VAVirginia rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Virginia

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Virginia average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 219 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Virginia · Best schools

Where Gloucester Point lands: #100 of 219

+1.6 pts vs. the VA average in math + reading · Visit Gloucester Point →

1 Wolf Trap +30.2 pts Math 89.4% · Reading 94.8% 2 Navy +28.1 pts Math 88% · Reading 92% 3 Daleville +25.6 pts Math 83% · Reading 92%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

Wolf TrapFairfax County Public Schools +30.2 pts 89.4% 94.8%

2 NavyFairfax County Public Schools +28.1 pts 88% 92%

3 DalevilleBotetourt County Public Schools +25.6 pts 83% 92%

FlorisFairfax County Public Schools +25.4 pts 84.3% 90.4%

Falls ChurchFalls Church City Public Schools +25.2 pts 83.9% 90.4%

Loudoun Valley EstatesLoudoun County Public Schools +24.7 pts 81.9% 91.4%

7 Bethel ManorYork County Public Schools +24.6 pts 87% 86%

8 BraddockFairfax County Public Schools +23.1 pts 81% 89%

Great FallsFairfax County Public Schools +22.8 pts 80.5% 89%

WakefieldFairfax County Public Schools +22.7 pts 79.7% 89.6%

McLeanFairfax County Public Schools +22.4 pts 83.1% 85.6%

Franklin FarmFairfax County Public Schools +22.2 pts 80.9% 87.5%

BrambletonLoudoun County Public Schools +21.5 pts 77.6% 89.3%

BurkeFairfax County Public Schools +21.0 pts 78.4% 87.5%

15 Cave SpringRoanoke County Public Schools +20.8 pts 80.4% 85.1%

16 BroadlandsLoudoun County Public Schools +20.8 pts 78.7% 86.8%

PoquosonPoquoson City Public Schools +20.7 pts 74.8% 90.5%

BluefieldTazewell County Public Schools +20.6 pts 79% 86.1%

WyndhamHenrico County Public Schools +20.1 pts 78% 86%

OaktonFairfax County Public Schools +18.5 pts 79% 81.9%

21 Stone RidgeLoudoun County Public Schools +18.1 pts 72.7% 87.3%

Dunn LoringFairfax County Public Schools +18.1 pts 73.2% 86.8%

Pimmit HillsFairfax County Public Schools +18.1 pts 77% 83%

24 Union MillFairfax County Public Schools +18.1 pts 74.6% 85.5%

Short PumpHenrico County Public Schools +17.5 pts 73.7% 85.2%

26 HollymeadAlbemarle County Public Schools +17.5 pts 75.3% 83.7%

LansdowneLoudoun County Public Schools +17.2 pts 70.8% 87.5%

AbingdonWashington County Public Schools +17.1 pts 73.2% 84.9%

MantuaFairfax County Public Schools +17.1 pts 76% 82%

30 CloverdaleBotetourt County Public Schools +16.6 pts 75% 82%

BlacksburgMontgomery County Public Schools +16.4 pts 73.4% 83.3%

32 South RidingLoudoun County Public Schools +15.9 pts 70.7% 85.1%

NortonNorton City Public Schools +15.4 pts 68.9% 85.8%

West SpringfieldFairfax County Public Schools +15.3 pts 73.3% 81.2%

WiseWise County Public Schools +15.3 pts 75.1% 79.3%

Kings Park WestFairfax County Public Schools +15.1 pts 68% 86.1%

George MasonFairfax County Public Schools +15.1 pts 72% 82%

CrozetAlbemarle County Public Schools +15.0 pts 73.7% 80.3%

MechanicsvilleHanover County Public Schools +14.6 pts 75.4% 77.8%

Burke CentreFairfax County Public Schools +14.6 pts 68.6% 84.6%

41 Mount HermonPittsylvania County Public Schools +14.6 pts 70% 83%

TazewellTazewell County Public Schools +14.3 pts 70.1% 82.5%

PurcellvilleLoudoun County Public Schools +14.1 pts 62.6% 89.5%

44 Long BranchFairfax County Public Schools +14.0 pts 70.6% 81.3%

ViennaFairfax County Public Schools +13.2 pts 68.6% 81.6%

46 Lowes IslandLoudoun County Public Schools +12.9 pts 71% 78.7%

AshburnLoudoun County Public Schools +12.8 pts 66.8% 82.7%

48 BelmontLoudoun County Public Schools +12.3 pts 67% 81.4%

Independent HillPrince William County Public Schools +12.2 pts 62% 86.3%

TysonsFairfax County Public Schools +12.1 pts 71.6% 76.4%

ForestBedford County Public Schools +12.1 pts 67.1% 81%

