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Swanson Middle

Q: Is Swanson Middle a good school?

Swanson Middle ranks 89 th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

89^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 79% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Swanson Middle in Arlington, VA serves 993 students in grades 6-8 as part of Arlington County Public Schools, which ranks 26th of 131 Virginia districts. The school currently ranks 89th out of 416 Virginia middle schools, placing it in the 79th percentile with 4 stars. Its student population is moderately affluent for the area — 19.9% qualify for free/reduced lunch — and chronic absenteeism is a low 8.4%, comfortably below the district rate of 12.1%.

Swanson sits third among Arlington's six middle schools — trailing Williamsburg Middle and Dorothy Hamm Middle but ahead of Gunston Middle, Kenmore Middle, and Jefferson Middle. The school's strongest areas are reading, science, and advanced math. Reading proficiency at 6th and 8th grades is above the district average, and 8th-grade science proficiency is 80.5% versus 77.3% districtwide. The advanced math pipeline is exceptional, with near-100% proficiency in Algebra I and Geometry. However, 7th-grade regular math is a weak spot: only 35.8% of test-takers are proficient, compared to 49.3% in the district and 51.1% statewide. This pattern has persisted for several years and is notable because Swanson's 6th and 8th grade math scores are far stronger.

Swanson's overall ranking masks a wide internal performance gap. Military-connected students rank in the 82nd percentile statewide, and the school's highest-performing student groups rank in the 97th-98th percentiles. Yet English Language Learner students, low-income students, and Hispanic students each rank in the bottom third of Virginia schools. These equity gaps, plus the 7th-grade math issue, represent the school's clearest opportunities for improvement. Attendance is a bright spot — chronic absenteeism of 8.4% is well below the state rate of 14.8%, though it has crept upward in recent years. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.1 and per-pupil spending of $13,989, Swanson remains a solid, well-regarded school with meaningful strengths to build on and real challenges to address.

993

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,989

Per pupil spending ?

19.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5800 Washington Blvd
Arlington, VA 22205

(703) 228-5500

District: Arlington County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Swanson Middle:

Elementary:

Cardinal Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.4%

Hispanic:

23.4%

Two or more races:

8.7%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Swanson Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Virginia average (81% vs 69% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Virginia middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school81%

District avg77%

Virginia avg69%

89^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Top 21%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 6Middle Schools in the Arlington County Public Schools

26^th of 131Arlington County Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.2	89 of 416	78.6%	★★★★☆
2025	76.6	74 of 419	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.5	97 of 417	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	75.1	96 of 422	77.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.6	61 of 415	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	76.4	47 of 419	88.8%	★★★★☆
2019	78.8	40 of 424	90.6%	★★★★★
2018	78.5	36 of 413	91.3%	★★★★★
2017	83.4	23 of 415	94.5%	★★★★★
2016	79.5	42 of 409	89.7%	★★★★☆
2015	83.0	25 of 412	93.9%	★★★★★
2014	82.4	28 of 416	93.3%	★★★★★
2013	80.9	33 of 416	92.1%	★★★★★
2012	77.4	30 of 413	92.7%	★★★★★
2011	75.5	43 of 413	89.6%	★★★★☆
2010	66.0	89 of 408	78.2%	★★★★☆
2009	68.9	70 of 390	82.1%	★★★★☆
2008	71.4	65 of 391	83.4%	★★★★☆
2007	69.7	69 of 387	82.2%	★★★★☆
2006	67.4	79 of 383	79.4%	★★★★☆
2005	70.4	91 of 340	73.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	57.6	120 of 297	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.7	206 of 297	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.3	132 of 299	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.7	153 of 298	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	70.5	33 of 137	75.9%	★★★★☆
2025	75.6	14 of 136	89.7%	★★★★★
2024	63.3	49 of 128	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.2	66 of 132	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	56.4	105 of 292	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.5	64 of 281	77.2%	★★★★☆
2023	65.1	80 of 278	71.2%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	30.4	98 of 134	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	42.0	68 of 135	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.9	72 of 122	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.6	42 of 100	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	69.7	109 of 409	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	72.9	91 of 403	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	69.8	109 of 407	73.2%	★★★★☆
2023	74.7	89 of 411	78.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	34.0	202 of 283	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.8	173 of 279	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.8	184 of 272	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.6	190 of 275	30.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	311 of 401	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.3	275 of 403	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.9	265 of 402	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.9	82 of 410	80.0%	★★★★☆
2025	78.7	59 of 404	85.4%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	86 of 407	78.9%	★★★★☆
2023	75.1	91 of 409	77.8%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	73.3	23 of 125	81.6%	★★★★☆
2025	75.5	15 of 130	88.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.1	9 of 123	92.7%	★★★★★
2023	72.5	21 of 114	81.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	83.9	8 of 249	96.8%	★★★★★
2025	88.4	2 of 244	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	85.1	11 of 237	95.4%	★★★★★
2023	84.6	16 of 231	93.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	10 of 400	97.5%	★★★★★
2025	87.4	7 of 400	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	83.1	17 of 396	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	85.8	10 of 402	97.5%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)98th percentile+19 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)97th percentile+18 vs school

