Mission

The mission of the Congressional Schools of Virginia is to develop and encourage the personal and intellectual growth of each child entrusted to its care. To that end, we seek to:

• Provide a safe and stimulating environment in which children can develop academically, physically, creatively, socially, and emotionally;
  
  
• Foster a climate which emphasizes traditional values of citizenship, service, personal responsibility, self-discipline, and respect and compassion for others;
  
  
• Challenge students with an accelerated, interactive, and age-appropriate curriculum;
  
  
• Provide supporting educational materials and integrate technology throughout the curriculum;
  
  
• Maintain a structure and philosophy which assures attention to the unique needs of each child;
  
  
• Attract and retain outstanding teachers who actively pursue on-going professional development;
  
  
• Sustain a partnership between school and home in the education of the children;
  
  
• Encourage all parents to play an active role in the life of the Schools;
  
  
• Take advantage of the many opportunities afforded by the diverse character of the Schools and of the surrounding metropolitan area;
  
  
• Acknowledge each child's special gifts and contributions.

 

History

Our school's long history of outstanding education and service began in 1939 when Evelyn and Malcolm Devers founded a new primary school, The Congressional School, in Arlington, Virginia. In six months, the school's enrollment grew to include 40 children ages three, four and five, all of whom were schooled in a five-room house in the Westover Hills section of Arlington. Within a year, the school expanded to include grades 1-4 and moved to the Yeatman home at 3155 N. Pershing Drive.

During the summer of 1942, the school moved to the former estate of General George Patton at 1401 N. 12th Street on Ft. Myer Hill. Facilities were expanded and over the next 15 years enrollment increased to include Preschool through eighth grade. A second campus opened in Alexandria in the mid 1950's at 500 W. Windsor Avenue to house students in Preschool through fourth grade. During the 1950's, Congressional developed a new school site on 40 acres of land at Sleepy Hollow Road. By the fall of 1960, students in Preschool through 12th grade were learning at the new campus.

In 1979, Congressional School was reorganized as the Congressional Schools of Virginia, a nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Regents. In the mid 80's the Board resolved to focus on the Lower and Middle School population and phase out the High School. In June of 1987 Congressional graduated its last 12th grade class.

The school's educational facilities continued to grow with the construction and opening of a new gymnasium/auditorium in the spring of 1997, followed shortly thereafter with the opening of the new Technology Center.