Top Schools Methodology
While schools offer much more than test scores, academic results are the major factor in sending a child to school. To determine the top 25 percent of Northern Virginia elementary and middle schools, we used four different attributes to rank them, and they are ranked only in relation to other schools within that county. For high schools we used five attributes. The attributes used to rank schools in the counties all point to school academic quality. They are: the percentage of students who passed the 2015-16 Standards of Learning test (SOLs); the percentage of students who performed above average on the SOLs; the average SOL pass rate over a three-year time period (2013-2016); and the percentage of students who receive free/reduced lunch. For high schools we also factored in the percentage of students who graduated with advanced diplomas in the 2015-16 year. All information is from the Virginia Department of Education.
The attributes are weighted to determine a school’s final ranking; 2015-16 SOL scores count the most, Advanced Proficiency next, 2013-2016 SOL pass rates third and free/reduced lunch percentage last. For high schools, the advanced diploma percentages were ranked highest followed by the above statistics. We’ve also listed useful information such as teacher credentials, safety records and awards to give a better snapshot of a school.
Key
Advanced Diploma: percentage of students who graduated with an advanced diploma
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: percentage of students who passed the Standards of Learning test
Advanced Proficiency SOL Pass Rate (Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate): percentage of students who performed above average on the 2015-16 SOLs
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: average SOL pass rate over a three-year time period, showing long-term academic performance
Free/Reduced Lunch (F/R): percentage of students who received free or reduced lunch, showing the socio-economic breakdown of a school
Note: If any of the above information was not available for a school that school was not included.
Alexandria
The City of Alexandria only has one public high school, T.C. Williams.
Arlington
Yorktown High
5200 Yorktown Blvd., Arlington
Student Population: 1,947
Advanced Diploma: 76.2
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92.2
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 24.8
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 92.7
F/R: 14.4
Teacher Credentials: 24% bachelor’s, 74% master’s, 2% doctoral
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
Fairfax
Langley High
6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean
Student Population: 1,976
Advanced Diploma: 83.2
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 96.4
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 44
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 89.5
F/R: 1.5
Teacher Credentials: 17% bachelor’s, 79% master’s, 4% doctoral
Safety: 25 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 13 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
Madison High
2500 James Madison Drive, Vienna
Student Population: 2,142
Advanced Diploma: 73.7
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 94.2
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 34.6
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87.9
F/R: 10.4
Teacher Credentials: 24% bachelor’s, 73% master’s, 3% doctoral
Safety: 25 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 17 offenses against student
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
McLean High
1633 Davidson Road, McLean
Student Population: 2,103
Advanced Diploma: 78.1
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 95.6
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 38.4
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 88.3
F/R: 8.4
Teacher Credentials: 21% bachelor’s, 76% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 17 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 10 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 Board of Education Excellence Award
Oakton High
2900 Sutton Road, Vienna
Student Population: 2,439
Advanced Diploma: 78.5
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 93.6
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 38.2
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87.4
F/R: 12.1
Teacher Credentials: 23% bachelor’s, 70% master’s, 6% doctoral
Safety: 12 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 18 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
Robinson Secondary
5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax
Student Population: 3,918
Advanced Diploma: 77.1
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 24
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 85.8
F/R: 9.9
Teacher Credentials: 24% bachelor’s, 72% master’s, 2% doctoral
Safety: 37 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 15 other offenses against persons
Awards: 2014-15 Board of Education Excellence Award, 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology
6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria
Student Population: 1,823
Advanced Diploma: 99.8
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 100
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 75.6
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87.3
F/R: 1.9
Teacher Credentials: 13% bachelor’s, 70% master’s, 17% doctoral
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
Woodson High
9525 Main St., Fairfax
Student Population: 2,465
Advanced Diploma: 72.3
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 95.2
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 32.8
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 88.5
F/R: 10.2
Teacher Credentials: 22% bachelor’s, 75% master’s, 2% doctoral
Safety: 16 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 21 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
Fauquier
Kettle Run High
7403 Academic Ave., Nokesville
Student Population: 1,240
Advanced Diploma: 66.7
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 18.2
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 91.6
F/R: 7.5
Teacher Credentials: 35% bachelor’s, 62% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 11 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
Loudoun
Briar Woods High
22525 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn
Student Population: 1,672
Advanced Diploma: 80.8
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 93
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 23.4
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87
F/R: 4
Teacher Credentials: 28% bachelor’s, 69% master’s, 3% doctoral
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: 2014-15 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award, 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
John Champe High
41535 Sacred Mountain St., Aldie
Student Population: 1,515
Advanced Diploma: 76.8
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 91.2
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 19.2
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 85.5
F/R: 10.1
Teacher Credentials: 20% bachelor’s, 78% master’s
Safety: 13 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 11 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
Stone Bridge High
43100 Hay Road, Ashburn
Student Population: 1,688
Advanced Diploma: 79
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 93.7
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 20.4
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87.9
F/R: 7.6
Teacher Credentials: 22% bachelor’s, 75% master’s, 3% doctoral
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: 2014-15 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award, 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
Prince William
Battlefield High
15000 Graduation Drive, Haymarket
Student Population: 2,742
Advanced Diploma: 71.1
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 93.4
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 23
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87.1
F/R: 10.2
Teacher Credentials: 39% bachelor’s, 60% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 21 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 26 offenses against persons, 10 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
Forest Park High
15721 Forest Park Drive, Woodbridge
Student Population: 2,276
Advanced Diploma: 51.3
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 86.8
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 15.8
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 80.8
F/R: 26.2
Teacher Credentials: 23% bachelor’s, 72% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 45 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 44 other offenses, 56 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: N/A
Osbourn Park High
8909 Euclid Ave., Manassas
Student Population: 2,850
Advanced Diploma: 59.3
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 89.4
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 19.6
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 83.4
F/R: 27.7
Teacher Credentials: 30% bachelor’s, 66% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 48 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 10 offenses against student, 21 offenses against persons, 34 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
Patriot High
10504 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville
Student Population: 2,817
Advanced Diploma: 61.8
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 93.6
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 22.8
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 87.3
F/R: 73.2
Teacher Credentials: 31% bachelor’s, 68% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 15 alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, 23 offenses against persons, 22 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: N/A
Stafford
Colonial Forge High
550 Courthouse Road, Stafford
Student Population: 2,045
Advanced Diploma: 63
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92.4
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 19.2
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 92.8
F/R: 15.9
Teacher Credentials: 33% bachelor’s, 66% master’s
Safety: 18 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 119 technology offenses, 14 offenses against student, 29 other offenses, 84 offenses against persons, 227 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2015-16 Board of Education Excellence Award
Mountain View High
2135 Mountain View Road, Stafford
Student Population: 1,689
Advanced Diploma: 69.3
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 17
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 90.9
F/R: 13.9
Teacher Credentials: 37% bachelor’s, 59% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 37 alcohol, tobacco and other drug offenses, 49 technology offenses, 11 offenses against student, 10 offenses against staff, 12 property offenses, 47 other offenses, 27 offenses against persons, 196 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award