Best Public Schools in Alexandria, VA

The City of Alexandria, Virginia is served by 53 public schools — 39 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 7 high schools — split between Alexandria City Public Schools (16 schools, ranked 103rd of 131 districts) and Fairfax County Public Schools (37 schools, ranked 39th of 131 districts). This district divide is the defining feature of the local education landscape: FCPS schools in Alexandria outperform ACPS schools on nearly every metric, from state rankings and SOL proficiency to graduation rates and chronic absenteeism.

Standout schools illustrate the range. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology ranks 3rd in Virginia with a 100% graduation rate and near-perfect test scores — though it is a selective magnet school. Among elementary schools, Waynewood Elementary leads at the 94th percentile with just 4% low-income enrollment, while Lyles-Crouch Elementary is the top ACPS elementary school at the 81st percentile. Naomi L. Brooks Elementary has risen from #586 to #340 in three years. At the other end, Bryant High (47% graduation, 0 stars) and Alexandria City High (82.7% graduation, bottom 3%) face severe challenges.

Several patterns matter for parents. Achievement closely tracks poverty: top schools have free/reduced-price lunch rates under 22%, while struggling schools exceed 78%. Chronic absenteeism is a powerful warning sign — Bryant High's 63.5% rate and Alexandria City High's 19.2% exceed the 14.8% state average. Notably, high spending doesn't guarantee results: Bryant spends $37,965 per student yet has the worst outcomes, while Waynewood spends just $9,938. On a brighter note, advanced math proficiency is near 100% in many middle schools, and George Washington Middle, Rose Hill Elementary, and Bucknell Elementary are all trending upward, showing progress is possible even in lower-ranked districts.