20 Best Public High Schools in Virginia – 2025
May 27, 2025
For many students, finding the ideal high school is just as important as scoping out the right university. Especially for students whose academic interests are defined early, public high schools that offer specialized curriculums are a big draw. At these campuses, students not only prepare for the next step in their academic careers but also develop relevant skill sets that translate well at a collegiate level. Virginia is a state known for its historic landmarks, like Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, and Colonial Williamsburg. But Virginia is also home to some amazing high schools. From general public high schools to STEM-focused campuses, the best public high schools in Virginia are well-equipped to foster a wide variety of student interests. Attending one of the best public high schools in Virginia can help set students up for success on their college applications, no matter which college institution they choose.
Best Public High Schools in Virginia
Finding the best public high schools in Virginia was no easy task. When assembling this list, we reviewed several factors. These factors include the school鈥檚 statewide鈥攐r Virginia High Schools鈥攔anking, the number of students who passed at least one AP exam, average SAT and ACT scores, and graduation rate. Additionally, we reviewed the College Readiness Index of each school. The College Readiness Index calculates values for schools based on student performance on both state-required tests and AP/IB exams. Do note that while this list is selective, it is presented alphabetically for ease of reading. As such, it does not indicate a further ranking.
So, without further ado, let鈥檚 take a look at 20 of the best public schools in Virginia to see how they help prepare high schoolers for the next step in their academic careers.
1) 鈥 Ashburn, Virginia
- Location: Ashburn (Loudoun County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 1,865
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 58%
It’s amazing how little information you can find on BWHS’s website. Beside the motto of the district — “Engage. Empower. Enrich.” — I could find very little about the school. I suppose the numbers speak for themselves, but I wish I could tell you more than the fact that BWHS offers more than 90 clubs.
2)
- Location: Fairfax (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,478
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
- % AP/IB Course Enrollment: 44%
In 2024, this school was renamed to honor one of the first historians of the African diaspora. (Previously, the school had been named for W.T. Woodson, who served as the superintendent of Fairfax County Schools in the early 1900s. Unfortunately, the latter’s views on race did not age well.) In addition to its stellar academic offerings, Woodson also has at least one famous alumni — Project Runway‘s Tim Gunn.
3)
- Location: Chantilly (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,945
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 42%
A quick note on Chantilly: As you can see, CHS’ AP course enrollment rate is only 42%, which is lower than some of the other schools on this list. At the same time, Chantilly’s dual enrollment rate is over 20%, which means that over one out of five of its students are taking college-level classes. It should also be noted that SHS’s website gives a great impression of the school, highlighting its focus on the “whole student.” They detail their “school-wide…Wellness Fairs, which provide a schoolwide break to participate in art, physical activities, and social connection.” They also present the students鈥 favorite activities, which include “Guide Dog Puppy Petting, Pickleball, and Slime-Making.” (I certainly hope these are three separate events.)
4)
- Location: Glen Allen (Henrico County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 1,992
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 59%
In addition to its high rate of AP enrollment, slightly over 6% of DRHS’s students are enrolled in what’s called a “Governor’s School.” These schools are specifically for gifted and talented students. Aside from that, the “Home of the Wildcats” aims toward the same values as all the schools on this list do. In his letter to the Wildcat community, Principal Fellows writes that “Deep Run High School is a dynamic, comprehensive learning community for students from diverse backgrounds to grow educationally, get involved, and to have a high-quality, meaningful high school experience.”
5)
- Location: South Riding (Loudoun County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 1,888
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 56%
The motto of Freedom High School is “Where There is Unity, There is Freedom.” Unfortunately, their website fails to explain what this actually means (and why it’s so close to Vermont’s state motto — “Freedom and Unity”). Information on their website is sparse, so I can only guess that it has something to do with the other core values the school aims at, including, but not limited to, empathy, compassion, diversity, inclusion, perseverance, and accountability. Everything you’ve come to expect from one of the best public high schools in Virginia.
6)
- Location: Falls Church (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,218
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 45%
As an IB-world school, MHS offers IB courses in lieu of AP. The IB program is more structured than the more discrete AP options, requiring a junior/senior service project, a Theory of Knowledge course, as well as a 3,000-4,000 word research paper. Students can also participate in the Marshall STEM Academy, a school-within-a-school that provides advanced technical and science classes. That being said, MHS students don’t spend all their time studying — students have access to a variety of interest clubs, from gardening to slam poetry. (Marshall also has a cool .)
7)
- Location: Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach City Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 391
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP/IB Course Enrollment: 43%/95%
Not to be confused with Green Run High School (with which they share a building), Green Run Collegiate is a charter school that focuses on molding “kinder, more passionate adults who inspire one another as they tackle the challenge and complexity of the work at hand.” GRC’s charter status allows it to offer a more diverse set of courses as well as the IB program. You can check out their introductory video .
8)
- Location: Burke (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,910 (grades 7-12)
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 42%
Lake Braddock’s vision is a laundry list of buzzwords. Students are going to be “adaptable, resilient, and engaged learners.” There will be “authentic teaching.” Don’t forget “rigor,” “curiosity,” and “skills.” Their heart is in the right place, though their grammar and syntax could use some polishing.
9)
- Location: McLean (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,184
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 53%
Langley offers everything you would expect from one of the best high schools in Virginia — AP, dual-enrollment, national merit scholars, etc. However, these achievements are only part of the story. Did you know that Langley is the home of the nation’s #1 ranked Model UN program? Or that over 80% of its graduating seniors pursue internships via Langley’s LEAP program? What’s more, in addition to the run-of-the-mill extracurricular activities (athletics, music, etc.), Langley also offers over 150 different clubs.
