Congressional School

The Congressional School is a private school in Falls Church that serves children from pre-K through eighth grade.

Originally established by Evelyn and Malcolm B. Devers as the Tiny Tot School, a school for children aged three to five in Arlington in 1939, the school quickly outgrew its original location and moved to another home in Arlington within a year. The school also expanded its class offerings, admitting children up to fourth grade.[1]

In 1942, the school moved again to the former home of General George S. Patton, and over the next few years continued to expand to include grades up to eight. In the mid-1950s, the preschool and grades up to three moved to a location in the City of Alexandria.[1]

Construction of the school campus in Falls Church was completed in 1959 and the upper grades, from fourth to twelfth, moved there, with the lower grades moving to the former Patton estate in Arlington.[2] The Alexandria location was sold, becoming the Suburban School.[1]

On February 17, 1960, a fire destroyed the 25-year-old Arlington location, forcing the lower school to temporarily move to the Falls Church campus.[3] The preschool was moved to a hastily-refurbished building on Devers' estate in Arlington.

A new building for the elementary school was built on the Falls Church campus, and by fall 1960 all the school's students were moved to that campus.

In 1987 the school discontinued high school classes, serving only children up to grade 8.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Out of the Attic: Tiny Tots and Busy Bees." Alexandria Times. Alexandria Times, 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 09 Jan. 2017.
  2. ↑ "Congressional School's Expansion is Furthered." The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959): 1. Aug 13 1958. ProQuest. Web. 9 Jan. 2017 .
  3. ↑ McBee, Susanna. "4 Firemen Hurt as $100,000 Blaze Sweeps Arlington Private School." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 2. Feb 18 1960. ProQuest. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.

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