Here Are The 50 Best Public High Schools In VA, New Ranking Says

VIRGINIA — Several Virginia schools are among the best public high schools in the country, according to a report released this week by Niche.

The 2025 Best Public High Schools in America ranking, released Monday, shows the best traditional public high schools in the nation, including magnet and charter schools.

Niche said its rankings, now in the 10th year, differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that it also includes input from students, alumni and parents, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities.

Virginia's top 50 public high schools are:

1. Thomas Jefferson High School For Science & Technology
2. Independence High School
3. Washington Liberty High School
4. Open High School
5. Rock Ridge High School
6. Riverside High School
7. Deep Run High School
8. John Champe High School
9. Yorktown High School
10. Oakton High School
11. Ocean Lakes High School
12. Meridian High School
13. Richmond Community High School
14. McLean High School
15. Lake Braddock Secondary School
16. Freedom High School
17. Langely High School
18. Lightridge High School
19. Tabb High School
20. Briar Woods High School
21. Blacksburg High School
22. Stone Bridge High School
23. Grafton High School
24. Princess Anne High School
25. James Madison High School
26. Grassfield High School
27. Albemarle High School
28. Western Albemarle High School
29. Osbourn Park High School
30. Centreville High School
31. Battlefield High School
32. Charles J. Colgan Senior High School
33. Chantilly High School
34. Glen Allen High School
35. Galileo Magnet High School
36. W.T. Woodson High School
37. Floyd E. Kellam High School
38. West Springfield High School
39. Jamestown High School
40. Heritage High School
41. Hidden Valley High School
42. York High School
43. Midlothian High School
44. Robinson Secondary School
45. Broad Run High School
46. Cosby High School
47. Frank W. Cox High School
48. Mountain View High School
49. Potomac Falls High School
50. Mills E. Godwin High School

The company said its rankings were created to provide families with valuable information — both quantitative and qualitative — on schools in their area or in a neighborhood they’re not familiar with yet. As in previous years, the Best Schools rankings include categories for boarding schools and private schools, including religious schools, among many others.

Related:

• These Are The Best School Districts In Virginia, New Ranking Says
• APS Sees Slight Gains In Most Standards Of Learning Test Subjects
• Alternative Assessments Left Out Of SOL Scores: Fairfax Schools Superintendent
• 19 VA High Schools Make U.S. News 2024 ‘Best’ Ranking

Nationally, the top 10 ranked public schools in America are:

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, North Carolina (high school for grades 11-12)
2. The Davidson Academy, Reno, Nevada (school for grades 5-12)
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science, Worcester, Massachusetts (magnet school for grades 11-12)
4. Rising Leaders Academy, Panama City, Florida (charter school for grades K-12)
5. Stuyvesant High School, New York City (high school for grades 9-12)
6. Payton College Preparatory High School, Chicago (magnet school for grades 9-12)
7. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Oklahoma City (high school or grades 11-12)
8. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics, Hartsville, South Dakota (high school for grades 11-12)
9. School for the Talented & Gifted, Dallas (magnet school for grades 9-12)
10. Pine View School, Osprey, Florida (magnet school for grades 2-12)