Northern Virginia has a reputation for its top-tier high schools. And for many students, high school athletic programs can be just as important as academics.
A new ranking from data analytics firm Niche lists the top 100 Virginia schools in terms of their sports programs. A private school in Chantilly, St. Paul VI Catholic High School (PVI), ranked at No. 3 for the second year in a row.
PVI’s Strong Athletic Programs
Niche’s ranking is based in part on student and parent reviews, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school. The list noted that PVI offers 26 sports. It also said that 94 percent of PVI’s students and parents agreed that the school offered a wide range of clubs and organizations.
PVI’s athletic director and head baseball coach, Billy Emerson, told Northern Virginia Magazine in the fall that athletics are a major part of the school’s culture and are wrapped into the everyday experience for its students. Emerson said about 60 percent of PVI students play at least one sport per year, and about 40 percent play two.
“Athletics are a major part of our school community here, and they always have been. And the biggest reason is because our athletic program operates as an extension of the mission of our school and the mission of our church,” he said. “Participation in extracurricular activities like athletics helps develop a lot of the skills for kids to be successful academically and to be successful otherwise — learning things like teamwork and time management — and being a part of something that’s just bigger than yourself.”
Other NoVA Schools in the Rankings
Loudoun County’s Stone Bridge High School was the area’s highest-ranking public school at No. 7. Other NoVA schools in the top 20 include two private schools: Bishop O’Connell in Arlington at No. 11 and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria at No. 12. Fairfax County’s James Madison High School ranked at No. 13.
Woodberry Forest School ranked at No. 1, and Western Albermarle High School scored the No. 2 spot. Blue Ridge High School in St. George was No. 4; St. Catherine’s in Richmond was No. 5.
Feature image courtesy St. Paul VI Catholic High School
