Virginia is one of the few states in the United States that openly encourages learning in high school students. However, Virginia has one of the best high schools in the United States. This article will give you detailed insights on the best high schools in Virginia to aid your high school selection process, especially as an immigrant with very little details about the state.
There are over 700 high schools in Virginia that cut across public schools and private schools. To make your selection seamless, this list of high schools is curated based on schools with a very good academic standing and a fairly efficient athletic program.
The Best High Schools in Virginia
Below we discuss nine of the best High schools in Virginia. These high schools are notably the best in Virginia because of their specialized course work, commitment to student development, and their association with bodies that ensure the growth of their students.
The 10 best high schools in Virginia are
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
- Langley High School
- McLean High School
- Open High School
- Marshall High School
- Oakton High School
- W.T. Woodson High School
- James Madison High School
- Richmond Community High School
- West Springfield High School
However, this list is nonexhaustive. So, let us begin this discussion by talking about one of the most highlighted schools across the various schooling districts in Virginia.
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1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
The Thomas Jefferson High School is one of the best high schools in Virginia. Its core beliefs are to turn young minds into global achievers who will contribute to solving world problems. Thomas Jefferson High School also believes that;
- Critical thinking and problem-solving are essential in solving social, economic, and Ethnical problems as we face them today.
- Students learn best in an association that integrates their culture
- Academic discipline fosters innovative thinking.
- The diversification of language, beliefs, and cultures throughout the world compels us to Global interdependence and the understanding of others.
- Human existence is essentially tied to literature, music, and art.
- Learning never ends.
Thomas Jefferson High School believes in the development of students to contribute solely to the growth of the economy.
It is in the Fairfax county district of Virginia where it teaches its students a stem-focus curriculum. It offers courses in DNA science, advanced marine biology, automation and robotics, architectural drawing and design, research statistics, and advanced placement calculus. Despite being focused on the advancement of STEM, The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology also offers courses in fine art and humanities (English and social studies), making it an institution with a rounded and circular learning curriculum.
The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has about 15 specialized research labs that focus on astronomy, astrophysics to oceanography, and geophysical systems.
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Admission Criteria in Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
There are two basic application procedures for easy access to the Thomas Jefferson High School. These two application process has their eligibility criteria;
- Freshman application
- Sophomore application
Freshman application: The application to Thomas Jefferson High School as a freshman is fairly easy as it requires the submission of an online application. You can begin this process by clicking HERE. After the submission of the online application, 3 essay submissions are to be submitted by the applicant before consideration for admission. For more details on this click HERE.
Sophomore application: The Thomas Jefferson High School usually offer a few students admission during their Sophomore application cycle. And Students who consider applying must apply in their 10th grade and also have their academic transcript during the time of application. For more details on this, click HERE.
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2. Langley High School
Langley High School is one of the best high schools in Virginia. It is a public high school in the Fairfax County public district. Due to its efforts in promoting quality education among students, it is commonly known as a school that prioritizes student engagement in academics.
The Langley High School has a student enrolment record of over 2000 students in its schooling district. It also offers advanced placement courses as well as community-based workshops to support knowledge implementation.
Langley High School has an 82% AP enrollment record and a 40% enrollment record, according to the US News Education record. There are about 30 high schools in the Fairfax County district and yearly Langley High School tops the academic charts among the schools within the district and schools in other districts during regional academic competitions.
The Langley High School believes in promoting intellectual curiosity (STEM, Creative Arts and Languages), Community (internal and external), and the Environment (role in wellbeing) among its students and this is expressed in their academic curriculum.
Admission Procedure in Langley High School
The admission of students to Langley High school follows a stepwise guide;
- Submit an admission inquiry query to the admission committee (email; admissions@langleyschool.co.uk)
- Either Electronically or Manually, submit a copy of your school transcript or report sheet to the admissions committee.
- Visit the school during open days to have direct admission conversations
- Complete an application form which requires payment of £100
- Submit a letter of reference from your previous school
- After an admission offer is made, make a financial deposit to secure your child’s place.
Scholarship and bursary in Langley High School
The Langley High School also offers scholarships to students who show interest and evidence of financial constraints. To know more about Langley High School and scholarships, click HERE.
