Northern Virginia is passionate about education. In our 2025 Top High Schools list, we showcase the 25 best public high schools in the region. See how these students and teachers from a selection of those schools are making a difference in their schools and communities.
Marilyn Bush
Student
Lightridge High School: Loudoun County Public Schools
Marilyn Bush is a paradox. The Lightridge High School junior is a tough-as-nails athlete who made history as the school’s first female wrestler to earn an all-state placement, finishing sixth overall. Yet behind her fierce competitiveness lies a gentle soul.
“I sleep with a teddy bear,” she says. “I’m really a sweet person.”
Bush’s achievements extend beyond the wrestling mat. An academically gifted student, she has also earned all-state honors in track and field for shot put. Her days begin at 5:30 a.m. to squeeze in extra study time for her four Advanced Placement classes.
She lives by a few simple values — trust, hard work, and perseverance — and follows the golden rule. “Treat others how you want to be treated,” Bush says. “That’s just how I live — by showing respect, being polite, and paying it forward.”
Teachers and staff at Lightridge in Aldie say Bush’s positivity and dedication inspire those around her.
“Marilyn is a tremendous leader in our school,” says Lightridge Principal Ryan Hitchman. “She leads by example and has recruited other students to join our wrestling program. Marilyn not only challenges herself athletically, but also in the classroom by taking multiple honors and AP classes. She is a friend to everyone she meets, and our school culture is better because Marilyn is a part of it.”
Looking ahead, Bush hopes to channel her compassion and work ethic into a medical career. “When I was little, my parents and I used to volunteer at homeless shelters,” she says. “We met people from all different backgrounds, and I really enjoyed it.”
Bush aspires to work in community health, geriatrics, or travel nursing — any role where she can combine her academic drive with her passion for helping others.
Notes her mom, Talia Bush: “Deep down, she just has a heart for people.”
Kenny George
Teacher, Career & Technical Education
Meridian High School: Falls Church City Public Schools
Meridian High School career and technical education (CTE) teacher Kenny George brings innovation and passion to his Falls Church classroom. With experience in visual art, business, and technology education, George works to blend creativity with purpose. A former art major who joined the Peace Corps, George holds degrees from the University of Akron in Ohio and George Washington University in DC.
“Using design to foster empathy and care for people and the planet is my driving force,” says George. “I want students to know they’re creative and have something meaningful to share with the world.”
In his 20th year of teaching, George exposes students to architecture, industrial design, engineering, drafting, carpentry, and manufacturing — with sustainability as a central emphasis.
“We try to focus on the idea that you should leave as little behind as possible,” he says. “That’s what we strive to think about in the inventing process in 2025.”
The admitted pinball nerd’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. He leads the school’s sustainability team, channeling student creativity into initiatives that make the school more eco-friendly, including leading a daily “bike bus” to school with up to 30 students. George also heads the school’s Precious Plastics chapter. Members collect plastics like lunch trays and bottle caps, then shred and mold them to create new items like chess sets, jewelry, and Frisbees.
“When you make it and it came from your own community, it has a story to tell. It has importance,” George says.
Amid innovation and enthusiastic student engagement, the married dad of two stands out as an exemplary educator and earns praise from colleagues. “His room is a hive of creativity where all learning is project-based, individualized, and connected to the world around us,” says Meridian High School Principal Peter Laub. “Mr. George is so unique and invaluable to our school.”
Dedicated to Diplomacy
Langley High School’s Model UN ranks No. 1 in the country.
Talk about diplomacy in action: Langley High School’s Model United Nations (MUN) isn’t just a club. It’s the top-ranked high school MUN program in the nation.
“They’re all amazing students, and they work really well together as a group to lead the club,” says Jen Stocks, adviser for the Langley program. “They care about not just their own success, but everybody’s success.”
As the school’s largest extracurricular club, Langley’s MUN boasts roughly 80 active members who regularly compete — and win — at high-profile college and high school conferences. Their consistent victories reflect a combination of skill, teamwork, dedication, and preparation.
“We try to embody all the ideals that a real UN delegate would,” says senior Shivam Papneja, the club’s student communications director.
Beyond awards, MUN offers students the chance to sharpen public speaking skills, think critically under pressure, and build confidence. Members admit the experience can be intimidating, especially at first.