10)
- Location: Vienna (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,094
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 55%
Though their motto might be read as homogenizing the intrinsically diverse experiences of the student body — “One School. One Community. One World” — MHS’s heart is in the right place. Some of the highlights of Madison include a belief in kindness, community, and a questionable use of exclamation points. (“We are One Madison. One Kind Act can change the world! What each one of us does matters in the life of a child!”) This is exactly the kind of spirit you’re looking for in the best public high school in Virginia.
11)
- Location: McLean (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,438
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 57%
Though a textbook case of “,” this school offers the dual enrollment, AP, and honor courses you expect from a top-notch high school. In fact, in a recent year, over 13% of McLean’s students participated in one or more dual-enrollment courses. Add to this a bevy of national merit scholars, quiz bowl champions, and an active online newspaper, and you get a sense of MHS’s offerings.
12)
- Location: Falls Church (Falls Church City Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 897
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
- % AP/IB Course Enrollment: 50%/29%
This school changed its name to Meridian in 2020 to distance itself from its . Meridian offers both an IB program as well as the more traditional AP program. What’s more, in spite of the current political climate, MHS is still committed to “persistently, unapologetically and consistently providing more time, attention, support, effort, resources, advocacy, and energy to those groups who have historically received less.”
13)
- Location: Vienna (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,234
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 67%
At Oakton High School, students can take advantage of many extracurriculars and many school-sponsored activities. For instance, students can partake in the Best Buddies Program, the student newspaper and literary magazine, and athletic programs. There’s also something called the Cougar Culture Fest, which cannot be what I think it is.
14)
- Location: Richmond (Richmond City Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 174
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 61%
With a 100% graduation rate, 16 AP courses, and 19 dual-enrollment classes, OHS is everything you expect from one of the best high schools in Virginia. What sets this school apart is its focus on creativity, compassion, intellectual inquiry, and social responsibility. OHS strives to cultivate a set of 10 “dispositions” that include self-advocacy, perseverance, and articulation. Organized around “family heads” (aka teachers), this school places a premium on student involvement and participation. Add to this the fact that it’s one-tenth the size of some of the high schools on this list, and you get an intimate educational experience at one of the best public high schools in Virginia.
15)
- Location: Richmond (Richmond City Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 211
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 54%
There’s a good student-teacher ratio, and then there’s RCHS’s student-teacher ratio. At just 7:1, the “home of the Pharaohs” targets academically gifted children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This school understands the structural and cultural barriers that students from disadvantaged backgrounds face. RCHS aims to actively identify, enroll, and support academically talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds. You can watch RCHS’s video presentation .
16)
- Location: Chantilly (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 3,722 (grades 7-12)
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP/IB Course Enrollment: 14%/38%
At first glance, Robinson’s 14% AP enrollment rate makes it seem like an outlier on this list. Quite the contrary. Because Robinson enrolls students in grades 7-12, its AP rate is understandably lower. More significant is the fact that 38% of Robinson’s students (grades 7-12) are enrolled in an IB course. Finally, you have to admire a school that goes to such lengths to get “Ram” into as many terms as Robinson does (“Ramtastic” and “Rambassadors” being among the most impressive.)
17)
- Location: Alexandra (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,111
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 67%
An admission-only campus, this high school is a magnet school for students in 9-12 grade. As the #1 ranked high school in Virginia, “TJ” offers a top-notch education as well as the opportunity to dual enroll in local colleges. What’s more, student research plays a critical role in academic success, with a comprehensive focus on scientific, mathematic, and technological fields. Some of the laboratories available on campus for students include a focus on astronomy and astrophysics, robotics, computer systems, neuroscience, and more. At the same time, students aren’t grinding all day — currently, there are more than 180 clubs for students to participate in, including the locksmith club and something called the Magician’s Alliance.
18)
- Location: Arlington (Arlington County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 3,050
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- % AP/IB Course Enrollment: 41%/25%
Formerly known as Washington-Lee, this school was renamed in light of its namesake’s (Robert E. Lee) role in the preservation of slavery. As the largest high school on this list, Washington-Liberty offers something for every student. (It’s also the only school in Arlington to offer AP and IB). Aside from that distinction, this high school aligns with what you’ve come to expect in one of the best public high schools in Virginia — talent, creativity, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
19)
- Location: Springfield (Fairfax County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,809
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 37%
With just 18.8% of their student population qualifying as economically disadvantaged, West Springfield High School looks about like you’d expect. Though their website claims an AP participation rate of 62%, the state of Virginia’s data put the number of students taking an AP class at about 1000, which is closer to one-third of WSHS’s enrollment. Given its location, it’s unsurprising that WSHS serves more than 500 military-connected students.
20)
- Location: Arlington (Arlington County Public Schools)
- Enrollment: 2,600
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
- % AP Course Enrollment: 44%
YHS’s motto is “We achieve Equity, Excellence, and Empowerment.” While I applaud their use of the Oxford comma, I do wonder two things — 1) why the capital letters, and, 2) given the structural forces at work in our society, I would think that equity, excellence, and empowerment are things to aim at rather than to achieve. At the same time, Yorktown’s pedagogical strategies, including culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning instruction, as well as its commitment to common assessments to inform instruction and interventions means that they’re heading in the right direction.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for college starts in high school. Whether it be joining a variety of extracurriculars or opting for advanced classes, students should be aware of how their high school career will translate into their colligate one. Located close to the nation鈥檚 capital, Virginia has some of the best high schools in the country. What’s more, these public high schools are located in cities and suburbs across the state. For students looking at any major, there are a wide variety of public high schools in Virginia that will prepare them well for the next step in their academic careers.
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