Best Public Schools in Reston, VA

Reston, Virginia is home to 10 public schools within Fairfax County Public Schools, serving approximately 7,955 students across 8 elementary schools (PK–6), 1 middle school (grades 7–8), and 1 high school (grades 9–12). The city offers a wide mix of educational experiences, from some of Virginia's top-ranked elementary schools to one of the state's lowest-performing schools, making the choice of school a significant factor for families.

Sunrise Valley Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 92nd percentile with 5 stars, the lowest poverty rate (15.8% free/reduced lunch), and average SOL proficiency around 88.7%. Close behind are Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences (85th percentile) and Aldrin Elementary (83rd percentile). At the other end, Dogwood Elementary ranks in the 6th percentile with 0 stars, 98.5% poverty, and average proficiency near 46.6%. Among secondary schools, Hughes Middle performs well overall (67th percentile) with outstanding advanced math results, while South Lakes High sits at the 50th percentile but boasts a 95.9% graduation rate and a low dropout rate.

The most striking pattern is the socioeconomic achievement divide: schools with lower free/reduced lunch rates (Sunrise Valley, Hunters Woods, Aldrin) dramatically outperform higher-poverty schools (Lake Anne, Forest Edge, Dogwood), even though they are just miles apart. Reston also shows a consistent strength in advanced math acceleration—100% proficiency in Algebra I at Hunters Woods and Hughes—while on-grade-level math often lags, as seen at Hughes (27% proficiency in 8th-grade math). Chronic absenteeism is a concern at South Lakes (20.7% vs. district 11.9%), yet graduation rates remain high. Notably, higher spending and smaller class sizes do not guarantee better results; Sunrise Valley spends the second-least per student but achieves the highest scores, while Dogwood spends more yet ranks last. For parents, the best-performing elementary schools offer exceptional academics, but secondary options are limited to one middle and one high school, meaning the success of Hughes and South Lakes is critical for all Reston families.