2021 Best High Schools in the Richmond Area

Best Schools

95 results

Maggie Walker Governor's School
Public School
Richmond, VA
9-12
Rating 4.39 out of 5 118 reviews
#1 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
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 118 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
746 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Collegiate School
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.16 out of 5 49 reviews
#1 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
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 49 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,672 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
St. Christopher's School
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.09 out of 5 22 reviews
#2 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
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 22 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
938 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
St. Catherine's School
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.33 out of 5 126 reviews
#3 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
Parent: Our three girls all thrive at St. Catherine's. They are all very different and have different interests but the school does a great job of fostering each of them individually. The academics are superior, the athletics are amazing, and being a part of the amazing community is just a bonus! We could not have chosen a better education for our girls and are so grateful for the opportunities they continue to be afforded!

During the pandemic St. Catherine's has done (and continues to do) an amazing job keeping the girls safe. They are on campus learning, however if anyone is not comfortable being on campus, there is a virtual option.

The school teaches to the whole girl and knows the ins and outs of girls of every age.
Read 126 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
960 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Virtual Tour
The Steward School
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.27 out of 5 45 reviews
#4 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
Parent: We love Steward! Warm, welcoming community with great academics. Our son is a kindergartener this year, and we’ve been so impressed by how much he’s learned this year. Administration is responsive to parent concerns. Great school!
Read 45 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
670 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Virtual Tour
Deep Run High School
Henrico County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.86 out of 5 474 reviews
#2 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Senior: A very good high school all around. Relatively new, very large and impressive building with tons of windows, but not too large either. There's a bathroom and water fountain around almost every corner. There are a lot of clubs you can chose from too, like the robotics club, computer club, interact club, book club, debate club, etc. Bullying and teasing is surprisingly rare, at least from my experience. The diversity could be better though. Most of the student body is white. The CIT is great if you're interested in technology and computers, though it does get tough in the later years. Most of the teachers are great. We also get one lunch, which is an hour long lunch that everyone has at the same time. You're allowed to go pretty much anywhere you want, which is really helpful if you need to see a teacher for something. Lunches are pretty good for school lunches, especially our world famous chicken. Overall a great high school with a easy-going community and good academics.
Read 474 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,784 Students
19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Veritas School
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.87 out of 5 23 reviews
#5 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
Parent: I cannot say enough good things about Veritas! This is our 7th year having a child there and our experience has been great. Our children are daily being challenged academically, building sweet friendships, having their eyes opened to the beauty and goodness of God in the world around them, and are led by a staff who genuinely cares for them. The school embodies a culture of grace, kindness and excellence. Our family has benefitted greatly from the rich community made up of staff and other Veritas families. I wouldn’t want my children to be anywhere else.
Read 23 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
617 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Trinity Episcopal School
Private School
Richmond, VA
8-12
Rating 4.37 out of 5 115 reviews
#6 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
Parent: We love Trinity! My daughter started in the 8th grade & so far she's had a wonderful experience. They have a great academic program but also a wonderful academic resource center to offer support & assistance to students. A diverse student population -- not just by race & religion but also of learning styles, abilities & interests. The popular kids aren't just the jocks - although there are plenty of very good athletes here - students who are artistic, technologically savvy and academically versed are also the popular kids. Great teacher student ratio adds to the positives.
Read 115 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
508 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Mills E. Godwin High School
Henrico County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.83 out of 5 336 reviews
#3 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Freshman: I personally haven't been in person in Godwin, and I'm also a student of specialty center here. I think Godwin is a great school that has opportunities for everyone. The teachers here create a very open and comfortable environment for students. Godwin also has various clubs, and some that I'm part of are Model UN, Medical Club, and Equity Club. Model UN is an amazing club for students who like public speaking or who want to get better at it. We attend conferences where we advocate for the position assigned to us. Medical Club is also amazing. We have opportunities to volunteer and help local organizations, and we also listen to medical professionals talk about careers and various things happening to us related to medicine. An exciting speaker we had was a member of Phizer, who talked about vaccine productions. Equity Club is an important club that involves discussing social problems. This club has helped me very much as a POC.
Read 336 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,861 Students
20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Glen Allen High School
Henrico County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.98 out of 5 308 reviews
#4 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
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 308 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
1,850 Students
19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Clover Hill High School
Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.94 out of 5 570 reviews
#5 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
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 570 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
1,824 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Saint Gertrude High School
Private School
Richmond, VA
9-12
Rating 4.13 out of 5 47 reviews
#7 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
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 47 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
173 Students
5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Midlothian High School
Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.78 out of 5 242 reviews
#6 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Sophomore: I like all the options for classes. I also like that most kids there are friendly. I would probably change requirements for classes though. Students needed to have taken certain classes in order to enter certain classes with no exceptions. I feel letting any student choose their classes, except for languages of course, would make everything easier. I also feel like their specialty center- the International Baccalaureate Program should be more noticed and should have more recognition than it gets. It's a great program to prepare for college and I feel more people should have access to the resources and information for it. All together, though, Midlothian High School is a great school because of its Acedemics and overall friendliness.
Read 242 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
1,798 Students
17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Benedictine College Preparatory
Private School
Richmond, VA
9-12
Rating 4.57 out of 5 21 reviews
#8 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
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 21 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
243 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Open High School
Richmond Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 4.16 out of 5 70 reviews
#7 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Senior: Overall, Open high is a great school that offers college level classes in order to prepare you for college. The teachers are very well educated in their area of studies and are very understanding to student situations that may arise. Student life is very important to Open. Everyone knows Everyone. With the diverse student classes, all students have the opportunity to make new and unique friends. Also, with the hour lunches provided to students, there is a lot of time to explore around the school, such as, the overlook and the river. There is also a lot of tasty nearby food spots to go to that is affordable!
Read 70 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
200 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Cosby High School
Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.86 out of 5 551 reviews
#8 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Senior: Cosby High School provides an interesting learning environment. Students do have the opportunity to get involved and be stimulated in many ways. From sports, to theatre, to art, Cosby High School is a wonderful place to set students up for success. While the diversity seems below average, students in minority groups have resources and are very involved with the rest of the school. Teaching methods vary; every student is able to find a way to fit their personal learning style. Success of students is the top priority, and the staff is more than willing to accommodate to special needs of students. Guidance staff is above average and all members ensure their students have the resources and assistance they need, whatever that may be. My experience at Cosby is something I will never forget. School spirit is through the roof, especially at sporting events. The student section will always provide the most enthralling feeling. Arts do not take a back seat and the programs are amazing as well.
Read 551 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
2,234 Students
18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Richmond Academy
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.09 out of 5 33 reviews
#9 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
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 33 Reviews
grade A
Overall Niche Grade
125 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Atlee High School
Hanover County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.91 out of 5 335 reviews
#9 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Freshman: Atlee high school is one of the best schools you can go to in this area. There are a few teachers that don’t have the most pleasant teaching style, but there are many more that are genuinely kind. You can tell they care a lot about their students. Atlee also has excellent programs for choir and band that you really can’t find anywhere else. They have many different show choir groups that always rank in competitions. Atlee has such a wide variety of sports too. I personally don’t play any, but the people I know that do are extremely hard workers and care a lot about their teams. That being said one of the biggest qualms I have with Atlee is the lack of diversity. Especially after living in different areas around the country, I can’t help but feel as though everyone looks the same. If diversity is really important, there might be better options, but in my opinion the vast number of programs and opportunities can’t be beat.
Read 335 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
1,615 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
James River High School
Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.9 out of 5 253 reviews
#10 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Senior: James River is the type of school where strong bonds can be formed and kept for a while. There are plenty of great teachers who only want to help guide you through what is happening and prepare you for life outside of high schools, though some teachers are a little more relaxed with this kind of approach. But overall everyone there want to see you as a studwnt and person succeed. Although, at times, some of the changes that have happened seemed somewhat out of left field, at least as a student at least. Changes to the beloved "one lunch" and the lack of telling students what is happening to the school accurately and with enough time in advance are some of the biggest problems. But these can be easily fixed. I do recommend this school though!
Read 253 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
1,986 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Douglas S. Freeman High School
Henrico County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.79 out of 5 280 reviews
#11 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Senior: DSF has incredibly dedicated teachers and staff extremely willing to work with students toward achieving their goals, all while learning the necessary material in different ways and simply having fun with their students. I've had a great experience at Freeman, but would definitely like to see changes related to the consistent separation of status in terms of socioeconomic class and race. The high school are some of the most formative of one's life, so I passionately believe that the final years of required public education should be used to promote real inclusivity and empathy since upon leaving high school, students are adults right away. Overall, DSF provides fresh opportunities for students and encourages positive living, but one necessary component to improve on is promoting actions of inclusivity.
Read 280 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
1,836 Students
19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Banner Christian School
Private School
North Chesterfield, VA
K-12
Rating 4.15 out of 5 40 reviews
#10 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
Alum: Banner is a wonderful school full of fantastic people! The teachers are genuine people who care about you learning, and the students are friendly. Our class had about 20 students, and we all got to know each other like family by the senior trip. Banner offers a variety of sports for such a small school, as well as student-lead clubs and programs that help the students get to know one another. The arts courses were outstanding during my time at Banner, as well as many volunteer opportunities.