GainesvillePrince William County Public Schools +12.0 pts 66.6% 81.4%

Virginia BeachVirginia Beach City Public Schools +11.6 pts 68.8% 78.4%

54 CrosspointeFairfax County Public Schools +11.5 pts 69.2% 77.8%

55 MidlothianChesterfield County Public Schools +11.1 pts 67.2% 79%

Rocky MountFranklin County Public Schools +11.0 pts 71.7% 74.3%

57 WoodlakeChesterfield County Public Schools +10.7 pts 68.6% 76.7%

West PointWest Point Public Schools +10.7 pts 64.3% 81%

RichlandsTazewell County Public Schools +10.6 pts 65.5% 79.6%

WythevilleWythe County Public Schools +10.5 pts 67.6% 77.2%

BridgewaterRockingham County Public Schools +10.5 pts 69.4% 75.4%

CascadesLoudoun County Public Schools +10.0 pts 60.9% 83%

Lake RidgePrince William County Public Schools +9.9 pts 63.2% 80.5%

Laurel HillFairfax County Public Schools +9.6 pts 69.8% 73.3%

65 One LoudounLoudoun County Public Schools +9.6 pts 69% 74%

RadfordRadford City Public Schools +9.5 pts 61.9% 81.1%

Fairfax StationFairfax County Public Schools +9.1 pts 62% 80%

ArlingtonArlington County Public Schools +8.7 pts 65.1% 76.3%

Linton HallPrince William County Public Schools +8.5 pts 63.7% 77.2%

BerryvilleClarke County Public Schools +8.1 pts 60.2% 79.8%

SalemSalem City Public Schools +7.9 pts 62% 77.7%

MontclairPrince William County Public Schools +7.6 pts 58.6% 80.6%

Gloucester CourthouseGloucester County Public Schools +7.6 pts 66% 73%

ChantillyFairfax County Public Schools +7.5 pts 63.4% 75.6%

GreenbriarFairfax County Public Schools +7.5 pts 66.1% 72.8%

ChesapeakeChesapeake City Public Schools +7.3 pts 62.7% 75.9%

IdylwoodFairfax County Public Schools +7.1 pts 66.6% 71.5%

78 BrandermillChesterfield County Public Schools +6.8 pts 61.4% 76.2%

ChincoteagueAccomack County Public Schools +6.8 pts 65.2% 72.3%

VintonRoanoke County Public Schools +6.1 pts 63.6% 72.5%

WindsorIsle of Wight County Public Schools +6.1 pts 58.6% 77.4%

New BaltimoreFauquier County Public Schools +5.9 pts 62.5% 73.1%

South HillMecklenburg County Public Schools +5.6 pts 63% 72%

BuckhallPrince William County Public Schools +5.3 pts 57.8% 76.7%

TimberlakeCampbell County Public Schools +5.2 pts 58.5% 75.8%

BristolBristol City Public Schools +5.0 pts 59.5% 74.4%

LeesylvaniaPrince William County Public Schools +4.0 pts 61.7% 70.2%

CountrysideLoudoun County Public Schools +4.0 pts 58% 74%

Fair OaksFairfax County Public Schools +3.8 pts 55.6% 75.8%

MerrifieldFairfax County Public Schools +3.4 pts 58.7% 71.9%

HamptonHampton City Public Schools +3.2 pts 59.1% 71.1%

ChristiansburgMontgomery County Public Schools +3.2 pts 60.2% 70%

Spotsylvania CourthouseSpotsylvania County Public Schools +3.1 pts 58.8% 71.4%

FishersvilleAugusta County Public Schools +3.0 pts 60.2% 69.7%

LebanonRussell County Public Schools +3.0 pts 56% 73.9%

Rose HillFairfax County Public Schools +2.8 pts 56.6% 72.8%

Kings ParkFairfax County Public Schools +2.8 pts 60.8% 68.7%

DahlgrenKing George County Public Schools +2.6 pts 60% 69%

Bon AirChesterfield County Public Schools +2.5 pts 63.4% 65.4%

100

Gloucester PointGloucester County Public Schools +1.6 pts 61% 66%

101

InnsbrookHenrico County Public Schools +1.6 pts 59% 68%

102

LeesburgLoudoun County Public Schools +1.3 pts 51.8% 74.7%

103

King GeorgeKing George County Public Schools +1.3 pts 50.3% 76.2%

104

Stuarts DraftAugusta County Public Schools +1.2 pts 56.2% 70.1%

105

KingstowneFairfax County Public Schools +1.1 pts 57% 69%

106

HillsvilleCarroll County Public Schools +1.1 pts 54% 72%

107

FairfaxFairfax County Public Schools +1.0 pts 53.5% 72.5%

108

FranconiaFairfax County Public Schools +1.0 pts 53.5% 72.5%

109

RestonFairfax County Public Schools +0.8 pts 56.3% 69.1%

110

HayfieldFairfax County Public Schools +0.8 pts 49.5% 76%

