Lower School

Give Your Child a Competitive Advantage

At the Fairfax Christian School Lower School — four-year-old kindergarten through 4th grade, learning comes alive. Our phonics-based reading foundation and advanced mathematics programs give young students a powerful academic start. History, science, art, music, foreign languages, and Bible classes help children grow, flourish, and discover their unique gifts.

In third grade, students launch into Latin, and by fourth grade, they’re introduced to the exciting world of economics—a signature part of our curriculum. We blend traditional and context-based learning to build confident, curious, and capable scholars.

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A Foundation for Academic Excellence

The Lower School at The Fairfax Christian School, one of the leading private schools in Northern Virginia, serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. These early years are the cornerstone of a child’s academic, moral, and social development. Our program provides a mastery-based learning environment that is safe, joyful, structured, and nurturing—an ideal setting for families seeking a Christian elementary school with a strong academic foundation.

Students in our Lower School begin the journey toward our nationally recognized, university-preparatory curriculum. They develop the essential habits and skills that support future success in middle school, high school, and beyond.

Start with Four-Year-Old Kindergarten

Four-year-old kindergarten sets the groundwork for a lifetime of learning. At the Fairfax Christian School, children advance quickly in our safe, wholesome, joyful, and nurturing environment, with a friendly approach to structure and discipline and an enthusiasm for learning that establishes a strong educational foundation. 
Students must be four years old by December 31.

A Mastery-Based Lower School Curriculum Designed for Lifelong Success


Our age-appropriate curriculum fosters early growth in critical thinking, reasoning, research skills, and communication. Rooted in strong academic, moral, and social values, The Fairfax Christian School equips children with the confidence and capabilities they need to thrive in advanced coursework.

Families seeking the best elementary education in Northern Virginia will find that our approach emphasizes mastery, character, and joyful learning.

Phonics-Based Literacy: Building Strong, Confident Readers
The Fairfax Christian School is known for its exceptional phonics program—a systematic and time-tested approach based on the McGuffey Readers, widely used in top private schools and homeschooling communities across the country.

Lower School students rapidly develop:

  • Phonics and decoding skills

  • Reading fluency and comprehension

  • Vocabulary and spelling

  • Grammar and writing

  • Penmanship and written expression

Our small class sizes allow teachers to provide personalized reading instruction through small groups and one-on-one guidance. Daily practice, read-alouds, and interactive story time foster both confidence and a genuine love of reading.

Mathematics Mastery Through Hands-On Learning
Our Lower School math curriculum is designed to give students a solid foundation in number sense, logic, and problem solving. Using hands-on tools such as pattern blocks, counters, interlocking cubes, play money, and model clocks, students gain a concrete understanding of mathematical concepts.

Students progress through:

  • Number visualization and early computation

  • Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

  • Counting money and telling time

  • Mastery of multiplication tables and long division

  • Introduction to fractional, algebraic, and geometric concepts

This strong foundation prepares students for our advanced middle school math track and the college-prep STEM program in the upper grades.

Inquiry-Based Science for Young Explorers
Science in the Lower School emphasizes curiosity, investigation, and experiential learning. Students explore:

  • Zoology

  • Earth science and geology

  • Physics and motion

  • Astronomy and space

  • Oceanography and ecosystems

  • Health and early computer literacy

Our expansive campus allows for outdoor scientific exploration, and students benefit from access to the middle and high school science labs—rare opportunities in an elementary private school setting.

Early Foreign Language Education
The Fairfax Christian School distinguishes itself among private elementary schools by offering early world language instruction:

  • French beginning in kindergarten

  • Latin beginning in third grade

  • Additional after-school options in Spanish, German, Korean, and Chinese

Early language exposure strengthens cognitive development and prepares students for advanced language study in later grades.

Bible and History Integrated Into a Traditional Foundation
Lower School students explore Bible and history through hands-on projects, storytelling, and age-appropriate texts. They study:

  • Old and New Testament stories

  • Ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Babylon, Greece, and Rome

  • United States history, civics, and Virginia history

This classical foundation supports strong cultural literacy and moral development.

A Robust Fine Arts Program

Art and music play a central role in our Lower School curriculum. Students:

  • Draw, paint, sculpt, and explore multiple artistic mediums

  • Learn music theory, rhythm, and notation

  • Sing, play instruments, and participate in performances

  • Present in the annual fall concert and spring musical

These programs cultivate creativity, confidence, and appreciation for the arts.

Enrichment Programs Extend Learning Beyond the Classroom

Lower School students at The Fairfax Christian School enjoy a wide range of enrichment opportunities on campus, including:

  • Ballet

  • Chess Club

  • Spanish Club

  • Chinese Club

  • SNAG Golf

  • Soccer ABCs

  • Art Club

  • Drama Club

Families also have access to summer camps, Summer Academic Success, and before- and after-school care, offering flexibility and continuous learning.

The Best Start for Every Child’s Educational Journey

The Lower School at The Fairfax Christian School provides a strong academic and character foundation that prepares students for the challenges of Middle School, the rigor of our High School, and the expectations of top universities. With exceptional teachers, small class sizes, advanced curriculum, and a nurturing Christian environment, our Lower School is widely regarded as one of the best private elementary programs in Northern Virginia.

  • A young boy in a white school uniform sitting at the end of a playground slide, smiling and holding onto the metal bars, with other children in the background playing.
  • Young girl smiling and holding red pom-poms, standing in front of a school banner with a Fairfax Christian School logo.
  • A group of students in school uniforms gathered around a table, working on a poster with colorful drawings, pictures of hearts, a rainbow, a castle, and a sunset, in a decorated classroom.
  • A boy in school uniform jumping over colorful hoops on a wooden gym floor while holding a yellow basketball.
  • Two children smiling at a birthday celebration, one holding a cupcake with white frosting, sitting at a table with a paper napkin and a slice of cake nearby.
  • A woman helping a young boy play mini-golf on a green course outdoors. The boy is holding a golf club aiming at an orange ball near a small white golf hole with pink and green barriers. The woman is guiding him, and there are several other orange balls on the ground nearby.
  • Group of young children wearing paper hats with bunny ears, standing in a classroom next to their teacher. The classroom has educational posters and a world map on the wall.
  • A young girl in a school uniform bottle-feeding a baby goat through a wire fence at an indoor farm exhibit.
  • A woman and a young girl are looking at a book together in a bookstore or library, with children’s books displayed behind them.