Opened in 1952, it is a hub of city activity for its facilities and athletic fields.

Until January 2014, MHS was located outside the boundaries of Falls Church, in Idylwood, an unincorporated area of Fairfax County, Virginia.

[2][3] In 2014, a 38-acre (15 ha; 150,000 m2) parcel of land, including the school, was transferred to Falls Church City as part of the Fairfax County Water Authority's purchase of the Falls Church Water System.

[5] Meridian High School's racial breakdown in the 2020-2021 class was 59% White (non-Hispanic), 6% Asian or Pacific Islander, 12% Hispanic, 4% Black, and 19% two or more races.

After the fire, the land sat empty until Falls Church was founded as an independent city in 1948, when residents sought greater control over their local school system, which, at the time, was segregated by race.