School research in the DC area starts with an address, not a generalized district score. Attendance boundaries, application programs, transfer rules, and school names can change. A countywide score cannot tell you which school serves a particular home or whether a student qualifies for a specific program.
This guide gives you a neutral starting point for Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Washington, DC. Use the official tools below for the exact address and school year you are considering.
Start with the official assignment tools
| School system | What to verify | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Falls Church City Public Schools | City residency, school sequence, and current programs | FCCPS schools |
| Arlington Public Schools | Elementary, middle, and high-school assignment for an address | APS maps and boundaries |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | 2026-27 address assignment and any phased boundary change | FCPS Boundary Locator |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Zoned schools for an address | PWCS Schools Directory |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | Address assignment and adopted boundary changes | MCPS School Assignment Tool |
| Howard County Public School System | Planning polygon and adopted attendance area | HCPSS School Planning |
| District of Columbia Public Schools | In-boundary and feeder-pattern schools | DCPS Find a School |
Treat a listing portal's school label as a lead to verify, not as the final assignment. District tools may also distinguish the current school year from a future adopted boundary.
Current names and 2026 boundary context
Two names in older relocation guides are no longer current:
- Falls Church City's high school is Meridian High School, an International Baccalaureate World School. The former George Mason High School name is not the current school name. Verify programs on the official Meridian High School site.
- Prince William County's school at 8820 Rixlew Lane is Unity Reed High School. PWCS says the school was renamed in 2020. Verify the current school and programs on the official Unity Reed profile.
Fairfax County adopted boundary changes for the 2026-27 school year. The official FCPS boundary review explains the adopted changes, phasing, and areas still under study. Check the specific address rather than relying on a neighborhood name or an older feeder map.
How the major systems differ
Falls Church City Public Schools
Falls Church City operates its own school system. It is separate from Fairfax County Public Schools, even though many nearby addresses use "Falls Church" in their mailing address. Confirm the jurisdiction and school sequence through FCCPS before treating a home as part of the city system.
Arlington Public Schools
Arlington assigns every address to a neighborhood elementary, middle, and high school. It also offers option schools and programs with separate application and eligibility rules. The APS boundary locator identifies the neighborhood schools; the APS options page explains application rules and program-specific requirements.
Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County is a large system with neighborhood schools, Advanced Academic Program centers, and application-based programs. The Boundary Locator identifies the schools serving an address for 2026-27 and notes that assignments may change.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology uses a separate, competitive admissions process. Living in Fairfax County does not guarantee admission. Use the official TJHSST admissions information for eligibility and current application rules.
Prince William County Public Schools
PWCS generally assigns students by their primary residence and also publishes separate transfer and specialty-program rules. Start with the official Find Your School tool linked from the PWCS directory, then confirm any program application requirements separately.
Montgomery County Public Schools
MCPS assigns schools by address and publishes adopted boundary changes in its School Assignment Tool. Use the tool for the school year you are evaluating. Application programs and transfers have their own eligibility and timing rules, so an address alone may not establish access to those programs.
Howard County Public School System
HCPSS publishes a School Locator, planning polygons, and adopted attendance-area maps. Verify the planning polygon and current-year assignment for the exact address, then check the district's current program and transfer information.
Washington, DC public-school options
DCPS publishes in-boundary and feeder-pattern information by address. The city also has application pathways for out-of-boundary DCPS schools and public charter schools through My School DC. An in-boundary assignment and a lottery application are different paths; review the current rules and deadlines before relying on either.
A five-step address check
- Enter the exact address in the school system's official locator.
- Confirm the school year shown by the tool.
- Check adopted or proposed boundary changes that may affect the address.
- Verify program eligibility and application deadlines on the district site.
- Contact the school system directly when the locator, listing, or seller information conflicts.
Repeat this process for every home under serious consideration. Two nearby homes can have different assignments, and a school assignment can change after a boundary decision.
Compare the housing decision separately
School assignment is one part of a move. Keep the housing comparison factual and property-specific: purchase price, financing, property tax, insurance, association fees, condition, and commute. Do not use school demographics, ratings, or a generalized neighborhood label as a substitute for your own requirements and the district's official information.
For the cost side of the decision, read DC vs Northern Virginia vs Maryland cost of living. For a relocation sequence, use the DC metro military relocation guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the assigned public school?
Use the district's official address locator, confirm the school year, and review adopted boundary changes. Contact the district if the official tool conflicts with a listing or seller statement.
Does a Fairfax address guarantee TJHSST admission?
No. TJHSST has a separate competitive admissions process. Address-based school assignment and application-school admission are different.
Are Falls Church City and Fairfax County schools the same?
No. They are separate school systems. Verify the jurisdiction and exact address before relying on the mailing city.
Can DC families apply outside their in-boundary school?
Yes, through current DC application pathways, subject to eligibility, preferences, seat availability, and deadlines. Check the official My School DC information for the applicable school year.
Do boundaries change?
They can. Use the current official assignment tool and boundary-study pages for the exact address and school year.
Updated August 31, 2026 from the official school-system sources linked above. School assignments, boundaries, programs, and application rules can change. Confirm the exact address and school year directly with the school system.