Discover What It Means To Be a Highlander

Highly Competitive AP Program

McLean High School has earned Platinum recognition on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll (AP/College Board). The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs have done outstanding work to welcome students into AP courses and support their path to college success. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that show they’re committed to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. For the 2024 -2025 school year, we will administer over 4500 AP exams to our students in May.

National Merit Scholars

In 2024, McLean High School had 16 National Merit Semifinalists and 67 Commended students who have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise based on their performance on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). All of our Semifinalists moved forward in the competition for National Merit Scholarships. 

Exceptional Marching Band

At the USBands Annapolis Competition, McLean’s Marching Band finished in 1st place in Class 5 and received the most points out of 33 schools in a 2024 competition. This fall, the band won the USBands Virginia State Championship. At this competition, our band also won all caption awards for Best Music, Best Visual, Best Effect, Best Percussion, and Best Guard. 

Community Minded at McLean

McDance-A-Thon is a club that raises money for our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. The money raised goes towards paying for patient expenses not covered by insurance, providing support services like scholarships for summer camps, and purchasing equipment that the hospital cannot afford otherwise. In 2024, McDance-a-Thon raised $53,765.07 for Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. Since the club formed in 2013, McDance-A-Thon has raised over $450K for Children's National Hospital.

McLean Performing Arts Students Hit All the Right Notes

McLean High School's performing arts programs provide exceptional opportunities for students to hone their skills and shine on the stage. The McLean Philharmonic Orchestra has participated in a unique exchange program with the Detmold Youth Orchestra in Germany for over 30 years, fostering international collaboration through side-by-side concerts. Both the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Symphonic Band have been repeatedly selected to perform at the prestigious Virginia Music Educator's Association Conference. And our theatre program consistently earns accolades, with the 2022 production of "Airness" receiving multiple Cappies Awards, including Best Show. Whether through music or theatre, McLean's performing arts offer enriching experiences and cultivate student talent.

Beyond the Bell: Exceptional Athletics & Extracurricular Programs

McLean High School offers a wide array of exceptional athletic and extracurricular programs designed to foster students' passions and talents. Recent achievements include:  

• Varsity Baseball State Champs (2024)   
• Varsity Softball State Champs (2023)   
• It's Academic Champions (2022 and 2023)   
• Quiz Bowl State Champions (2020 and 2024)   

With new programs like Boys Volleyball, students have even more opportunities to get involved and contribute to McLean's legacy.

Award-Winning Publications

McLean High School was the only school in the state to earn Trophy Class Ratings for four publications from the Virginia High School League's (VHSL) Publications Evaluation Services.

• Magazine Division: McLean High School, “The Tartan,” Lindsay Benedict & Seth LeBlanc, advisers
• Newsmagazine Division: McLean High School, “The Highlander,” Lindsay Benedict, adviser
• Online News Division: McLean High School, “The Highlander Online,” Lindsay Benedict, adviser
• Yearbook Division: McLean High School, “Caledonia,” Meghan Percival, adviser

McLean High School was also awarded First Amendment Press Freedom Award for the 7th consecutive year. The award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach, and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content. 

Highlander Internship Program

McLean High School provides a unique opportunity for seniors to gain valuable real-world experience through a two-week internship program at the end of the school year. This program allows students to explore potential career paths and develop essential skills in a professional setting. In 2024, over 300 students participated in internships, the highest number since the program's inception in 2016. This immersive experience provides a significant advantage as students transition to college and beyond.

Global Citizenship

Sixteen dedicated students attended the Virginia Model United Nations Conference hosted by UVA in Charlottesville. This is a national conference hosting 1000 delegates from across the country over a three-day period. In a rare feat, all of McLean's students won an award and McLean High School won the Best Small Delegation award.

McLean Students Think Business

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. This year, twenty McLean students placed at the DECA District Competition, which earned them an invitation to attend States in February.