writing, and math capabilities. Not to mention, the staff, the headmaster and his family, are all so incredibly kind and an excellent reflection of core Christian values that I want my son to be influenced by. Ms. Weathers pours her heart into these children and my son adores her! She is incredibly sweet and my son always comes home talking about nothing but positive experiences with this teacher. I recommend this school to all my fellow Christians who want a solid Christian education for their children. They are doing it right here

Thank you Oak Hill Christian School for allowing our boys to grow in an environment where they were…read moretaught to live for our Lord Christ Jesus no matter the profession they might want to pursue!

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES…read more This school is the worst school I've ever seen. first of all they give way too much homework. the homework is so much that i have to do the homework for the whole day! And the homework is way too hard that we had to hire a tutor to come every day! Second of all is uniform. The uniform in this school is so uncomfortable and we have to buy about 20 uniform and they don't even give us money to buy the uniform. Third of all is the costs. The school is so so so! Expensive even with the uniform and the tutor and the lunch menus and the monthly payments and the stuff for the science fair and the school supplies! Fourth of all is the size. The school is sooo small that every grade has one classroom. And the staff is so little there's not enough of them. and so is the school playground. The school playground is in a parking lot and we have to play carefully and stop playing just because of the cars. And there's only a tiny playground that's a house playground that doesn't even have a swing and only first and second graders can use it!. Fifth of all, is teaching. the teachers DO NOT EVEN TEACH they just test us all the time and rely on textbooks and the teachers call their family members and even put their country song to not let us focus. And finally Sixth of all is dismissal. they don't have busses because it's a broke school and they dismiss Students with a website that is always rigged when i see my car they don't call it and i have to wait 7-10 minutes. and when students are called their names are still on the screen. I am so so so upset and disappointed for what this school has done! the whole school is lying about their best private school, trust me! And don't attend this school or believe in the 5 star reviews. I had experience and i hate this school! take your kids out of this school if you want them to graduate! If you don't know what school to go to then go to bull run elementary school. who would make such a school like this!

I have 2 kids been this school 2 years ago, then I moved my house little far, I had to take my kids…read morefrom pinnacle to public. It has been 2 years but still my kids ask me to send them pinnacle academy again. They loved that school a lot, now I heard they move new location which is closer right now, and we decided to send kids back pinnacle academy for next year again. I definitely recommend pinnacle academy for everyone.

My brother just started his first year at Ideaventions, and it has been an amazing school for him…read more Ideaventions offers a challenging environment where he can grow as a learner and as a person. His love for physics and mathematics is nurtured there, and he is surrounded by people with a similar work ethic and drive. However, don't be fooled by the name! The school also offers incredible humanities courses that are incredibly interactive and hands-on. The school offers a plethora of clubs and events specifically tailored to the overall interests of the students, and seems to be an amazing school overall.

Ideaventions operates more like a very small homeschool or micro-school than a traditional private…read moreschool. While this type of environment may work well for some families seeking a highly informal, hands-off setting, it was not a good fit for our family. At the elementary level, we observed wide variation in academic readiness within classrooms, with students at very different skill levels learning together. In our experience, students' academic strengths appeared to reflect individual ability or outside enrichment rather than outcomes consistently supported by the instructional program. Enrollment size is extremely small, particularly in the upper grades. We were told that recent graduating classes consisted of only one or two students, which raised concerns for us about long-term sustainability, peer learning opportunities, and social development. Families seeking sports, group activities, or broader peer interaction may find this limiting. When we asked basic, reasonable questions about curriculum and placement, communication with administration felt strained rather than collaborative. We were frequently told "we are a family here," which in practice seemed to function as a way to discourage questions or parent input. Over time, this created discomfort around advocacy rather than partnership. The school structure concentrates multiple roles within a single leader (administrator, teacher, coach, and primary decision-maker). This consolidation made the environment feel insular and, at times, uncomfortable when raising concerns. Families who value clear professional boundaries, transparency, and shared problem-solving may find this challenging. While the school promotes STEM accreditation and innovation, our experience did not reflect consistent alignment with basic public-school academic benchmarks. Families considering enrollment should ask detailed questions about curriculum standards, differentiation, and how parent feedback is handled. The school is very small, has no PTA, and limited avenues for parent collaboration. This school may be appropriate for families seeking a more affordable, informal, and highly hands-off educational setting. For families who expect academic rigor, openness to questions, and a collaborative relationship with school leadership, expectations should be managed carefully. Some families may have had different experiences, but ours was ultimately disappointing.

