Next to Fairfax County’s magnet Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology, the City of Falls Church’s George Mason High School is ranked No. 2 in the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The school’s description states its “emphasis on its goal for students to ‘excel in mind, body and character,’” adding, “The school’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and the agencies and international organizations in the area draws in a culturally diverse student body. Students at George Mason High School can earn a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma. The school also offers an International Baccalaureate program and electives such as Mandarin Chinese and personal finance.” It is one of 11 schools in the state, where 103 were ranked in an overall poll of excellence, with a gold medal.

Other area schools ranking high in the compilation of exhaustive data include Langley (No. 3), McLean (No. 5), Oakton (No. 6), Woodson (No. 7), Marshall (No. 8), West Springfield (No. 9) and Washington-Lee (No. 10).