Living in McLean, Virginia

365 Things to do in Mclean Blog

McLean is an unincorporated area of more than 38,929 people in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia.   Located beside the Potomac River and between the George Washington Parkway (GW Parkway) and VIENNA, McLean is known as the “high rent” or upscale area of Northern Virginia.  It is also where Virginia's upscale malls, Tyson’s Corner Center and Tyson’s Galleria, are located.  McLean is also close to Washington, D.C.

As parts of McLean are within 7 miles from the White House McLean is home for many diplomats, members of Congress, members of the Senior Executive Service and entrepreneurs.   You will find the George H.W. Bush Center for Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Headquarters in McLean beside the Claude Moore Colonial Farm and the GW Parkway.  Also headquartered in McLean are Capital One, Freddie Mac, Gannett (USA Today), Hilton Hotels Corporation, Mars and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).  Living in McLean is often said to be like having "a front row seat to history".

Schools in McLean

McLean is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system.  The public elementary schools include Chesterbrook, Churchill Road, Haycock, Kent Gardens, Franklin Sherman and Spring Hill Elementary School.   The public middle schools include Cooper Middle School and Longfellow Middle School.  The two public high schools are Langley High School and McLean High School.

Several private schools are located in McLean, including The Madeira School, The Potomac School, The Langley School, Oakcrest School, Saint Luke School, Saint John School, Brooksfield Montessori, and the Country Day School. 

McLean Community Center

The McLean Community Center (MCC) was built and is funded primarily by the residents of  McLean via a real estate tax surcharge beginning in 1970 after a bond referendum. MCC offers activities for adults and children including classes, lectures, camps, art exhibits and theatre performances.  The Center sponsors major community activities including “McLean Day” at Lewinsville Park in May and the 4th of July Fireworks at Langley High School.  MCC also operates the award-winning Old Firehouse Teen Center, the first of its kind in Fairfax County.