2022 Best high schools in the Richmond Area

• Richmond, VA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  144 reviews

Junior: MLWGS is a wonderful place, and I could not have made a better decision than to come here. The teachers are so talented and engaging, and they make learning truly enjoyable. Contrary to popular belief, MLWGS isn't only good for its international studies or social studies classes—it has fantastic STEM and arts programs, as well, and the students have really diverse passions and strengths. What we DO have in common is that most of us are nerds... but our athletic programs are fantastic, and our football team is undefeated (lol)! If you're the type of student who likes challenging yourself with rigorous classes and expanding your worldview through exploring various extracurriculars (from Quiz Bowl to Bhangra), this is the school for you, and you will find students and faculty who share your interests and are willing to support you in all of your undertakings. And don't be scared off by rumors about the rigor—the workload is super manageable, and teachers are really understanding.... Read 144 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  24 reviews

Parent: I have been so impressed with the administration, faculty and staff of St. Chris over these past two years through the very difficult Covid era. When the school shut down in March of 2020, as the rest of America did, the school pivoted overnight to a distance learning model. Within two days, my son was getting assignments from his second-grade teacher and within the week his class was all gathering on Zoom each morning. Sure, there were bumps along the way. But I appreciated the school's drive to bring as much normalcy to their students as possible. In fall of 2020, while many other schools were still trying to figure out how to START a distance learning program, St. Chris was safely conducting in-person instruction, five days a week. It was more than just having deep pockets to be able to take on the additional cost of making that happen... it was also that the institution took on a proactive, problem-solving role in the midst of an educational crisis.... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 938

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  52 reviews

Senior: Great academics, amazing and understanding teachers, fun sports and awesome traditions! The lockers have no locks and you can leave your phone, bookbag, etc anywhere and no one will touch it because we all follow the honor system.... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,672

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  51 reviews

Parent: We have had an overwhelming positive experience with our two children at the Steward School. While the school has many wonderful attributes, these stand out: - Encouraging and friendly teacher and faculty - A dynamic and engaging curriculum - A supportive, "safe space" for young children - A diverse and welcoming community of families - A more personalized, individual-child focused approach - A gorgeous campus - And happy, enriched students to show for it!... Read 51 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 700

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  133 reviews

Parent: We applied to St. Catherine’s for our two elementary-school aged daughters during the 2020-2021 COVID school year. Despite an all-virtual admission process due to COVID, the robustness of the various programs St. Catherine’s offered gave us a great feel for the school and provided a high level of confidence that St. Catherine’s was the right school for our daughters. So far, St. Catherine’s has exceeded our expectations every step of the way. The transition to a new school has been very easy for our daughters – the students, teachers, staff, and families have all been fantastic and very welcoming – and our daughters are excited to go to school each day. The academic curriculum is excellent; our girls are being challenged and we can see them learning and growing as people. On multiple occasions since starting at St. Catherine’s we’ve had that feeling that we made the right decision, and that’s a good feeling to have!... Read 133 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 955

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  491 reviews

Sophomore: I've lived around here my entire life and love the community. We have specialty centers here, so most of your middle school friends end up in different high schools in the area, and Deep Run is one of the places we all go to hang out. The teachers and administrators and amazing and are very helpful! Though this year was virtual, everything turned out to be amazing. Clubs and Sports are lovely here at Deep Run. I am part of many different clubs and play volleyball for school. In all Deep Run is overall a great school and has a wonderful community!... Read 491 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,988

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  119 reviews

Senior: Trinity has been the best experience of my life. I have taken classes in ceramics and theatre set building, along with my regular course selections that range from honors, to AP and IB classes. Soccer was my sport of choice, but I also enjoyed their rock climbing and weight lifting programs. My teachers were always there to help and the whole school felt like my family. And, the college counselors made sure that I was on the right track to get into the college of my choice. I would highly recommend that anyone looking for a high school to consider Trinity Episcopal School.... Read 119 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 505

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.85 out of 5  26 reviews

Alum: Veritas School is academically rigorous, which prepares students for college. They stick to the Classical Christian method very well. Students read so many great books and are taught how to write and speak well. The teachers are wonderful. They really care about the students and focus a lot on building good relationships with the students. They have a lot of great options for music and the arts. Students are given the option between choir, strings, and lots of different types of art (things like ceramics and painting). The athletics are pretty good for Veritas being a smaller school. Their XC teams won the DII State Championship. Veritas just got a new soccer field. The campus is beautiful and very well taken care of.... Read 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 655

