Best High Schools in Zip Code 20151

Zip code 20151 in Chantilly, Virginia is home to two large public high schools—Chantilly High and Westfield High—both serving grades 9 through 12 within Fairfax County Public Schools. These two schools, despite being in the same zip code and district, present very different profiles for parents to consider.

Chantilly High is the clear academic leader, ranking 49th out of 331 Virginia high schools (85th percentile) with a 4-star rating. It posts a 96.0% graduation rate, a low 2.7% dropout rate, and consistently outperforms Westfield on standardized tests. Chantilly’s 9th-grade SOL proficiency is exceptional—Geometry (96.7%), Biology (96.9%), Algebra I (93.4%), and Algebra II (100%)—while its average proficiency across all reported tests is roughly 72%. Westfield High, by contrast, ranks 221st (33rd percentile) with a 2-star rating, a 93.1% graduation rate, and a 5.4% dropout rate. Westfield serves a more economically disadvantaged population (35.7% free/reduced lunch vs. 20.7% at Chantilly) and spends less per student ($11,149 vs. $12,639), yet both schools share the same student-teacher ratio of 12.8. Westfield does show pockets of strength, beating Chantilly in several upper-grade Algebra I and 12th-grade science test cells, but overall its average SOL proficiency trails by about 8 points.

Several insights stand out for families. Chantilly has improved its state rank from 71st to 49th over two years, while Westfield has declined from 168th to 221st in the same period. Interestingly, Chantilly has a higher chronic absenteeism rate (14.6%) than Westfield (11.6%), despite better outcomes—suggesting factors beyond attendance drive performance. Both schools struggle with upper-grade SOL scores, likely reflecting students retaking required tests, with 12th-grade English Reading proficiency falling below state averages at both schools. Ultimately, Chantilly offers stronger academics, higher spending, and more advanced course pathways, while Westfield, despite challenges, graduates students above the state average and shows specific academic strengths in certain math and science areas.