2024 Best Private High Schools in Virginia

• Mclean, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  60 reviews

Parent: My 2 children have attended Basis for 6 years, since elementary age and are currently in middle and high school. My children are thriving both socially and academically, they are challenged! It is an environment that will teach self advocacy, independence, executive functioning skill sets that will bring out your child's grit. It will make them stronger, more confident in themselves and their abilities. It isn't for the faint at heart when it comes to work, time management is taught and is critical in grades 8 and above. Every school has its share of issues, but if you want a stellar education and a place where they will learn resilience, commitment and discipline then consider Basis. I gave it 4 stars only because they lack high quality PE facilities that other private high schools in the area have.... Read 60 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 588

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Mclean, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  112 reviews

Sophomore: I have had a very positive experience at Madeira. The teachers and staff are friendly and talented, and the campus is beautiful. The food is pretty good (especially taco days!) The mod schedule eliminates the week many students dread: finals week. It does mean that every week 5, the end of a mod, is particularly stressful. I think the schedule is worth it overall though because it means I can dive deeper into a concept, such as a time period in history in my Global Studies class. My favorite part of Madeira will always be the spirit of the community, across all the events and extracurriculars. Go Snails!... Read 112 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 343

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Alexandria, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  48 reviews

Alum: Episcopal High School boasts an impressive faculty, comprised of knowledgeable and experienced educators who are dedicated to helping students achieve their full potential. The school's extracurricular offerings are diverse and plentiful, with opportunities for students to explore interests in the arts, athletics, community service, and beyond. The campus is well-equipped with modern facilities, including a state-of-the-art library, performing arts center, and athletic complex. Episcopal High School places a strong emphasis on service, both to the local community and the world at large. The school encourages students to think beyond themselves and engage in meaningful ways with the world around them. With its rigorous curriculum, dedicated faculty, and commitment to service, the school offers a transformative educational experience that prepares students for success in college and beyond.... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 463

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Mclean, VA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  78 reviews

Senior: I absolutely adore Potomac School! It holds a special place in my heart due to its incredible community of students and people. The atmosphere here is exceptionally supportive, encouraging, and nurturing, making it a truly remarkable learning environment. The sense of camaraderie among the students is infectious, fostering genuine friendships and a strong sense of belonging. Not only does Potomac School prioritize academic excellence, but it also places a high emphasis on the overall well-being and personal growth of its students. With engaging activities, events, and a fun-filled approach to education, Potomac School ensures that every day is filled with joy and memorable experiences.... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,069

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Woodberry Forest, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.63 out of 5  49 reviews

Parent: Our son is thriving in may ways. Academically, physically in sports, mentally and socially. We know that is it the environment that Woodberry has created that aids in him being and working towards his best. We also know that it won't stop there, the staff at Woodberry will continue to push, love and encourage him until he gives the last of himself that he didn't even know he had. We are grateful for this school and community!... Read 49 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 392

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Arlington, VA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.91 out of 5  47 reviews

Junior: I came to this school last September as an 11th grade student. The faculty at this school is very adequate, all teachers are very good, they are very responsible, and the small class size system allows students to get a better education. This school has an unparalleled authority in academics and I will continue my studies at this school in the 12th grade and look forward to your joining us!... Read 47 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 152

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Chantilly, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  27 reviews

Parent: I met with this school when I moved to NOVA. I have two kids graduated from Pinnacle Academy. First of all, the teachers are so passionate and dedicated to their craft. My kids had incredible opportunities in fine arts, and other extracurricular activities. The school administrators recognize the children by name and have a loving community. Secondly, the school has the powerful and challenging academic curriculum. I followed my kids improving themselves at finding out and expecting higher from themselves as well. Now, my daughter and my son get accepted good universities with good scholarship. The school has a dual credit enrollment opportunity with NOVA College for eligible students that help students get acceptance good colleges. They loved the school environment and they were happy. Highly recommend!... Read 27 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 245

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Dulles, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  44 reviews

Parent: This is a truly caring place that will stimulate your kids to think. Teachers are kind and attentive to both academics and keeping a supportive class environment. The administration takes behavior incidents seriously and handles them well. Class sizes are small and allow teachers to work with each child and get their best learning experience. The campus is clean, pleasant and in a convenient location. Kids get a good amount of time to exercise through PE. The playground is being expanded so we look forward to that. Homework is fairly light, I’m a little confused by the reviews that say it is heavy. The teachers come from a variety of Christian denominations, so the Bible lessons don’t focus on only one church. French for all ages was a huge plus for us. Clubs and activities are always running. There is less variety of sports than some schools, but the local area has so many sports leagues there is nothing lost there. Overall a great learning environment, worth getting a tour.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 276