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  356 reviews

Sophomore: I really enjoyed virtual school & it’s freedom, so adjusting to in person wasn’t my favorite thing, but I Godwin has a good sense of community. Overall, HCPS provides students with amazing opportunities (speciality centers, variety of APs, ACE centers [advanced career education]), and I cannot recommend the the district enough. Godwin isn’t the best, but it isn’t bad. There’s a comradery that comes with spending your day in a windowless school and- aside from its architectural flaws- students can find people that support them within their 4 years there. Clubs & organizations are strong, and they’re a good way to make friends. As with any school, some teacher make me dread school while others make me look forward to it. However, compared to most rural schools, Godwin is an amazing school that will prepare you for whatever your future has in store. My only serious complaint is the relaxed approach to COVID- if you claim not to have symptoms then you’re sent back to class.... Read 356 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,830

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Richmond Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: The mission of Open High School is to develop responsible, resilient, creative, and compassionate students who value intellectual inquiry and social responsibility. Open High School provides college preparatory tuition to students in a small personal environment. Classes are aimed toward preparing students for the difficulties and struggles of college. Open High provides Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses and teachers put effort in to make each student feel safe and make lessons applicable to real world circumstances. The significance of relevance, relationship, and rigor guides the program's direction.... Read 73 reviews

• grade A

• Students 191

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Richmond Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  170 reviews

Senior: Richmond Community High literally felt like the school was built just for me. The school lives up to is reputation for being a college preparatory school. The school is the perfect size for those looking for a close knit relationship with the students and staff!... Read 170 reviews

• grade A

• Students 225

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  317 reviews

Senior: I am currently a senior in the center at Glen Allen, and although my time at Glen Allen was cut short, I can honestly say I enjoyed my time here. The building is gorgeous, the majority of teachers are genuinely passionate about what they are teaching and the culture is much kinder and relaxed in comparison to other schools I have attended! I have treasured my time on the cross country team and in the center, this school offers plenty of opportunities to form a community to make your high school experience as comfortable as possible. A drawback would certainly be the diversity, the majority of the school is white, and I would not recommend Glen Allen if diversity is an important factor for you. However overall, I would certainly recommend this school for any parents looking in the area, and certainly for those looking at the center!... Read 317 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,013

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  262 reviews

Senior: Midlothian High School is a great school overall. I like the diverseness of the student body as well as the faculty. The students are welcoming and very willing to assist anyone in need. The teachers are very eager to grow the minds of their students, and come to school with a positive attitude every day. Our custodians are always friendly and do an amazing job of keeping our school sanitary and practice great COVID safety cleaning habits. Our administration is very involved with student life, making appearances at sports events, social media, and daily announcements. Midlothain High is very open with its students, and keeps everyone updated via weekly phone calls and parent updates. We have 24/7 school security guards here to monitor the parking lots as well as inside the school ready to stop any potential threats. Our school is very understanding of its students needs, offering exceptional SPED programs as well as higher education classes.... Read 262 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,978

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  49 reviews

Senior: My experience was great! I loved the all girl aspect. Saint Gertrude helped me learn so much, and has really prepped me for college. The school makes sure to focus on the students growing as adults and as individuals. All of the faculty and staff are always very eager to help. Everyone is very welcoming and inviting. The school has many fun clubs, activities, and traditions to get involved with. I also love being able to practice and expand my faith in a safe and respectful environment. The uniforms are an added bonus to me.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A

• Students 173

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  24 reviews

Alum: Attending Benedictine was the best decision I ever made. The curriculum is comprehensive that includes four years of faith-forming Theology courses, the teachers expect nothing more than 100% from Cadets, every Cadet still has to work hard in the non-honors and non-AP classes to get at least a B on an assignment or test and the workload is immense given a Cadet's day lasts from 7:30 AM to 4, 5 or even 6 PM. The Corps of Cadets taught me more about responsibility than any other school could, in which I give credit for my success in college and beyond. Upon graduation, I understood the importance of responsibility where I developed the skills of managing a deadline, dressing professionally and it gave me positions in the battalion like squad leader and platoon sergeant where I inspected others. These positions gave me a taste of the professional world where I was able to manage others and hold others accountable. Send your son to BCP. You will not regret it!... Read 24 reviews

• grade A

• Students 258

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  575 reviews

Alum: Academically speaking this school is great! However, there is a huge issue socially. They need to work on properly punishing students and faculty that discriminate against others based on race/class. They should also implement more efforts towards uniting students and encouraging them to make friends outside of their own demographic.... Read 575 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,216

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  35 reviews

Parent: When I was a kid going to a Christian school was a dream! and I did go to Richmond Academy so sending my child there was an easy decision. We love the teachers and staff. The school is beautiful, simple and has everything that a child need for learning. Teachers and staff are kind and fair, true mentors to our kids. Kids have a lot of fun at school from pre-K to High School. Highly recommend sending your child and experience Christian education at its best!... Read 35 reviews

