📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (SOL 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Virginia
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Falls Church City Public Schools | Falls Church | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Wise County Public Schools | Appalachia | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #3 | Botetourt County Public Schools | Buchanan | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #4 | York County Public Schools | Yorktown | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #5 | Poquoson City Public Schools | Poquoson | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #6 | Roanoke County Public Schools | Roanoke | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #7 | Patrick County Public Schools | Ararat | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #8 | Washington County Public Schools | Bristol | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #9 | New Kent County Public Schools | Barhamsville | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #10 | Louisa County Public Schools | Gordonsville | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #11 | Charlotte County Public Schools | Charlotte Court House | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #12 | Hanover County Public Schools | Ashland | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #13 | Loudoun County Public Schools | Aldie | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #14 | Gloucester County Public Schools | Gloucester | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #15 | Pittsylvania County Public Schools | Cascade | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #16 | Wythe County Public Schools | Barren Springs | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #17 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Virginia Beach | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #18 | Tazewell County Public Schools | Broadford | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #19 | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Chesapeake | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #20 | Highland County Public Schools | Blue Grass | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #21 | Isle of Wight County Public Schools | Battery Park | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #22 | Goochland County Public Schools | Columbia | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #23 | Arlington County Public Schools | Arlington | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #24 | Bath County Public Schools | Bacova | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #25 | Franklin County Public Schools | Boones Mill | 8/10 Good | 79th |
Best School Districts in Virginia (2026)
This ranking covers 119 rated public school districts in Virginia, scored using SOL 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Virginia School Districts at a Glance
- 131 of the 131 regular school districts operating in Virginia have a published rating on this site.
- 40 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from SOL 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Virginia only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Falls Church City Public Schools in Falls Church, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Virginia is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Virginia? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (SOL 2024–25), the top-rated district is Falls Church City Public Schools in Falls Church, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (SOL 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Virginia? ▼
Virginia has 131 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 131 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Virginia school district ratings based on? ▼
SOL 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Virginia and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Virginia are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
40 of the 131 rated districts in Virginia score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Virginia, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Virginia? ▼
In Virginia nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Virginia is not one of them.