On This Day in 1961: The Journey of the Fairfax Christian School
Today is a very special day for our community as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Fairfax Christian School. Since our founding on September 11, 1961, our mission has been to create scholars and give our students a competitive advantage as they live lives of gratitude and abundance. Today, we invite you to take a walk down memory lane with us to see just how far we've come.
Humble Beginnings
Our story began 65 years ago, when Reverend Robert L. Thoburn and his wife, Rosemary, opened our doors on the ground floor of a large Victorian home in Fairfax, Virginia. That first year, we offered classes for kindergarten through eighth grade. Beginning in 1964, the school grew alongside our students, adding a new grade each year until our very first high school senior graduated in 1968. By that same year, our energetic student population had grown to more than 650 students!
Growing and Evolving
As our award-winning school grew, so did our need for space. Our growing school eventually moved to a campus on Popes Head Road, and after selling that campus in 1983, we held classes in several local churches while waiting for county approval to build a new home. In 1992, we settled into a new campus on Hunter Mill Road in Vienna, Virginia, which served us wonderfully for more than two decades. As our community continued to expand, we moved in 2018 into our current campus in Dulles, Virginia.
A World of Scholars
Just two years after our founding, in 1963, we welcomed our very first international student. That began a global tradition that has defined our school ever since. In the 1970s, we launched our intensive English program, and in the 1980s, we opened our homestay program, pairing international students with caring local host families.
Today, our international student program prepares students from around the globe for success at top universities in the United States and worldwide. For decades, families from Washington's embassies and consulates, the IMF, the World Bank, and international organizations have chosen the Fairfax Christian School, and our international students are fully embedded in every part of school life, from the classroom to the basketball court.
That commitment earned national recognition. In 2016, the Fairfax Christian School became the first K–12 school in the United States to receive the Presidential "E" Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Then-Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker praised our dedication to educating students from around the world and the way we adapted our curriculum to serve non-English speakers.
A Championship Tradition
Go Cardinals! Our athletes have built one of the region's most successful small-school programs, and our varsity boys' basketball team has become a true dynasty.
Our Cardinals have won five National Christian School Athletic Association national championships: Division III in 2020–21, Division II in 2021–22, and three consecutive Division I titles in 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26. On the state level, they captured the VISAA Division III State Invitational Tournament title in 2020–21, followed by three straight VISAA Division III state championships from 2022–23 through 2024–25.
The winning doesn't stop on the basketball court. Our teams have brought home conference championships in varsity and junior varsity boys' basketball, middle school and junior varsity girls' volleyball, and varsity flag football. Just as importantly, our student-athletes carry that success into college. Members of the Class of 2026 alone earned NCAA scholarships on nine college teams at schools including Fordham University, the University of Chicago, and Kean University.
Recognized for Excellence
Our 65th year arrives with some of the highest honors in our history. In the 2026 Niche.com rankings, the Fairfax Christian School was named #1 Best Private K–12 School, #1 Best College Prep Private High School, #1 Best Christian K–12 School, #1 Best Christian High School, and #1 Most Diverse Private School in Loudoun County. We are also the highest-ranked private Christian K–12 school and Christian high school in both Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, and we rank among the top five Best Private K–12 Schools in all of Virginia. Virginia Living has always cited the Fairfax Christian School as a “best school” in Virginia. These honors add to a long list of distinctions.
A Tradition of Leadership
Throughout our history, the Fairfax Christian School has been a trusted educational pillar in the Washington, D.C., area. In 1981, People magazine featured us as a school of choice for the children of Washington leaders. Over the years, local celebrities, professional athletes, and prominent politicians, including five parents who ran for President of the United States, have entrusted us with their children's education.
We are incredibly proud of our noteworthy alumni who have made their mark on the world, including former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, U.S. Congressman Robert Latta, former CIA Inspector General David Buckley, acclaimed musicians Lee and Paul Cantelon, CEO of Thailand-based Hi-Tech Apparel Wason Vitanakorn, and Vietnamese entrepreneur Phan Thanh.
Looking Ahead
From a single Victorian home to a nationally ranked, internationally recognized PreK–12 university-prep school, the last 65 years have been nothing short of extraordinary. We remain as committed as ever to fostering academic excellence, Christian values, and a passion for lifelong learning.
Here's to 65 years of tradition, and to the many bright, championship-filled years still ahead of us. Happy Anniversary, Cardinals!