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3. McLean High School
This is a public high school in McLean. It is also in the Fairfax county schooling district in Virginia. According to the US News Education, it has a total student enrolment record of over 2300 students. This and a series of other subsequently highlighted criteria classifies it as the third-best high school in Virginia.
The McLean High School ensures that students have open access to workshops and a series of AP courses. It has a participation record of 82% in AP courses and 48% in minority enrollment courses.
McLean High School has a highly diverse culture that promotes the inclusion of all races and individuals of different ethnicity. It has a blend of black, white, Hispanic as well as Alaska Natives.
It also has a competitive record of about 94% in Mathematics proficiency, a reading proficiency of 96%, and a 95% science proficiency among other schools in the district.
Admission Procedure in McLean High School
The admission of students into McLean High School follows very strict criteria;
- The students must live within the schooling district. You can view the boundary locator by clicking HERE.
- Students should not be enrolled in any of the FCSP high schools.
After carefully considering these two eligibility criteria, you can begin your application process by clicking HERE.
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4. Open High School
This is the fourth-best high school in the whole of Virginia. It is known for its high academic standards and excellence amongst its students. The Open High School is an alternative public high school in the Urban Oregon Hill in Richmond, Virginia.
It has high academic relevance to students, therefore it gives all its students a unique opportunity to engage in advanced placement courses (AP Courses) as well as workshops that prepare them for an employable work and career life.
The Open High School has a total student enrollment record of over 200 students. And its admission records show a minority admission record of 53.9 students. Its schooling system is rich in students of diverse intellects, such that its admission process includes students of all races. All include; Black Americans, Africans, Hispanics, Indians, Asians, and several others.
Over the years, Open High School has built the capacity of training its students to be self-dependent, effective learners, and self-determined thinkers. They also help in contributing to the accomplishment of education by providing a schooling ground for our school children to have access to quality education, at a relatively fair price.
The Open High School has a competitive national record of about 64% in mathematics proficiency, a reading proficiency of 90%, and an 80% proficiency in sciences among other schools in the district.
Admission Process in Open High School
The admission of students into the Open High School follows a single online application process which you can begin by clicking HERE.
After the submission of an online application, the students are also required to provide the following;
- Two letters of recommendation from past teachers
- One long essay and
- One short essay
Therefore, after a careful review of the application by the admission committee, all qualified students will be notified by the admissions secretary.
Begin your admission process by clicking HERE.
5. Marshall High School
Marshall High School is the fifth-best high school in Virginia. It is a public high school in northern Virginia. And one of the best among 30 other high schools in the Fairfax County schooling district.
The Marshall High School is popularly known in the district for its association with the International Baccalaureate community. This association allows students of the Marshall High school to partake in the International Baccalaureate workshop and exam for professional certifications.
Among other schools in the district, it has a success record of 92 percent proficiency in mathematics, 93 percent proficiency in reading, and a 95 percent proficiency in science.
However, due to the rigidity of its course work, parents have doubts about its graduation rate yearly. But the Marshall High School yearly sets a graduation record of 95 percent among other schools in the district.
Admission process in Marshall High School Virginia
The admission of students to Marshall High School is fairly a straightforward process with very few criteria.
The admission committee advises parents and applicants to be familiar with the school before applying. They ask that applicants review the schooling activities through the possession of their online yearbooks. This yearbook can be purchased by clicking HERE.
6. Oakton High School
This is the sixth-best high school in Virginia. It is one of the best public schools in the Fairfax County district.
According to the US News Education, the Oakton High School has a total student enrollment record of about 2800 students. It is one of the few schools in Virginia that offers AP (Advanced Placement) courses to its students as well as workshops that would help in the advancement of their careers.
At the state level, the Oakton High School has a competitive mathematics proficiency of 91 percent among other schools in the schooling district. It also has a reading and science proficiency of 94 percent and a 91 percent graduation rate in the DC Metro high school area.
However, despite the almost rigid academic framework of Oakton High School, it has a fairly rich athletic program and a mental health program that protects its students against issues of anxiety, depression, and many more. It allies with the national suicide prevention scheme to ensure that the mental health curriculum for its students is up to date.
