Many families are considering moving to Virginia for their children's education.

When looking for a home near Washington DC, the conversation naturally turns to Fairfax County. When I first started researching the Annandale area, the first thing I looked into was the schools, even before the housing prices.

The Fairfax County Public Schools, commonly referred to as FCPS, is one of the largest public school systems in the United States. When discussing the high housing prices in Northern Virginia, the quality of the educational environment is always a key factor alongside job accessibility.

Among these schools, the most well-known is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, often called TJ.

TJ is a bit different from a typical neighborhood high school. It is a public magnet school specialized in math, science, computer science, and engineering, where students from Fairfax County and surrounding areas apply through a separate admission process.

It is so renowned that it has been ranked among the top high schools in the U.S. in the U.S. News 2025-2026 rankings. For students interested in STEM fields such as astronomy, robotics, computer science, and life sciences, it is a school worth aiming for. It also has specialized research facilities, making it attractive not just for its test scores but for the early exposure to college-level research experiences.

Another advantage is that TJ is not far from Annandale. Depending on the location, it can take about 10 to 20 minutes by car. However, living in Annandale does not automatically guarantee admission to TJ. Students must go through a separate application and selection process.

Another school that frequently comes up in discussions about school districts in Northern Virginia is Langley High School.

Located in McLean, it is well-known for its high academic achievement. The difference from TJ is that it is a regular public high school assigned based on residency. Therefore, some families look for homes in McLean or Great Falls to get into the Langley district.

However, there is a point to be cautious about. Living in Annandale does not guarantee assignment to Langley High School. Actual school assignments are determined by address, so if you are targeting a specific school, it is essential to check with FCPS for the assigned school for that address before signing a housing contract.

Woodson High School is also frequently mentioned among schools near Annandale.

The current name of the school is Carter G. Woodson High School, located in Fairfax. It is evaluated as a school that offers a relatively balanced range of activities, including academics, sports, music, and arts.

Families looking for homes near the Annandale and Fairfax border may also consider the Woodson district. Even homes that seem to be in the same Annandale area can have different schools just across a street, so it is better to verify with FCPS rather than relying solely on the school information listed in real estate listings.

Additionally, Annandale itself has Annandale High School.

While it may appear to rank lower compared to TJ or Langley on a national scale, this school has its unique features. It offers the International Baccalaureate, or IB program, and students from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds study together.

From the perspective of Korean parents, it can be easy to judge based solely on school rankings, but the child's personality is also important. A highly competitive school is not necessarily the best fit for every child. Factors such as AP or IB course selection, music and sports, friendships, and commute times should all be considered.

Particularly, the advantage of Annandale is that it is not just about one school; it is about living within the larger educational system of Fairfax County.

There are options for outstanding STEM students to challenge themselves like at TJ, while also being able to consider various regular public schools based on their address. Additionally, there is a well-developed Korean educational infrastructure nearby, including Korean language schools, churches, taekwondo studios, and music academies.

Therefore, for Korean families looking to raise children while wanting to stay within the Washington DC area, Annandale is still worth considering.

However, it is advisable to avoid the order of buying a house first and then checking the schools. If you have a school in mind, it is safer to determine the school first, check the current FCPS boundaries, and then look for housing within that area.

In Annandale, just crossing a street can change the school assignment. Ultimately, when choosing a home in this area, it is important to consider not just the number of rooms or the size of the kitchen, but also that the address can determine your child's school.