If you want to enjoy a diverse learning experience, then this is your school! This school has a…read morewide variety of pregnant Hispanics, horny white girls, and feisty blacks. Many of our students graduate with a high GPA of 2.2 and get enrolled into big colleges, such as NOVA and Radford. Another thing to add about this wonderful school is the exotic foods given to the hard working students. To finish this great review I'd like to add how hard working the teachers are and how they produce plentiful amounts of intelligent students. Thank you for you time.

Literally the best high school I've ever attended. The desks are mad e of the finest maple veneer,…read morethe café serves the freshest local produce, and the teachers are clearly selected only after a scrutinizing hiring process to make sure they truly love their students. This is one of the finest learning institutions around. If you live in the Herndon district I highly recommend you go here.

Saint Timothy's is a phenomenal school! We've been a part of this community for 11 years, and as…read moreour twins get ready to graduate 8th grade, we couldn't be more grateful. The teachers and staff are incredibly dedicated, and the faith-based curriculum has allowed our 8th, 6th, and 3rd graders to truly blossom. The academics and community atmosphere just keep getting better. Highly recommend to any family looking for a nurturing, Christ-centered education!

Saint Timothy Catholic School has been wonderful to our 2 daughters! They have been going to St…read more Tim's for 3 years now. We can see our children going here for years to come. The staff and teachers are super friendly and caring. Christ presence in the school is truly a reflection on this community. My children feel challenged academically and spiritually. The teachers care for each child and there are daily/weekly updates on each season of the school year!

Builds no character and spends their money on facilities rather than on their departments and…read moreteaching in general.

Best school ever! The teachers are extremely nice, I get along well with my friends, and the…read moreacademic level is great-A LOT of kids end up going to TJ, and a most of the school has level IV AA classes. My science teacher is the best one I have ever had and was awarded an award for being the best teacher in Fairfax county! No joke!

South Lakes High School is a public high school for grades 9-12 located in Reston in Fairfax…read moreCounty, VA. They have a great piece of land which allows for ample parking on both sides of the school. The inside of the school was renovated pretty recently, so classrooms, common areas, gymnasiums, etc. are in great shape and have top of the line technology. It also happens to share some land with Langston Middle School which is convenient for the county. The teachers and staff are wonderful. I've had a chance to work with them frequently through my volunteer role with the Relay For Life of Reston. A really unique thing about this school is that they have a huge JROTC program. It allows for the students to get involved with activities outside of the classroom, get mentored, learn leadership/organization skills, become more motivated and have more discipline, and really prepare them for the real world/college. I can't talk highly enough about the JROTC program and the influence it has in these kids lives, especially when they may not be receiving a lot of support at home. I have gotten to know Sargaent Handy and Major Schuler over the years; they are such wonderful role models and I'm so grateful for their service. Shout out to Linda and Susan in the activities office, they're a huge help to us too!

South Lakes. What a…read moreplace. I really loved my time here except for that I hated it because high school is the worst place on earth. Anyway, it gets such a bad rep but who gives a shit. It's a great school with great teachers. There are so many different types of people and it's so diverse. I wouldn't have gone anywhere else!

Edlin School truly feels like a second home for our family. From the moment you walk through the…read moredoors, you can tell this is a place where children are known, valued, and genuinely cared for. The teachers are warm, attentive, and deeply invested in helping each child grow both academically and personally. What really sets Edlin apart is the sense of community. Families, staff, and students work together in a way that feels authentic and supportive, not forced. The school does a wonderful job balancing strong academics with creative programs in music, art, and enrichment that let students explore their interests and build confidence. Our child is excited to go to school each day, and that says everything. We are grateful for a school that nurtures curiosity, kindness, and a love of learning. Choosing Edlin School was one of the best decisions we have made for our family.

Love it! Our kids moved here from another private school this year and everything we were impressed…read moreby during the tour/application process remains! You actually know what your kids are learning and they have textbooks and read novels! if your wondering about the school do check it out.

Plenty of visitor parking, unless there's a big school event going on…read more The school and grounds are always clean and well maintained. Security is always consistently tight. You need to be buzzed in to enter. The office staff is friendly. Playground is fun to use after school is out. Great hills for sledding on snow days.

A great elementary school located in the Fairfax/Chantilly area. The principle, teachers and staff…read moreare all amazing, hard workers and truly care for each of their students. If you spend a little time within the walls of this school you will easily see how great of a team the teachers and staff are - all striving for excellence!