111

Cherry HillPrince William County Public Schools +0.7 pts 54.4% 71%

112

SmithfieldIsle of Wight County Public Schools +0.6 pts 56% 69%

113 Fort BelvoirFairfax County Public Schools +0.6 pts 51% 74%

114

LexingtonRockbridge County Public Schools +0.5 pts 53.6% 71.4%

115

Colonial HeightsColonial Heights City Public Schools +0.4 pts 58.9% 65.7%

116

GalaxGalax City Public Schools +0.2 pts 55.5% 68.9%

117

LovettsvilleLoudoun County Public Schools +0.1 pts 47% 77%

118

TuckahoeHenrico County Public Schools −0.1 pts 53.3% 70.5%

119

Fort HuntFairfax County Public Schools −0.3 pts 51.3% 72.1%

120

WilliamsburgWilliamsburg-James City County Public Schools −0.4 pts 54.4% 68.7%

121

WarrentonFauquier County Public Schools −0.7 pts 52.5% 70%

122

OrangeOrange County Public Schools −0.9 pts 53.6% 68.4%

123

Belle HavenFairfax County Public Schools −1.0 pts 51.9% 70.1%

124

McNairFairfax County Public Schools −1.6 pts 56.7% 64.1%

125

Front RoyalWarren County Public Schools −1.7 pts 55.5% 64.9%

126 Bull RunFairfax County Public Schools −1.7 pts 52.2% 68.3%

127

CentrevilleFairfax County Public Schools −1.9 pts 52.5% 67.5%

128

WoodburnFairfax County Public Schools −2.0 pts 55% 65%

129 EnonChesterfield County Public Schools −2.0 pts 53% 67%

130

MarionSmyth County Public Schools −2.1 pts 48.1% 71.6%

131

Newington ForestFairfax County Public Schools −2.5 pts 52% 67%

132

SandstonHenrico County Public Schools −2.5 pts 49.5% 69.5%

133

CollinsvilleHenry County Public Schools −2.5 pts 43% 76%

134

EmporiaGreensville County Public Schools −2.5 pts 42% 77%

135

BroadwayRockingham County Public Schools −2.7 pts 51.8% 66.6%

136

LortonFairfax County Public Schools −3.0 pts 49% 69%

137

NewingtonFairfax County Public Schools −3.0 pts 52% 66%

138

Lake BarcroftFairfax County Public Schools −3.1 pts 55% 62.8%

139

AltavistaCampbell County Public Schools −3.5 pts 48.6% 68.4%

140

StauntonStaunton City Public Schools −4.0 pts 48.4% 67.4%

141

PearisburgGiles County Public Schools −4.0 pts 53% 63%

142

Buena VistaBuena Vista City Public Schools −4.1 pts 48.9% 66.9%

143

MarshallFauquier County Public Schools −4.1 pts 47.5% 68.1%

144

Dale CityPrince William County Public Schools −4.2 pts 45.5% 70%

145

CharlottesvilleCharlottesville City Public Schools −4.2 pts 48.4% 67.1%

146

Colonial BeachColonial Beach Public Schools −4.2 pts 39.8% 75.8%

147

North SpringfieldFairfax County Public Schools −5.0 pts 47% 67%

148

Loch LomondPrince William County Public Schools −5.0 pts 57% 57%

149 HollinsRoanoke County Public Schools −5.4 pts 49.1% 64.1%

150

WinchesterWinchester City Public Schools −5.7 pts 49.2% 63.3%

151

AnnandaleFairfax County Public Schools −5.9 pts 51.1% 61.1%

152

SuffolkSuffolk City Public Schools −6.0 pts 41.8% 70.1%

153

ChamberlayneHenrico County Public Schools −6.0 pts 50.4% 61.5%

154 Sugarland RunLoudoun County Public Schools −6.6 pts 39.6% 71.2%

155 BealetonFauquier County Public Schools −7.3 pts 44.3% 65%

156

GrottoesRockingham County Public Schools −7.5 pts 42% 67%

157

Manassas ParkManassas Park City Public Schools −8.0 pts 42.4% 65.6%

158

StrasburgShenandoah County Public Schools −8.0 pts 43% 65%

159

ChesterChesterfield County Public Schools −8.2 pts 37.6% 69.9%

160

Bull RunPrince William County Public Schools −8.4 pts 44.5% 62.7%

161

TrianglePrince William County Public Schools −8.5 pts 44.2% 62.7%

162

RoanokeRoanoke City Public Schools −8.9 pts 46% 60.1%

163

PulaskiPulaski County Public Schools −9.7 pts 49.4% 55%

164 RockwoodChesterfield County Public Schools −10.0 pts 47% 57%

165

ShenandoahPage County Public Schools −10.0 pts 42% 62%

166

DublinPulaski County Public Schools −10.0 pts 52% 52%

167

FalmouthStafford County Public Schools −10.2 pts 44.4% 59.1%

