Lake Braddock Secondary School
Lake Braddock Secondary School is a public institution in Burke, Virginia, operated by Fairfax County Public Schools, providing education for students in grades 7 through 12.[1][2] Opened in 1973, the school serves a diverse student body of approximately 4,400, with demographics including 40% White, 25% Asian, 22% Hispanic, and 11% Black students.[3][4][5] It ranks 18th among Virginia high schools, with 68% of students participating in Advanced Placement courses and strong proficiency rates in math and reading.[6] The school is distinguished by its music program, particularly the band, which has held Virginia Honor Band designation for 39 consecutive years, and its gymnastics team, which has secured more state championships than any other in the commonwealth.[7][8] Additional recognitions include designation as a 2023 Purple Star School for military family support.[9]History
Founding and Early Years
Lake Braddock Secondary School opened in 1973 in Burke, Virginia, as a public institution under [Fairfax County Public Schools](/page/Fairfax County Public Schools), serving students in grades 7 through 12.[10] The school is located at 9200 Burke Lake Road, adjacent to the reservoir that inspired its name.[11] John W. Alwood served as the school's first principal, having previously led Edison High School; the administrative staff, under his direction, was in place by August 1973 to prepare for the opening.[12][11] Initial operations focused on establishing instructional services for the combined middle and high school model typical of Fairfax County's secondary schools at the time. In its early years, the school integrated students from surrounding areas, contributing to the growth of educational infrastructure in the burgeoning Burke community amid Fairfax County's post-war suburban expansion.[10] By the late 1970s, Lake Braddock had begun developing its programs, laying the foundation for later expansions in facilities and academics.[11]Major Developments and Expansions
Lake Braddock Secondary School underwent its principal physical expansion and modernization between 2003 and 2007, a phased $72 million project funded by a Fairfax County bond referendum and recognized as the most extensive renovation in Fairfax County Public Schools' history at the time.[13][14] The initiative addressed the limitations of the school's original 1973 open-plan design, which featured large undivided spaces and multiple media centers, by converting them into enclosed classrooms with doors, windows, and fixed walls to support structured instruction.[13][15] The expansion added 75,000 square feet of space, bringing the total facility size to approximately 600,000 square feet and incorporating 35 new learning areas, including additional classrooms, science laboratories, and computer labs.[13][15] Structural changes included reorganizing grades 7 and 8 into a dedicated middle school wing with shared departmental and activity spaces, constructing a new science department with expanded lab and lecture facilities, installing a centralized main entrance, and enlarging the administration suite positioned between the middle and high school sections.[15] Technology upgrades equipped classrooms with interactive Mimeo boards, LCD projectors, and cable TV monitors, replacing outdated equipment to enable technology-driven teaching.[13] The work, encompassing about 520,000 square feet of renovation alongside the addition, proceeded segment by segment to minimize disruption while accommodating over 4,000 students, finishing seven months ahead of schedule.[13][16] An official unveiling occurred on September 18, 2007.[13] No subsequent major expansions or large-scale additions have been documented in Fairfax County Public Schools' capital improvement plans through 2025.[17]Facilities and Infrastructure
Campus Description
Lake Braddock Secondary School is located at 9200 Burke Lake Road in Burke, Virginia, adjacent to the Burke Lake Park area.[18] The campus occupies 13.9 acres and includes 604,660 square feet of building space under roof.[14] Originally opened in 1973, the facility was designed as one of Fairfax County Public Schools' secondary schools serving grades 7 through 12.[16] The school underwent major renovations from 2003 to 2006, modernizing the original open-plan structure into a technology-driven layout with fixed walls and classrooms.[14] [15] This update included the addition of a new science department with expanded laboratory and lecture spaces, a centrally located main entrance, and an enlarged administrative suite bridging the middle and high school sections.[15] Multi-purpose resource and lecture areas were incorporated to support flexible instructional uses.[15] The campus layout separates 7th and 8th grades into a dedicated middle school wing near shared communal spaces, while the high school portion employs a departmental organization to facilitate specialized and blended learning environments.[15] These features accommodate the school's large enrollment of over 4,300 students, emphasizing efficient space utilization and integration of educational technology.[19]Renovations and Upgrades