Military Connected (2026)82nd percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)80th percentile~ school

Asian (2026)76th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)73rd percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2026)64th percentile-15 vs school

African American (2026)60th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)29th percentile-50 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)27th percentile-52 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)22nd percentile-56 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+3 vs state

Algebra I99%+4 vs state

Civics and Economics83%+13 vs state

English Reading83%+10 vs state

Science80%+16 vs state

Mathematics55%~ state avg

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, December 24, 2021

Swanson has a very toxic school culture violence has become all too common. Administrators refuse to honestly communicate with families. Meanwhile, real education has taken a backseat to ideological fads. Avoid this school if you can! Close Quote

Schools Near Swanson Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Geometry (2026)		SOL Algebra I (2026)			SOL Algebra II (2026)		SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL World History I (2026)	SOL Civics and Economics (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Geometry 7th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 6th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 7th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL World History I 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Swanson Middle	Public	6-8	5800 Washington Blvd	Arlington	22205	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-5500	993	70	14.1	19.9%	530 (53.4%)	64 (6.4%)	232 (23.4%)	80 (8.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (8.7%)	73.2	89^th of 416 public middle schools	78.6%		76.6	74^th of 419 public middle schools	82.3%	15		100.0		100.0	98.3		≥ 50%	73.2	35.8	56.3	80.5	85.6	78.0	84.8		83.3		$13,989	$04	$13,985
Kenmore Middle	Public	6-8	200 S Carlin Springs Rd	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-6800	1,053	75	14.0	54.9%	285 (27.1%)	108 (10.3%)	500 (47.5%)	95 (9.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (6.1%)	48.1	242^nd of 416 public middle schools	41.8%		49.7	222^nd of 419 public middle schools	47.0%	20	≥ 50%	100.0		100.0	96.0			55.6	48.4	58.1	71.1	62.5	70.4	70.9		72.5		$15,296	$04	$15,293
Williamsburg Middle	Public	6-8	3600 N Harrison St	Arlington	22207	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-5450	856	57	15.1	2.8%	620 (72.4%)	20 (2.3%)	75 (8.8%)	39 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	102 (11.9%)	91.3	5^th of 416 public middle schools	98.8%		91.8	5^th of 419 public middle schools	98.8%		≥ 50%	100.0	≥ 50%	100.0	98.9			97.1	73.7	85.4	94.4	99.0	92.0	96.7		96.9		$13,381	$00	$13,381
Dorothy Hamm Middle	Public	6-8	4100 N Vacation Lane	Arlington	22207	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-2910	989	69	14.2	18.9%	517 (52.3%)	91 (9.2%)	151 (15.3%)	142 (14.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (8.8%)	81	38^th of 416 public middle schools	90.9%		81.3	40^th of 419 public middle schools	90.5%	2		100.0		100.0	100.0			70.9	68.9	59.0	82.3	86.3	86.4	85.6		90.4		$13,436	$46	$13,390
