Best School Districts in Virginia 2025 — Top Rated

Q: How are school districts in Virginia ranked?

Rankings use NCES Common Core of Data metrics: student enrollment, per-pupil expenditure, number of operational schools, and grade span coverage, normalized to a 1-10 scale. See /how-ratings-work/ for full methodology.

Top 25 Districts Virginia Sorted by rating — highest first

#	District	City	Rating
#1	Arlington Public Schools	Arlington	8/10 Good
#2	Accomack County Public Schools	Accomack	6/10 Average
#3	Albemarle County Public Schools	Albemarle	6/10 Average
#4	Alexandria City Public Schools	Alexandria	6/10 Average
#5	Amelia County Public Schools	Amelia	6/10 Average
#6	Appomattox County Public Schools	Appomattox	6/10 Average
#7	Arlington County Public Schools	Arlington	6/10 Average
#8	Augusta County Public Schools	Augusta	6/10 Average
#9	Brunswick County Public Schools	Brunswick	6/10 Average
#10	Buckingham County Public Schools	Buckingham	6/10 Average
#11	Caroline County Public Schools	Caroline	6/10 Average
#12	Charles City County Public Schools	Charles	6/10 Average
#13	Charlotte County Public Schools	Charlotte	6/10 Average
#14	Charlottesville City Public Schools	Charlottesville	6/10 Average
#15	Chesapeake City Public Schools	Chesapeake	6/10 Average
#16	Chesterfield County Public Schools	Chesterfield	6/10 Average
#17	Clarke County Public Schools	Clarke	6/10 Average
#18	Culpeper County Public Schools	Culpeper	6/10 Average
#19	Cumberland County Public Schools	Cumberland	6/10 Average
#20	Dahlgren Department of Defense School District	Dahlgren Department of Defense	6/10 Average
#21	Dinwiddie County Public Schools	Dinwiddie	6/10 Average
#22	Essex County Public Schools	Essex	6/10 Average
#23	Fairfax County Public Schools	Fairfax	6/10 Average
#24	Falls Church City Public Schools	Falls Church	6/10 Average
#25	Fauquier County Public Schools	Fauquier	6/10 Average

Best School Districts in Virginia (2025)

This ranking covers all 83 public school districts in Virginia, scored using the NCES Common Core of Data for the 2024–2025 school year. Four metrics are combined into the final 1–10 rating: student enrollment, per-pupil expenditure, number of operational schools, and grade span coverage.

Higher-rated districts tend to have stable, larger enrollment bases, above-average per-pupil spending, and full Pre-K–12 grade coverage. These are administrative and resource metrics — not direct measures of teaching quality, test scores, or parent satisfaction. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip codes and enter your address to confirm your assignment. 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 NCES 2024–2025 data, the top-rated school district is Arlington Public Schools in Arlington, VA, rated 8/10 (Good).

How are these rankings calculated? ▼

Rankings use NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, per-pupil spending, operational school count, and grade span — normalized to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.

Are ratings based on test scores? ▼

No. Ratings use NCES administrative data (enrollment, spending, school count, grade span) — not test scores, graduation rates, or parent reviews. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.

Best School Districtsin Virginia

Best School Districts in Virginia (2025)

How to Use This List

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Best School Districts
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