In 2005, Fairfax County Public Schools initiated a comprehensive three-year renovation project at Lake Braddock Secondary School, transforming the facility from its original open-plan design established in the 1970s into a modern, technology-integrated structure.[20] The project, completed in August 2007, encompassed approximately 520,000 square feet of renovations and an 80,000-square-foot addition, bringing the total facility size to 592,995 square feet.[16] Valued at $72 million, the upgrades addressed outdated infrastructure while enhancing instructional spaces for both middle and high school divisions.[13] Key improvements included reorganizing the 7th and 8th grades into a dedicated middle school wing with shared departmental and activity areas to promote interdisciplinary collaboration.[15] The science department received expanded laboratory and lecture facilities, while multiple dispersed media centers were consolidated into fixed-wall classrooms, flexible multi-purpose rooms, and resource centers equipped for blended learning.[15] A new central entrance replaced scattered access points, improving security and visibility, and the administration suite was enlarged to bridge the middle and high school sections.[15] These changes emphasized technology-driven instruction, with departmental layouts in the high school fostering subject-specific teamwork.[15] The project earned an Award of Excellence in 2007 from the Association of Building Contractors for institutional work exceeding $40 million, recognizing its architectural and functional advancements.[15] By mid-2006, renovations to the high school's music and foreign language departments were among the final phases, with the middle school portion underway, exceeding initial expectations in scope and quality according to school administrators.[20] No major subsequent facility overhauls have been documented in Fairfax County Public Schools' capital improvement programs as of 2025, though ongoing maintenance aligns with district-wide standards.[17]Academics
Programs and Curriculum
Lake Braddock Secondary School implements the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) curriculum framework for grades 7 through 12, emphasizing core subjects in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and world languages, alongside electives in fine arts, physical education, health, and career and technical education (CTE). The high school mathematics sequence spans from Introduction to Algebra through Calculus, aligned with FCPS Program of Studies standards to build foundational and advanced skills.[21] Middle school offerings include supplemental courses to reinforce English and mathematics proficiency, supporting students transitioning to higher-level instruction.[22] Advanced Placement (AP) courses form a cornerstone of the upper-level curriculum, available in subjects including art, English, world languages, mathematics, music, science, and social studies, with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning in areas like physics.[23] Approximately 68% of students participate in AP coursework and exams, reflecting significant enrollment in these college-level classes that demand substantial independent reading (e.g., 100-150 pages weekly in AP English Language), projects, and assessments.[6][24] AP expectations include rigorous preparation for external exams, with school support via dedicated Schoology groups for enrolled students.[25] Students access specialized CTE through FCPS's six high school academies, which provide technical courses in fields like fine arts, world languages, hospitality, automotive technology, and information technology not offered universally across schools; enrollment facilitates career preparation, including internships and shadowing opportunities.[26] The school also supports gifted and talented education programs integrated into the curriculum.[27] For graduation, high schoolers pursue diplomas requiring, at minimum, three lab science credits across distinct areas and four social studies credits for a standard diploma, or 26 verified credits for the Advanced Studies Diploma.[1] Course selections for grades 9-12 incorporate core requirements, AP/honors options, and electives like computer science, business, and family studies, selected via the SIS system during annual advising.Accreditation and Performance Metrics
Lake Braddock Secondary School operates under the accreditation framework of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), which evaluates schools based on compliance with state standards outlined in 8VAC20-131, including student achievement, curriculum alignment, and instructional quality. As a public school within Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), it maintains full accreditation status, with no reported conditional or non-accredited designations in recent evaluations. A revised accreditation system is scheduled for implementation in fall 2025, emphasizing continuous improvement and equity metrics.[1] On state-required Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments, the school demonstrates strong proficiency levels, with 93% of students proficient or advanced in reading, 82% in mathematics, and 82% in science, exceeding typical Virginia high school averages where state reading proficiency hovers around 75-80% in recent years.[6] These metrics reflect end-of-course testing for high school students and contribute to the school's overall performance profile under VDOE reporting. Independent analyses rank Lake Braddock 74th among 328 Virginia high schools for 2025, with an average standard score of 72.8, placing it in the top quartile based on SOL results across subjects.[28] The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate stands at 97%, surpassing the state average of approximately 90% and positioning the school 20th among Virginia high schools.[6] College and career readiness indicators include a U.S. News College Readiness Index score of 56.4 out of 100, driven by participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, where 68% of students take at least one exam and 53% pass at least one with a score of 3 or higher.[6] The school earns a 4- to 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, reflecting consistent top-25% performance over the past decade, though rankings vary by evaluator methodology, with U.S. News placing it 18th statewide.[28][6]Enrollment Demographics
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Lake Braddock Secondary School enrolled 4,397 students in grades 7 through 12.[29] The student body comprised 52.04% male students and 47.96% female students.[29]| Racial/Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 42.17% |
| Hispanic | 20.65% |
| Asian | 19.79% |
| Black | 9.44% |
| Two or More Races | 7.62% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.20% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.14% |