Paul VI High School Opens New Campus In Loudoun County

CHANTILLY, VA — Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington cut a ceremonial ribbon Thursday morning to open St. Paul VI Catholic High School’s new 68-acre campus in the Chantilly/South Riding area of Loudoun County.

Since Paul VI first opened in 1983, following the purchase and renovation of the former Fairfax High School building in Fairfax City, the student body has grown from 350 to its current size of about 1,000 students. The diocese said the new facilities in Loudoun mark a significant upgrade for the school.

At Thursday's ceremony, Virginia Colwell, Head of School, said that according to St. Francis de Sales, “God is present everywhere and every person is his work.”

"This is especially true at PVI, where God is in everything we do," Colwell said. "Here at our new home we will get to praise the One who made us the wonders we all are. May all who walk these halls continue to 'Grow in Grace and Wisdom.'"

After the ribbon-cutting and a mass in the chapel, Bishop Burbidge blessed the school's theater, stadium field, baseball field and gym.

“This is an exciting time for the St. Paul VI Catholic High School community and the Diocese of Arlington," Bishop Burbidge said in a statement. "The new state-of-the-art facilities will ensure that the school continues its tradition of excellence in Catholic education for generations to come."

In June 2015, the Diocese of Arlington announced Paul VI would be moving to Loudoun County to ensure the school would have a facility to fit its needs. The official groundbreaking for Paul VI's new campus took place in February 2018.

Paul VI's old site in Fairfax City is being redeveloped into a mixed-used community called Boulevard VI.

“Moving an entire school to a new location during a global pandemic was a huge undertaking, but with planning, teamwork, faith, and of course social distancing, we are in our new home," Colwell said. "Our beautiful new campus will ensure that PVI continues to offer an extraordinary college preparatory Catholic education for generations to come.”

At its new location in Loudoun, Paul VI is opening the 2020-21 school year on Monday with a hybrid model that combines in-person and distance learning components.

The school has implemented a number of changes to allow for safe social distancing, including a cap of 50 percent of the students in the building at one time. Families were also able to choose a 100-percent virtual option.

The new campus has more than 60 classrooms, eight labs, two gymnasiums and a large performing arts theater that seats more than 700.