168

DranesvilleFairfax County Public Schools −10.4 pts 47% 56.1%

169

ElktonRockingham County Public Schools −10.6 pts 35.1% 67.7%

170

WoodstockShenandoah County Public Schools −10.8 pts 46.1% 56.2%

171 LynchburgLynchburg City Public Schools −12.2 pts 36% 63.5%

172

CulpeperCulpeper County Public Schools −12.5 pts 43.6% 55.4%

173

BedfordBedford County Public Schools −12.5 pts 47% 52%

174

CovingtonAlleghany Highlands Public Schools −12.5 pts 37% 62%

175

WaynesboroWaynesboro City Public Schools −12.9 pts 37.4% 60.7%

176

AlexandriaAlexandria City Public Schools −13.4 pts 38.4% 58.8%

177

WoodbridgePrince William County Public Schools −13.7 pts 39.6% 56.8%

178

PortsmouthPortsmouth City Public Schools −14.5 pts 35.1% 59.7%

179

South BostonHalifax County Public Schools −16.0 pts 30.7% 61.2%

180

LakesideHenrico County Public Schools −16.2 pts 38.5% 53.1%

181

LaurelHenrico County Public Schools −16.5 pts 33.4% 57.4%

182

SpringfieldFairfax County Public Schools −16.6 pts 39.2% 51.4%

183

Newport NewsNewport News City Public Schools −16.7 pts 33.4% 57.1%

184

Mount VernonFairfax County Public Schools −17.2 pts 35.5% 54.1%

185

BlackstoneNottoway County Public Schools −17.5 pts 37% 52%

186

SterlingLoudoun County Public Schools −17.6 pts 34.4% 54.4%

187

LincolniaFairfax County Public Schools −17.6 pts 35.4% 53.2%

188

HarrisonburgHarrisonburg City Public Schools −18.1 pts 36.2% 51.4%

189

LurayPage County Public Schools −18.2 pts 33% 54.6%

190

NorfolkNorfolk City Public Schools −18.4 pts 28.4% 58.8%

191

Madison HeightsAmherst County Public Schools −18.5 pts 32.7% 54.3%

192

West Falls ChurchFairfax County Public Schools −18.9 pts 41.3% 44.9%

193

HerndonFairfax County Public Schools −20.1 pts 34.8% 49%

194

FredericksburgFredericksburg City Public Schools −20.2 pts 26% 57.4%

195

ManchesterChesterfield County Public Schools −20.2 pts 37.1% 46.4%

196

FranklinFranklin City Public Schools −20.4 pts 25.4% 57.7%

197

MartinsvilleMartinsville City Public Schools −20.6 pts 28.8% 54%

198 Highland SpringsHenrico County Public Schools −20.8 pts 26.7% 55.6%

199

ManassasManassas City Public Schools −21.8 pts 29.4% 51%

200

EttrickChesterfield County Public Schools −22.5 pts 32% 47%

201

DumfriesPrince William County Public Schools −22.5 pts 27% 52%

202

SudleyPrince William County Public Schools −22.8 pts 31.2% 47.1%

203

HopewellHopewell City Public Schools −23.1 pts 25.1% 52.7%

204

DanvilleDanville City Public Schools −23.4 pts 31.7% 45.5%

205 MeadowbrookChesterfield County Public Schools −24.0 pts 25.9% 50%

206

YorkshirePrince William County Public Schools −25.0 pts 30% 44%

207

PetersburgPetersburg City Public Schools −25.7 pts 26.3% 46.2%

208

RichmondRichmond City Public Schools −26.9 pts 27.2% 42.9%

209

TimbervilleRockingham County Public Schools −27.5 pts 27% 42%

210

Glen AllenHenrico County Public Schools −28.2 pts 27% 40.5%

211

Bailey's CrossroadsFairfax County Public Schools −30.0 pts 27% 37%

212

BellwoodChesterfield County Public Schools −30.5 pts 30% 33%

213

WoodlawnFairfax County Public Schools −30.9 pts 17.5% 44.5%

214

GrovetonFairfax County Public Schools −32.2 pts 19.8% 39.8%

215

MontroseHenrico County Public Schools −32.5 pts 22% 37%

216 HutchisonFairfax County Public Schools −36.0 pts 19% 33%

217

East Highland ParkHenrico County Public Schools −36.8 pts 13.1% 37.2%

218

Hybla ValleyFairfax County Public Schools −37.9 pts 16.4% 31.7%

219

HuntingtonFairfax County Public Schools −40.0 pts 12% 32%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Virginia average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Virginia only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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