From 1950 to 1955 student enrollment in Fairfax County Public Schools surged from 15,300 to 33,000. In January 1953, Fairfax County voters approved bond funding to provide the school system with 297 new, desperately-needed classrooms. Virginia Hills Elementary School was listed among the proposed bond-funded projects. Initially slated to have ten classrooms, continued enrollment growth led to Virginia Hills being enlarged to 18 classrooms during the design process.

Built beginning in the fall of 1954 by Sharpe & Hamaker of Arlington at a cost of $383,788, Virginia Hills was completed on August 19, 1955.

The Virginia Hills building was finished at a cost of $20,125 per classroom, and an additional $22,875 for improvements to the school property. The organizational PTA meeting was held in Groveton School that night [August 19, 1955] with 250 parents attending. Ray P. Schall was elected president and later presided at the first regular meeting September 16 of that year. The school was dedicated November 6, 1955, in a program that included W. T. Woodson, then superintendent of Fairfax County schools; J. R. Rice, assistant superintendent of schools; Harry A. Lee, of the county school board; and E. M. Day, Virginia Hill's first and present principal. ~ The Alexandria Gazette, November 8, 1965

The combination cafeteria and auditorium [cafetorium] is expected to seat about 200 pupils at a serving. Hot meals will be served at small cost. Eating utensils and dishes are not supplied by the county, therefore, it will be necessary to purchase this equipment. The Groveton School PTA, through its Jambazaar, will donate almost $300 towards the cost of this equipment. The new Virginia Hills Elementary School PTA is authorized to make purchase of such items as will be necessary so that hot meals may be available at the start of the fall term. ~ Virginia Hills Echo, June 19, 1955

Shortly after Virginia Hills opened, the PTA began holding regular fundraising events to purchase much-needed equipment and materials for the school. A “Harvest Ball” dance was held on October 28, 1955, and a book fair was held on December 2, 1955. The profits from these events were used to purchase books for the school library, to beautify the school grounds, and to acquire band, basketball, and playground equipment. Additional fundraisers held between 1956 and 1960 included bake sales, spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts, candy sales, fruit cake sales, art classes, magic shows, and fashion shows.

The 1960s

From 1955 to 1960, Virginia Hills educated students in grades one through seven. Fairfax County opened its first intermediate schools in the fall of 1960, and seventh graders from the Virginia Hills community were assigned to the newly opened Bryant Intermediate School. Continued enrollment growth led to the reassignment of these students to Twain Intermediate School in 1962.

Also in the fall of 1960, FCPS began a six-year process of desegregating the public schools. Prior to desegregation only white children were allowed to enroll at Virginia Hills. Black children living in the area were bused to Drew-Smith Elementary School in the Gum Springs community.

In 1967, a kindergarten program was piloted in seven Fairfax County public schools, and, in 1968, Virginia Hills opened its doors to the five-year-olds of the community. The principal at that time was Harriet Parrott.

Virginia Hills Closes

The 1970s began with the arrival of a new principal to Virginia Hills, David M. Hampton. He led Virginia Hills for most of the decade and, in 1979, the School Board named the school library in his honor.

In 1970, Mr. Hampton suggested a School Directory be prepared. He was responsible for providing the information and the PTA had it printed. It has proved very informative and has been circulated again this year at $0.25 per copy. Also a School Handbook has been published again this year by the PTA. ~ Virginia Hills PTA – 20 Year History

From the mid-1970s into the early 1980s, student enrollment in FCPS gradually declined. This resulted in the closure of several schools in the eastern part of Fairfax County, and primarily affected neighborhoods that had seen the earliest growth during the post-World War II baby boom.

In the late 1970s the Fairfax County School Board directed school system administrators to identify schools for possible closure. The Virginia Hills Elementary School and Rose Hill Elementary School PTAs proposed the merger of the two schools, and, in January 1982, the School Board approved. The consolidation went into effect the following school year. After Virginia Hills closed, the building became the FCPS Area I Office.

The library at Rose Hill Elementary School maintains a small selection of Virginia Hills memorabilia, such as school yearbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings, and a history written by the Virginia Hills PTA.

The Principals

The principals of Virginia Hills Elementary School were Emmett M. Day (1955-1967), Josephine G. Fox (Acting, 1967), Harriet P. Parrott (1967-1970), David M. Hampton (1970-1978), and Marcia K. Sweedler (1978-1982).