Best Public Schools in Zip Code 20170

Zip code 20170 in Herndon, Virginia, is served by six schools in Fairfax County Public Schools: four elementary schools (Hutchison Elementary, Herndon Elementary, Dranesville Elementary, and Clearview Elementary), one middle school (Herndon Middle), and one high school (Herndon High), enrolling a combined 6,108 students. Although the district itself earns a 4-star rating, the schools in this area generally rank below district and state averages, with the typical school sitting in the bottom fifth of Virginia rankings.

The clear standout is Dranesville Elementary, which holds the highest rank in the zip code (43rd percentile), posts strong math and reading scores, has the lowest poverty rate at 47.38% free/reduced lunch, and is the only school showing consistent improvement over three years. Clearview Elementary is a close second, with exceptionally low chronic absenteeism (6.9%) and solid middle-grade performance despite a higher poverty rate. At the other end, Hutchison Elementary and Herndon Elementary rank at the 1st percentile statewide, with very low test proficiency. Notably, Hutchison has the best attendance in the area (4% chronic absenteeism), showing that attendance alone does not drive success.

Herndon Middle presents a striking split: near-perfect Algebra I proficiency (up to 100%) alongside very low on-grade math scores, suggesting only a select group of advanced students is thriving. Herndon High faces the most serious challenges, with a 9.9% dropout rate — nearly double the district and state averages — and a graduation rate of just 85.7%. Across the zip code, spending per student does not predict performance; in fact, the lowest-performing elementary schools spend more than higher-performing peers. For parents, this area offers a few pockets of excellence, particularly at Dranesville and Clearview, but overall the schools face significant socioeconomic challenges that outweigh both attendance and funding levels.