Annandale Terrace Elementary School opened to students on September 1, 1964. At that time, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) had a total enrollment of 90,400 students at 117 schools. Our first principal was Evelyn J. Tubbs. She had transferred to Annandale Terrace from Masonville Elementary School, where she had served as principal since 1958. Tubbs was succeeded in January 1965 by Jacqueline S. Benson, who served as principal until June 1966. William L. Jones, a former teacher at James Lee Elementary School, became principal after Ms. Benson. Jones was one of the first Black educators to be appointed principal of a formerly all-white school after FCPS desegregated.

Building Annandale Terrace

Construction of Annandale Terrace Elementary School began in the fall of 1963. Built by the Alcon Construction Corporation at a cost $499,746, Annandale Terrace originally had 20 classrooms. The school had no gymnasium, the library was located on the second floor above the main office, and the cafeteria was also used for band and strings instruction. Approximately 600 students were enrolled at Annandale Terrace during the 1960s.

Changing Demographics

During the 1970s, Fairfax County saw an influx of refugees fleeing war-torn Vietnam. The need for English as a Second Language (ESL) services soon became apparent and, by 1977, Annandale Terrace had its first full-time ESL teacher.

From 1976 to 1985, enrollment at Annandale Terrace Elementary School decreased from 523 to 323 students. Similar declines were taking place at other schools located in eastern Fairfax County that had seen tremendous growth during the Baby Boom. Annandale Terrace had three principals during this period: William S. Tarbox (1976-1980), Lenore H. Plissner (1980-1983), and Stephen D. Gossin (1983-1986).

Growth and Change

The first addition to Annandale Terrace was constructed in 1987. It consisted of a gymnasium and a music classroom. Three years later in 1990, when Beverly M. Moody was principal (1986-1995), Annandale Terrace underwent its first renovation. Ten classrooms and a new library were built at cost of $2.9 million.

A Glimpse Back in Time

In 1993, Annandale Terrace Elementary School was the subject of the FCPS television series Profile. The Red Apple 21 crew spent several days at Annandale Terrace, gathering interviews with teachers and classroom footage. The resulting 28-minute documentary provides a fascinating snapshot of our school in the early 1990s.

The Carol Beemer Library

In 1999, the Fairfax County School Board named Annandale Terrace's library in honor of Carol Beemer. Carol Beemer was a classroom teacher and librarian. For 35 years, she guided and inspired students to become lifelong readers. She also served as a mentor for new teachers and facilitated a children's literature discussion group for staff. When the student body became more diverse, Ms. Beemer stocked the library with books that promoted cultural pride. Carol Beemer left a lasting impression on faculty, parents, and community members and we are proud to have our library named in her honor.

Annandale Terrace in the 2000s

During the 1999-2000 school year, Annandale Terrace became one of the first FCPS schools to adopt full-day kindergarten. At that time, enrollment at our school was steadily increasing. From 2006 to 2010, the number of students swelled from 659 to 856. Trailers and modular buildings were brought in to provide much-needed classroom space.

On November 8, 2018, the School Board awarded the contract for Annandale Terrace’s second renovation. New classrooms, upgraded building systems, and a security vestibule were constructed at a cost of $20.9 million. The project was completed in fall 2020.

What's in a Name?

Learn about the origin of our school's name in this video produced for Fairfax County Public Schools’ cable television channel Red Apple 21.