Some drawbacks are that the courses do have room to improve. Banner has some great literature and math classes (which is good because those are core subjects). However, some teachers might rush through important subjects way too quickly. The teachers are very important and might not be given the respect and bonuses they deserve. However, many courses are provided with different levels of difficulty (ranging from standard, honors, and AP) which lead to better fit the students' needs.
Read 40 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
208 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Virtual Tour
Richmond Community High School
Richmond Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.65 out of 5 167 reviews
#12 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Works Here: It is reported that Richmond Community High School (RCHS) has a 90% graduation rate when indeed the graduation rate is 100%. The 90% come in with the percentage of students who attend a four-year university after graduation. What I am providing to you is factual; I say this because I am the school counselor for all students at RCHS and manages all of the reporting of graduation rates, college acceptances and attendance, and scholarships/financial aid awards.
Read 167 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
240 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Carmel School
Private School
Ruther Glen, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 4.5 out of 5 2 reviews
#11 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
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 2 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
133 Students
4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Grove Christian School
Private School
Richmond, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 3.92 out of 5 13 reviews
#12 Best Private High Schools in Richmond Area
Parent: My children LOVE Grove! The teachers care about the students. My 5th grader's favorite class is the elementary STEM lab. Grove has everything from basketball teams to LEGO robotics clubs. They not only have excellent academics, they also put a large focus on service to the community. Each grade level volunteers with a community group monthly, so the children learn how to be good citizens by experience. I highly recommend Grove to any Christian family looking for a good school in the Richmond area.
Read 13 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
184 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Thomas Dale High School
Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
9-12
Rating 3.69 out of 5 553 reviews
#13 Best Public High Schools in Richmond Area
Senior: My goodness, where to start! I am currently a senior at Thomas Dale attending hybrid, and either at home or school, this has truly made me a proud knight! They have many welcoming and empathetic teachers, wonderful classes/ electives, and beautiful campuses! When I first came to Dale, I was welcomed by so many people and met so many new people JUST on the first day! The amazing thing about this school is that there is such a range of talent and opportunities! There are many clubs that you can participate in, and there are lots of people that can guide you in the right direction. Not only is this a great school solely on activities and academics, but they are wonderful for college prep and readiness ALL throughout your four years. I am proud to say that I have been a Thomas Dale Knight!
Read 553 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
2,401 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Sponsored
Blue Ridge School
Private School
Dyke, VA
9-12
Rating 4.65 out of 5 62 reviews
Parent: I have 2 boys presently at BRS. My boys could not be more different - one is social and outgoing and one is introverted, has ADHD etc. The school has been wonderful for both boys. My oldest is a senior and will be attending the #5 Engineering school in the US. He has been on the STEM path the entire time, is not sports inclined, and the staff has bent over backwards to bring him out of his shell and also provide him the level of education he demands. My younger son is also highly intelligent and has excelled whereas he had not at previous private schools. Honestly I think all he needed was the confidence and the daily affirmation that he is given at BRS. He is sports inclined and makes use of the school's facilities. As for college prep - forget academics for a min. Living in a dorm, having a roommate, etc. This takes one step out of the college prep process that people don't always think about. These boys know dorm living and it brings no angst in regards to college.
Read 62 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
170 Students
4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Virtual Tour
- 2021 Best Charter Schools
- 2021 Best Magnet Schools
- 2021 Best Online High Schools
Review Your School
Sponsored
BASIS Independent McLean
Private School
McLean, VA
PK, K-12
Rating 3.33 out of 5 40 reviews
Parent: My middle schooler has been going to Basis for 3 years now. We love it! It should be stressed however that it is not for everyone. It is very rigorous and academically inclined. If your kid’s preference is sports or extra curricular activities rather than academia then this school isn’t for you. This school focuses immensely on academics. The teachers are extremely committed to the kids. My child has found a level of focus that I personally didn’t know she had before attending Basis. I couldn't be happier, but it does require commitment from the parents and the student(s). I see a couple of negative comments and I really believe its mostly due to parents expecting for the material to be easier. I’ve been to PTA meetings were some parents want less rigor in academics and more sports. I find that hilariously insane cause this is not that type of school; its not for everyone, but then again, neither are ivy league schools.
Read 40 Reviews
grade A+
Overall Niche Grade
478 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Virtual Tour
Sponsored
Elizabeth Seton High School
Private School
Bladensburg, MD
9-12
Rating 3.95 out of 5 301 reviews
Parent: Seton has given my daughter the opportunity to grow so much since she was a freshman. The teachers are engaged. The office/administrative exec and even the school president always personally answer my calls or emails.
They offer tons of AP classes for girls to be challenged. They have multiple after school clubs and teams. I think Seton has something for every type of student. It’s diverse and fair. No school is perfect but I really appreciate Seton’s efforts to give an affordable education to our students. I’m very happy with our choice! My daughter makes straight A’s and is being challenged. Great foundation for college.
Read 301 Reviews
grade A minus
Overall Niche Grade
564 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
View Nearby Homes
Virtual Tour