Paul VI opened for the 1983–84 school year, accepting freshmen and sophomore students only. The next year (1984–85), the school was open to freshmen through juniors, and 1985–86 saw the first senior class. The Diocese of Arlington purchased the school building, which was in a dilapidated condition, from George Mason University, which had owned it for about a decade. The structure had originally been Fairfax High School, which opened in 1935 and relocated to a new facility in January 1972. One wing of the building housed Alzheimer patients until the school's third year.
During its first years, the school was ministered by five Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who also taught classes and one of whom (Rev. Donald Heet, OSFS) served as the principal. The remainder of the faculty were lay teachers. The other ordained faculty were Rev. Robert Mulligan, OSFS and Rev. John Lyle, OSFS. In 2000, the school selected its first principal who was not from the Oblate order. Mr. Philip Robey was selected for this position, and stepped down seven years later. He was replaced by Mrs. Virginia Colwell, a former English teacher at Paul VI.
In 2020, the high school relocated to the South Riding area in Loudoun County, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The move had been planned prior to the pandemic.
The team name "Panthers" was voted by the student body during the school's first year. The original school colors were brown and gold until the 1999–2000 school year. The school moved away from brown in favor of black, which was considered more stylish by the student body.
After the canonization of Pope Paul VI in October 2018, the school was renamed St. Paul VI Catholic High School to further honor its patron and namesake.[9]
2001–2003 expansion
On May 9, 2001, Bishop Paul Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington led a group of civic and school officials at the groundbreaking for a $6.5 million student activity center. It included a gathering space for the entire student body, three classrooms, a gymnasium, locker rooms, a weight room, a movable stage used for athletic and stage equipment, offices, laundry facilities, and a concession stand.[10]
The expansion was the result of five years of planning and fundraising by the school to refurbish its grounds. After a generous grant from the Diocese of Arlington, school officials were able to make some needed repairs to the old building. Before actual construction began on the activity center in the winter of 2001, air conditioning was installed in the current building, and the original locker rooms were torn down.
The two-story addition was completed for the 2003–04 school year. This included the new gymnasium, locker rooms, computer lab, coaches' offices, and a wrestling room.[11]
Academics
Courses are offered on five levels with the exception of theology, social science, electives and required computer courses. The average number of academic courses a student takes per semester is 7 (minimum is 6; maximum is 8). Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment courses have restricted enrollment based on qualifying scores on placement tests, subject area grades, cumulative GPA, and teacher recommendation.
Advanced Placement Courses (25) are effectively reserved for juniors and seniors; exceptional sophomores may be eligible. Students enrolled in any AP class are required to take the AP exam. • Calculus AB • Calculus BC • Chemistry • Chinese Language & Culture • Comparative Government & Politics • Computer Science A • Computer Science Principles • Drawing • English Language and Composition • English Literature and Composition • European History • French Language & Culture • Human Geography • Latin • Macroeconomics • Physics 1, 2, & C • Psychology • Research • Seminar • Spanish Language & Culture • Statistics • United States Government & Politics • United States History
Dual Enrollment Courses (27) are available to juniors and seniors capable of college level courses through Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). Students must meet the entrance test requirements set by NVCC. The school considers dual enrollment courses to be equal in rigor to AP and weighs them accordingly. DE courses taught at Paul VI this year are: • Acting (CST 131, 132) • Beginning Chinese (CHI 101, 102) • Beginning German (GER 101, 102) • Biology with Lab (BIO 101, 102) • Chemistry (CHM 111, 112) • College Composition (ENG 111, 112) • Environmental Science (ENV 121, 122) • Fundamentals of Design 1 (ART 131) • Genetics (BIO 256) • Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIO 141, 142) • Intermediate Chinese (CHI 201, 202) • Intermediate German (GER 201, 202) • Intermediate Spanish (SPA 201, 202) • Microbiology (BIO 205) • US History II (HIS 122) • Theatre (CST 130) Honors Courses (31) are for students capable of advanced learning and independent work. • Computer Science • Engineering • English • Fine Arts • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • World Language (Levels 2 – 5)
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2012)
Paul VI's athletic teams compete in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and the Virginia Independent State Athletic Association (VISAA).
Basketball
The Paul VI basketball team won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference boys' basketball championship in 2012. They did not lose a game in conference play, winning 21 consecutive conference games. No other team in the history of the WCAC has had an undefeated season while winning 21 games. The WCAC is widely regarded as the best high school basketball conference in the country.[12]
Both the boys' and girls' basketball teams won the WCAC title in 2014.[13] The boys' team also won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship and the Alhambra championship for 2014.[14] The boys' team won again in 2018 and again in 2022.[15] The girls' team has won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship every year since 2002.[16]
Baseball
The baseball program at Paul VI had a record of 121–32 and seven championship titles between 2004 and 2008. Paul VI baseball also competes for the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) State Championship at the end of each season. The VISAA State Tournament includes the top eight private school baseball teams in the State of Virginia.
Former coach Billy Emerson had an overall record of 138–44 upon arriving in 2003. He was named coach of the year several times by the Washington Post, and Washington Examiner, as well as coach of the year in the WCAC and the VISAA. In 2008, he was also named Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year by the National H.S. Baseball Coaches Association and was one of eight finalists for National H.S. Coach of the year. Emerson stepped down to focus on being Paul VI Athletic Director.[17] Emerson has since returned as coach.[18]
Football
1999 WCAC Varsity Football Champions
Boys Soccer
The 2023 Soccer Program at Paul VI has turned over on coaches the last few seasons. The constant behind leading the team has been the work from Captains Luke Nylund & Luca DiClemente, and others who have bolstered many successful wins.
2010 Virginia State Champs (VISAA)
2015 Virginia State Champs (VISAA)
Boys lacrosse
The PVI men's lacrosse program made its first appearances in the WCAC championship in 1993 and 1994. They made a first appearance in the State Championship and another trip to the WCAC Championship game in 2013. In 2014, professional lacrosse player Steven Brooks became offensive coordinator. The lacrosse program has made a final four every year since 2013. Since 2013, the men's lacrosse program has been ranked in the top 25 three different times and has stayed in the top 50. In 2018, the team won its first Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I boys' lacrosse State Championship.[19]
Girls soccer
On November 5, 2016, the Lady Panthers took home the Washington Catholic Athletic Association (WCAC) Girls Varsity Soccer title for the first time since 1993, when the league was named the "Catholic Girls Athletic Association".[20]
Other sports
Athletics at the school include cross country, golf (co-ed), ice hockey (co-ed), swimming and diving, tennis (boys and girls), indoor track (winter), track and field, wrestling, volleyball (boys and girls), field hockey, cheerleading, dance team, softball, Special Olympics soccer, basketball.
Scandal
There was a high-profile scandal at PVI in 1999 when it was discovered that 16-year-old student Jonathan Taylor Spielberg, who claimed to be Steven Spielberg's nephew, was actually Anoushirvan Fakhran, a 27-year-old man from Tehran, Iran. After repeated truancy by Fakhran, school officials contacted DreamWorks to see if Spielberg had any information about his "nephew". When it was discovered that Spielberg only had nieces, a police investigation followed. Fakhran was arrested and later pleaded guilty to forgery.[21][22][23] Fakhran was given an 11-month suspended sentence and placed on two years' probation.[24]
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (January 2023)
^"Focusing on flexibility in a new home". Catholic Herald. September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2023. This summer, St. Paul VI Catholic High School moved into its new campus on 68 acres in the Chantilly/South Riding area of Loudoun County.