Jefferson Middle	Public	6-8	125 S Old Glebe Rd	Arlington	22204	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-5900	1,120	81	13.8	43.0%	320 (28.6%)	200 (17.9%)	444 (39.6%)	90 (8.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	63 (5.6%)	45.8	258^th of 416 public middle schools	38.0%		46.1	239^th of 419 public middle schools	43.0%	19		100.0		95.9	97.8			50.7	40.6	43.9	66.6	69.3	73.9	67.1		79.0		$15,495	$44	$15,451
Longfellow Middle	Public, Magnet	7-8	2000 Westmoreland St	Falls Church	22043	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 533-2600	1,226	116	10.5	10.6%	554 (45.2%)	43 (3.5%)	153 (12.5%)	366 (29.9%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.3%)	105 (8.6%)	81.8	35^th of 416 public middle schools	91.6%		83.6	30^th of 419 public middle schools	92.8%	5	100.0	100.0		100.0	94.4	558.0	100.0		39.7	≥ 50%	90.1		92.4	94.4				$10,736	$208	$10,528
Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School	Public	6-8	105 Mustang Alley	Falls Church	22043	Fairfax County	Falls Church City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 720-5700	632	45	13.9	10.1%	398 (63.0%)	22 (3.5%)	77 (12.2%)	53 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	81 (12.8%)	87.6	14^th of 416 public middle schools	96.6%		87.8	11^th of 419 public middle schools	97.4%	3		100.0		100.0	100.0			87.0	80.8	83.5	86.9	92.2	93.1	91.8	94.4	90.1		$14,877	$247	$14,629
Glasgow Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	4101 Fairfax Pkwy	Alexandria	22312	Fairfax County	Fairfax County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(703) 813-8700	1,702	123	13.8	85.8%	351 (20.6%)	152 (8.9%)	941 (55.3%)	209 (12.3%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	41 (2.4%)	18.5	371^st of 416 public middle schools	10.8%		16.4	383^rd of 419 public middle schools	8.6%	12		100.0	100.0	100.0	97.7		≥ 50%	29.4	19.7	18.1	51.4	55.3	60.1	57.0				$12,567	$803	$11,764
Francis C. Hammond Middle	Public	6-8	4646 Seminary Road	Alexandria	22304	Alexandria city	Alexandria City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(703) 461-4100	1,597	120	13.3	83.8%	274 (17.2%)	423 (26.5%)	644 (40.3%)	186 (11.6%)	5 (0.3%)	7 (0.4%)	58 (3.6%)	17.9	372^nd of 416 public middle schools	10.6%		9.8	396^th of 419 public middle schools	5.5%	24		100.0		95.0	89.8			43.3	42.2	24.1	45.3	54.6	54.6	49.1			72.1	$13,351	$481	$12,871
Gunston Middle	Public	6-8	2700 S Lang St	Arlington	22206	Arlington County	Arlington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(703) 228-6900	1,072	69	15.5	32.0%	344 (32.1%)	163 (15.2%)	405 (37.8%)	68 (6.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	90 (8.4%)	58.6	181^st of 416 public middle schools	56.5%		61.1	168^th of 419 public middle schools	59.9%	13		100.0		100.0	98.3			50.0	47.2	51.3	71.2	75.6	78.6	81.2		75.2		$14,879	$71	$14,808

Frequently Asked Questions about Swanson Middle

Is Swanson Middle a good school?

Swanson Middle ranks 89^th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Swanson Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 993 students attended Swanson Middle.

What district is Swanson Middle in?

Arlington County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Swanson Middle?

Students at Swanson Middle are 53% White, 23% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 6% African American.

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.