At first, Lake Braddock was built without walls in most of its educational areas, as it was believed by the administrators of the era that students would learn better in an open environment.

This resulted in significant climate control problems throughout the building, most of which were left unfixed until the school was renovated.

[2][3][4][citation needed] Besides the "open classroom" approach, Lake Braddock, when it opened, also employed the "Forecast Five" approach, which was a "school within a school", or teams, of 150 students assigned to five teachers (math, English, science, social studies, special ed).

[6] The following table shows the passing rates of all Lake Braddock students in their respective years and academic subjects, as determined by the Virginia Department of Education.

[7] For the 2020-2021 school year, Lake Braddock's student body was 47.42 White, 20.56% Asian, 17.89% Hispanic, 7.12% African-American, and 7.01% of other races.

In both 2014 and 2015, the boys' team won the 6A Patriot conference, 6A Northern Region, and 6A Virginia State Championships.

The boys' soccer team has won the state championship several times,[specify] including a 5-0 victory over Hylton High in 1988 and other titles in 1982, 1989, and 1995.

In 2009 the Bruins were the Patriot District and the Northern Region Champions and went 8-2 in the regular seasons, led by future Fordham QB and Virginia State Player of the Year Michael Nebrich.

They made it to the playoffs, where they managed to beat Fairfax, defeat Robinson, redeem themselves against Woodson, and win a thrilling overtime game against Battlefield.

Lake Braddock then advanced to the state semi-final after a 56-18 win over Chantilly High School.

In 2012, the Lake Braddock varsity baseball team won both the Patriot District title and the Virginia State Championship.

Lake Braddock tennis teams have achieved much success in recent years, becoming a perennial contender in the post-season tournaments.

[citation needed] The theatre is represented in the International Thespian Society by troupe #4807, and contributes to the ITS festival in Lincoln, Nebraska every summer.

LBT has won the Virginia High School League Patriot District/Conference One-Act Play Championship twelve times (1996, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014–2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023).

The high school band program is conducted by Michael Luley and Brandon Gilbert.

These middle school bands are conducted by Krista Pezold, Michael Luley, and Brandon Gilbert.

The band consistently wins awards at competitions every fall and has received a rating of Superior 39 times at the VBODA Marching Festival.

The Lake Braddock Singers (formally known as Symphonic Chorale) is composed of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses.

An a cappella group formed in 2008, inspired by the pop a cappella groups of major colleges, including JMU Madison Project and Blues Tones organizations that perform yearly for the choir program at Lake Braddock.

[citation needed] In 2007, the choir performed in New York City near the site of the former World Trade Center buildings.

The choirs also have turned out several highly successful singers, including a quarter-finalist for American Idol, and several performers in musical theater.

Controversy arose on articles published on "homosexuality, trans sexuality and review of a documentary about bestiality," as well as its March 30 issue, which had carried a story on Post Secret, a website that posts anonymous contributors' secrets displayed on homemade postcards.

One 300-page book and spring supplemental insert, printed by Herff Jones, are produced by a staff of about 70 each school year.

Later, the Bruin Cave was established as a separate morning announcement show for the middle school students.

The team is open to any student at Lake Braddock Secondary School, grade 7-12, who is in good academic standing.

Team practices begin in the late summer, with competitions being held from October through Memorial Day weekend.

[26] On November 11, 1982, a dropout looking for his girlfriend held a group of ten employees, including the principal,[27] hostage with a rifle for 21 hours.

[33] On March 23, 2015, a bomb threat was sent to several teachers early in the morning, resulting in the closure of the school.

[35] In 2018 the principal, Dave Thomas, retired after a report of his handling of a sexual harassment scandal at the school by the Washington Post and later WUSA9.

Other than expanding the school and refurbishing the building, two main goals of the project were to repair an overhaul of the ventilation system and enclose classrooms with permanent walls.