Across the street from George Mason University is a former site of valued education for Black students.  Some aptly named street signs and a historical marker are the remaining physical manifestations of the legacies of the Rosenwald School and Eleven Oaks Elementary.

Rosenwald and Eleven Oaks

Dedication of Historic Marker

Eleven Oaks was demolished in 2007.  Soon thereafter a historical marker at the intersection of George Mason Blvd and School Street was erected in memory of this elementary school. 

A historical marker commemorates the Rosenwald School and Eleven Oaks Elementary.  Upscale properties now cover the land where Black pupils attended classes decades ago. After the removal of Eleven Oaks in 2007, the leveled land became prime real estate (due to its proximity to Fairfax City). On the area of demolition the Tysons Corner-based company, Madison Homes, built expensive houses.[1]  The current estimate for a single-family property in this neighborhood is $1.1 million.[2]  

Both schools had profound impacts on the Black community of Fairfax. They were spaces of joy and community during a period of legalized white supremacy.  African Americans long recognized that education was part of the pipeline of future success. Money for school transportation, advocates for equal access to education, and student-parent partnerships contributed to the success of the Rosenwald School and Eleven Oaks, which endeavored to establish foundations for future generations to build on.

By Rachel Amon 

[1] Deborah Dietsch, “Eleven Oaks Is a New Development That Straddles Fairfax County and Fairfax City, The Washington Post , July 2, 2015.

[2] https://www.redfin.com/VA/Fairfax/4431-Rosenwald-Ln-22030/home/101689954