• grade A

• Students 125

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  580 reviews

Senior: My experience at Clover Hill was great! In all my four years at my high school, I never felt like I wasn't welcomed or comfortable. Every day was great because the teachers were always filled with school spirit and eager to teach. The energy that poured out of the school's staff always made me feel at ease--it made me excited to come to school (i know...what a shocker). The only change that I think will benefit the upcoming students would be more stairwells or elevators. Since there is a big population of students at Clover Hill, the stairwells get crowded very easily. This problem makes it hard for students to get to their classes and drains their energy.... Read 580 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,734

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  287 reviews

Senior: I love the community, but the school is old and the age is showing in some ways. However, the athletics and academics are stellar! It could use some more diversity in AP classes, though.... Read 287 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,883

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Midlothian, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.73 out of 5  33 reviews

Parent: I transferred my two oldest children to Millwood after coming to the realization that public school was no longer a good fit for us. My kids are happier than they have ever been! At public school, my kids were in classes of 30+ kids, with little time for the teachers and students to forge connections. At Millwood, my kids' classes have 10-15 students and the teachers have time to create meaningful, hands' on lessons. The teachers consistently take the time to ensure that each child can demonstrate mastery of the concepts and is prepared to move on. Several times this year, Millwood teachers have made themselves available to help, outside of school hours, to ensure that my kids felt confident in the subject material. As a former public school teacher, I know the importance of small class sizes and building rapport with students. Millwood has exceeded all of my expectations, and I couldn't be happier! My kids are happy, healthy, learning, valued, and safe at Millwood. A+... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 245

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  260 reviews

Junior: James River is an excellent school with some great teachers (and some not so great ones). I'll start out with the bad and end with the good. Teachers and curriculum are inconsistent. It's a big problem and everyone in the school knows it. Some a great and some are horrible and it's even more horrible that it reflects majorly on your report card. Additionally, counseling is a huge issue. In the eyes of the students, counselors don't care. That might not be the case, but that is how it seems. It They take on way too many students and do not properly form connections. However, the school has very good parts. The school itself is pretty diverse. The leadership center isn't, but it never fails to make the community seem more like a community. School food is how public school food always is. The school takes many safety precautions. Some teachers specifically target college readiness and there are tons of AP classes.... Read 260 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,977

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hanover County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  350 reviews

Senior: I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Atlee. There really aren’t any bad teachers and the school has plenty of electives/clubs/sports for students to get involved in. Atlee has an amazing marketing program and DECA chapter which have been especially beneficial to me. Academically, there is something for everyone—from standard level classes to the IB diploma program. The vast majority of students are respectful to one another and teachers. The staff does a great job of building relationships with students. Overall, Atlee is great and makes me look forward to school every day.... Read 350 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,540

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  16 reviews

Senior: I attended Grove Christian School for three years and it was amazing. I transferred in my Sophomore year because my previous public school was not preparing me to reach my fullest potential. Looking at public schools nowadays, they do not look to change at all. Through attending Grove I have found to know Jesus and become saved and baptized through learning about Him. If it was not because of Grove Christian School I would have been a high school dropout. This school has changed me for the better and the culture at Grove is a family. Everyone wants to see people succeed and they help you. Most important and why Grove is successful in the eyes of the Lord, is because they give all the glory to God. Two years ago it was a very small school, but the school still focused on God and did not care about numbers. Then this school year came and the student body increased by 37% and the school gave all the glory to God. Grove offers as a light in a dark world and I fully recommend it.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 184

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Ruther Glen, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: This is for the Elementary school. Child is in kindergarten. They are reading and doing sight words and math calculations. American history, diversity, and science are emphasized as well as Bible, ethics, music, art, technology and stem. Teacher is amazing. Gifted, kind, encouraging, loving. I would say the same for after school care as well. Our child loves this school, his 7:1 ratio class. We love it too. Class is diverse. Staff is caring, warm, personable. And they have done a great job with covid this year. Wish they had hot food for the kids and a school bus, but hey, maybe in the future. They did or do have 1 days a week of hot food pre-covid. They have a nice gym, library, and groups and athletics for older kids. My kid does coding. All the older teens we know from this school are great kids, going to decent colleges. Kind, smart, well-mannered students.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 237

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Powhatan, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  38 reviews

Niche User: If you're looking for college prep school (early-learners through 12) with small class-sizes, individual attention and a family like atmosphere - BSH should be on your list. Enrollment is up by over 35% since '19 and major academic & facility improvements continue to unfold. Plans are underway for the development of a beautiful new Art Center, a new Student Activity Center and for comprehensive renovations of the main gym and 35 classrooms throughout the campus. This welcoming campus is full of tradition and is definitely on the rise!... Read 38 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 368

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1