Admission process in Oakton High School
New students applying to the Oakton High School must first fill out an online application form which is present on the registration portal. Begin your application process by clicking HERE.
Contact the school for more application-related questions with the information below;
- The main office phone number is 703-319-2700.
- The school office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Oakton HS is part of FCPS Region 1. Visit the Region 1 website to learn more.
- All decisions related to inclement weather cancellations, delays, and procedures are determined by the FCPS central office.
7. W.T. Woodson High School
This is the seventh-best high school in Virginia. It is called the Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School but is commonly known as W.T. Woodson High School.
The W.T. Woodson High School is a public high school in the Fairfax County district. It is in the center of the main street within the school district. It has a total student enrollment record of 2700 students, making it the most populated in the schooling area.
Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School gives its students advance opportunities to engage in local and international competitions, both in academics and athletics.
It has a reading and a mathematical proficiency of 95 percent among other schools in the district. It is highly rooted in academia, and it is particularly focused on the advancement of STEM among its students, and it is one of the best STEM teaching high schools in Virginia.
Admission Process in Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School
The admission of students into W.T. Woodson High School requires a one-step online application process which you can begin by clicking HERE.
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8. James Madison High School
This is the eighth-best public high school in Virginia. According to Newsweek Magazine, it is ranked as the 93rd best high school in the United States. It forms part of the Fairfax County public high school in the schooling district.
Due to its highly significant educational system, it has a total enrollment record of over 2400 students, and this number keeps increasing each academic year. It is the second most populated high school in the Fairfax schooling district. It also has a fairly rigid academic curriculum that allows students with very good academic records to partake in advanced placement courses as well as workshops.
This engagement is to help build a system of resilience in their students. The James Maison High school, or as it is commonly called Madison high school, has an AP participation rate of about 80 percent among other schools in Virginia. And a minority enrollment record of 37 percent.
During regional competitions, Madison high school always maintains a competitive competency record of 90% in Mathematics and a reading competency of 92 percent among other competing parties. However, despite its regimented learning routine, it also has a very impressive graduation rate record of 97 percent.
One of the fair advantages of James Madison High School over the other listed high schools above is that it allows students to easily have access to their classes and exams online.
Admission Processes in James Madison High School
The admission of students to James Madison High School is like other schools in the Fairfax County District. It requires the filling of an online application on the school’s application portal. You can easily begin your online application process by clicking HERE.
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9. Richmond Community High School
This is also a public high school in Virginia. It is operated by the Richmond City Public School. As the 9th best high school in Virginia, it has tools that are efficient for the training of students. It is in the Richmond county schooling district of Virginia, with a total enrollment record of about 500 students. Richmond Community High School has a total minority record of 77 percent among other schools in the district. However, despite its deficiencies, it offers students the opportunity to offer advanced placement courses and also engage in capacity-building workshops that support their learning. Click HERE to read more on the admission process of Richmond Community High School and also their admission criteria.
Conclusion
Virginia has over 700 high schools, which are almost evenly distributed in different regions of the state. Despite the distribution of high schools in the state, it is very important to highlight the best from the pool of high schools.
Also, being able to make this selection easily will help in facilitating your high school studies. Therefore, the list above gives a detailed summary of the nine (9) best high schools in Virginia to aid your selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 227 different high school districts in Virginia. Also, these schooling districts coordinate the affairs of the schools in their regions.
In Virginia, the asked criteria for admission is a good academic record. However, for students who have deficient academic records, other criteria such as sports, reading capability, and others are often considered. Also, read on the Best Highs in California.
You just checked the first box which is by reading through this article. And if you haven’t read through, you should. Selecting the best school is very important, as you need a school that supports you academically and also embraces your culture, style, and way of learning. By reading this article, you should gain better clarification.
Yes, in most cases. However, a few high schools in Virginia support an in-person application. But the majority prefer the online application process.
The list of the best high school in Virginia is exhaustive, however, this list of high schools is carefully curated to highlight high schools that show informed support and concern to their students and how they perform efficiently in regional and international competitions.
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