EDUCATION

The Fairfax County Public Schools, with over 149,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade and in preschool special education and Family and Early Childhood Education programs, is the tenth largest school system in the nation. The system also ranks very high, nationally, for scholastic achievement, with over 90 percent of the high school graduates in the county continuing to post-secondary education. In addition, over 83,000 citizens also participate in adult classes, ranging from high school credit courses to consumer and hobby-related offerings. Call 227-2200 for adult education information.

The public school curriculum is Countywide and is incorporated in the Program of Studies available for inspection in school offices and public libraries.

Children who will be five years old by Sept. 30th must be enrolled in kindergarten in Sept. of that year. Children are required by law to attend school if they have reached their sixth birthdays on or before Sept. 30th. Newcomers to the County may call the Boundary Office at 246-2111 to find out which schools serve their new home address. Parents are required to bring a birth certificate or equivalent, a Social Security number, and a transfer slip or report card from the previous school to the school office when enrolling a child. Evidence of immunization also is required, plus a certificate of a physical examination for elementary students.

Residents of Annandale are served by five high schools: Annandale, Falls Church, Jefferson (Science and Technology), Stuart and Woodson; five intermediate schools: Poe, Jackson, Holmes, Glasgow, and Frost; and approximately a dozen elementary schools. The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, math and science magnet school for Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the towns of Manassas and Manassas Park, was dedicated in 1985. Enrollment is by application.

For information on special education programs for disabled children, call 246-7899 (hearing impaired call (TDD) 246-7794). For other school information, call 246-2502.

Beginning with the November 1995 elections, the Fairfax County School Board members will be elected by the voters of Fairfax County. Because the School Board has no taxing powers of its own and is part of the overall County fiscal plan, the Board of Supervisors approves the expenditure levels of the school operating, construction, debt service, retirement, and food service funds. It is the responsibility of the School Board to allocate these funds. Approximately one-half of the County's local tax revenue is allocated for schools.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

NVCC, or Northern Virginia Community College, with its five campuses, has the largest enrollment of any institution of higher education in the state, with more than 35,000 full and part-time students. NVCC offers an associate degree in two-year programs that prepare students to go on to a four-year college or university program, or for immediate entry into the work environment. For more information, call 323-3000.

George Mason University, situated on a 677-acre campus in Fairfax, is the state university in Northern Virginia. George Mason serves more than 21,000 students with its undergraduate, masters and doctoral degree programs, the juris doctor law degree, and certificate programs. Call 993-1000 for further information.

LIBRARIES

The Fairfax County Public Library, Virginia's largest library system, offers a wide variety of resources and special services including: books for adults and youth people; story and film programs; business/technical and Virginia collections, as well as other special collections; financial and reference services; art work and sculpture; instrumental and vocal music scores; newspapers and magazines; talking and large print and projected books; meeting rooms; interlibrary loan; copy machines; microfilm, pamphlets; and a Braille writer.

The system includes 22 libraries, classified as regional, community or mini libraries on the basis of size and service levels. (Check the Blue Section of the Northern Virginia Telephone Book for libraries not listed herein.) The George Mason Regional Library, located at 7001 Little River Turnpike, was built in 1965. It was expanded to three times its original size In 1974. It is the third library to be located in Annandale since 1955, and is the local branch that serves residents of the Annandale community.

Beginning in April of 1953, the Annandale Chamber of Commerce went on record in support of a library for the residents of Annandale. In May of that year, the Chamber contacted several bus companies in the hope of finding a bus that could be converted to a library, but was unsuccessful. In July of 1953, the Chamber tried unsuccessfully to find a building large enough to house a local library and to meet Fairfax County requirements for adequate space and bathroom facilities. In August of 1953, a local resident and builder, John Webb, donated a house to be used for a library, but Fairfax County refused permission to place the library on this property. Finally, another businessman, David Scull, owner of the Turnpike Press, a local printing firm, offered to accommodate a library in his press building. The space offered met the required footage and bathroom facilities needed for county approval, and the Annandale Library opened its doors in 1955 at 7331 Little River Turnpike.

In 1959, the Annandale Library was moved to 4225 Annandale Road, a building that is still located at the comer of Maple Place and Annandale Road. This stone building also housed the old Annandale Post Office at that time.

As the population in Annandale grew, it was inevitable that a library would be located somewhere near the community. However, without the Annandale Chamber of Commerce and its dedicated members, Annandale would not have enjoyed the more than ten years of library services offered to residents in the late 50's and early 60's.

For more information concerning the services of the George Mason Regional Library, call 256-3800.