“As a young person entering high school, I definitely wasn’t great at public speaking,” says senior Josselyn Gould, Langley MUN’s secretary general. “That’s not something a lot of teenagers are naturally good at — being eloquent and capable of speaking to hundreds, if not thousands, of people when we host our own conference. It’s an ability I’ve really developed here, and I’m grateful for that.”
While many high school students spend downtime gaming or scrolling through social media, MUN members are researching global issues: human rights, drone warfare, access to clean water, climate change, and more. Add that to juggling multiple Advanced Placement classes, sports, and other extracurriculars, and time management becomes an essential skill.
“Many of our students have to balance their academic workload with traveling to conferences, which are often out of state,” says senior Kriesh Tivare, MUN’s operations counselor.
In the end, Langley’s MUN members don’t dwell on trophies or time constraints. What keeps them coming back is the sense of camaraderie.
“It’s really just fun,” says senior Sohil Kadam, the club’s under-secretary general. “We’re low-key a family — we’re very connected. We go out for meals together, stay up late, have fun on the bus. That culture is what really sets Langley apart.”
Alvin Chapital
Student
Battlefield High School: Prince William County Public Schools
Battlefield High School senior Alvin Chapital stands out in many ways — most notably for his strong sense of leadership and commitment to others.
“I think an effective student leader is one that prioritizes others’ needs above their own and realizes that they still have a lot more to learn from other people,” Chapital says.
Chapital leads by example. He serves as president of Battlefield’s National Spanish Honor Society and competes on the school’s indoor and outdoor track teams.
“What truly sets Alvin apart is his humble attitude; he leads with quiet strength, never seeking recognition, but always focused on impact,” says Battlefield Principal DeLores Lucas. “His humility, paired with his unwavering drive, makes him a respected and inspiring presence in any environment.”
Chapital lives with his parents and fraternal twin brother, Addison, with whom he shares a vision for making a difference. Together, the brothers founded Twin Ancestry.
“During COVID, we started researching our ancestry and our family tree,” he says. “We started a nonprofit to basically provide more about the topic, and to also learn more about it ourselves.”
As a student athlete, Chapital helped Battlefield’s boys 4×400 relay team earn third place at the state championships and break a 47-year-old indoor track school record. “Alvin Chapital exemplifies a steadfast commitment to excellence — not only in his own pursuits but in the way he uplifts those around him,” says Lucas.
To promote school inclusion, Chapital also developed a committee to train student ambassadors. The program ensures that every new student feels supported from day one.
“It was something that I was proud of,” he says. “It made me realize that I can have a tangible impact.”
Sarah Wilson
Teacher, Special Education
Yorktown High School: Arlington Public Schools
Sarah Wilson pours her whole heart into her work as a special education teacher at Arlington’s Yorktown High School. She recalls one moment that reaffirmed her calling: When a former student delivered an inspiring speech before thousands at a commencement ceremony. The student spoke candidly about her transformation in high school from a shy, uncertain girl into a confident young woman.
“I remember I was bawling my eyes out,” Wilson says. “This is what I was meant to be doing.”
Now in her 10th year as an educator, Wilson strives to build community through her Functional Life Skills classes.
“To create these inclusive spaces for kids is really the best way for us to ensure that they have the best life possible long-term,” she says. “That’s what motivates me and keeps me going.”
The NoVA native often reflects on the deeper purpose behind her work.
“I’m part of a generation of educators who are ensuring that kids are getting access to a meaningful education — that they are really learning,” she says. “It’s dignity and respect, and they’re getting the opportunities they deserve.”
But Wilson didn’t originally plan for a career in special education. While studying political science at Clemson University, she was recruited into Teach for America and began her teaching journey in eastern North Carolina. That experience sparked a lifelong passion. She later earned her master’s degree in special education from George Mason University.
Her colleagues see every day how deeply that passion translates into her classroom.
“Her students thrive through community-based learning and instruction that challenges them in a caring, compassionate, and rigorous learning environment,” says Yorktown Principal Kevin Clark. “She’s an incredible teacher and wonderful person who lifts people up and brings the best out of them.”
Feature image of Marilyn Bush, student at Lightridge High School, by Suz Redfern
This story originally ran in our December issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
