VA's Best Public High Schools Ranked In New Analysis

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

The 2026 Best Public High Schools in America ranking evaluates more than 93,000 public high schools nationwide.

Niche said its rankings, now in the 11th 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, Alexandria (ranked No. 14 nationwide)
2. Independence High School, Ashburn (ranked No. 132 nationwide)
3. Lightridge High School, Aldie
4. Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn
5. Deep Run High School, Glen Allen
6. John Champe High School, Aldie
7. Open High School, Richmond
8. Oakton High School, Oakton
9. Grafton High School, Yorktown
10. Washington Liberty High School, Arlington
11. Riverside High School, Leesburg
12. Yorktown High School, Arlington
13. McLean High School, McLean
14. Tabb High School, Yorktown
15. Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia Beach
16. Langley High School, McLean
17. Richmond Community High School, Richmond
18. Meridian High School, Falls Church
19. Blacksburg High School, Blacksburg
20. Freedoom High School, South Riding
21. Briar Woods High School, Ashburn
22. Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn
23. Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke
24. Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach
25. James Madison High School, Vienna
26. Western Albermarle High School, Crozet
27. Osbourn Park High School, Manassas
28. Grassfield High School, Chesapeake
29. York High School ,Yorktown
30. Charles J. Coglan Senior High School, Manassas
31. Centreville High School, Centreville
32. West Springfield High School, West Springfield
33. Galileo Magnet High School, Danville
34. Battlefield High School, Haymarket
35. Glen Allen High School, Glen Allen
36. Chantilly High School, Chantilly
37. Jamestown High School, Williamsburg
38. Albemarle High School, Charlottesville
39. W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax
40. Midlothian High School, Midlothian
41. Heritage High School, Leesburg
42. Floyd E. Kellam High School, Virginia Beach
43. Cosby High School, Midlothian
44. Hidden Valley High School, Roanoke
45. Frank W. Cox High School, Virginia Beach
46. Mountain View High School, Stafford
47. Gainesville High School, Gainesville
48. Robinson Secondary School, Fairfax
49. Broad Run High School, Ashburn
50. Mills E. Godwin High School, Richmond

According to Niche, the top five public high schools in America are:

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
2. The Davidson Academy (Nevada)
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science
4. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics
5. Stuyvesant High School (New York)

“Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make," Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said in a news release. “Our K-12 rankings bring together rigorous data and real experiences from students, parents and educators. This gives families the clarity to choose schools where their children can succeed academically, thrive socially, and build a strong foundation for their future.”