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Alexandria, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  149 reviews

Parent: SSSAS is an excellent school in every sense of the term. The teachers, school administration, families altogether have built this amazing community. We just finished our truly magical Kindergarten year and all I can say is what an excellent, attentive, loving and nurturing community! The quality of instruction, the school traditions, and day to day activities all reflect the values of “goodness as well as excellence”. This is exactly the kind of environment we envisioned for our kids.... Read 149 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,210

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Middleburg, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  64 reviews

Works Here: In my time working at Foxcroft, I have seen firsthand the impact the school has on its students. I'm amazed by the confidence they gain over the course of even just one year, feeling empowered to use their voice and truly be themselves. The community at Foxcroft is so special and, in my opinion, a rare find these days. All community members — students and adults alike — are welcomed, known, and valued, which is one of the main reasons I've stayed for over a decade! It's unique that day students can truly have the boarding experience, too, and stay overnight throughout the week as well as on weekends — always appreciate the time on dorm with students! As an employee, Foxcroft is so much more than a job or a school — it's our home, and I love when new students join our community and find that out for themselves.... Read 64 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 166

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• St George, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.66 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: I have never seen a faculty and staff that has been more dedicated to the success of their students, both as academics and as human beings. They meet the whole boy where he is and then give him the guidance he needs to grow, develop, and thrive. And the Blue Ridge mountains are a gorgeous backyard!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 170

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Norfolk, VA•

• Private School•

• 1-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  147 reviews

Alum: I loved the six years that I have spent at Norfolk Academy. The spirit, involvement, and social life were amazing. The resources and academics that this school provides also I believe are second to none. The school taught me how to juggle academics, athletics, social life, and home life. I believe that in that sense, the school prepared me very well for the future. However, I hope the arts programs, including the broadcasting program, improve. Field day was also another event that I enjoyed. Even though I went through some years without field day due to covid, the years that I was able to attend the event were the most fun. As an alum, one aspect of the school that I love is the amount of involvement that the school allows for alums. For example, the academic opportunities such as internships that the school provides are very useful. I am very fortunate to have an opportunity to participate in an internship through them.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,205

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oakton, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  90 reviews

Senior: I have been a student here since Lower School (elementary school) and I am currently a Senior. The opportunities provided in education, art, music, athletics, community, leadership, research, and more are simply incredible. Flint Hill has allowed me to join several clubs and become a leader of multiple. I am in the Spanish Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Major Minors A Capella group, and more. I have been given this amazing opportunity through their spectacular financial aid resources. If I could rate the school any higher, I would give it a 100,000/5!... Read 90 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,062

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chatham, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  54 reviews

Alum: I grew up in Chicago, where few students attend boarding school, so I didn't know what to expect when I traveled across the country for high school. I'm so thankful I took that risk! Chatham Hall was a warm, challenging, exciting environment. It opened up opportunities I never would have had anywhere else. As a student on scholarship, I felt consistently valued and supported. After graduation, I came to appreciate the experience even more: I arrived at college far better prepared than almost any of my peers. Through college, a doctorate, and now a STEM career, my Chatham Hall education has remained a touchstone. Most importantly, Chatham Hall feels like home to this day. Not bad for a place that sounded so far from home when I first considered it.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 122

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Reston, VA•

• Private School•

• 1-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  19 reviews

Sophomore: I've been attending Ideaventions for my last 2 years of high-school and have had nothing but a great experience! All of my teachers have been very supportive and I've really had a chance to get to know them in and outside of class time. The classes are definitely challenging, and the workload isn't always well spread out, but if you use your time wisely it's always manageable. The high school class is small, but to me that's been a big benefit since the whole upper school co-operates and we all know each other very well. This last school year I really got involved in more extracurriculars, including the robotics and volleyball teams. It's been great fun because it's basically a huge friend group working together! I'd highly recommend Ideaventions, but just know that's it's definitely not a typical high-school experience (in a good way).... Read 19 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 64

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Virginia Beach, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  81 reviews

Parent: As a military family we have had our children in a number of different schools. CHC stands out as one of the best schools they’ve attended due to the engaging community and the high level of academics. The faculty engages with the kids and meets them at their level providing excellent instruction. There is ample opportunity to be challenged as well as receive support when necessary in academics and in athletics and the arts. We have been so pleased with the vast array of opportunities our children can partake in. We love the idea of keeping them in the same school for lower, middle and upper school. The entire staff is caring, committed, and invested in the students. We’ve enjoyed getting to know many of the families throughout our time at CHC. Our children love going to school and have excelled academically and socially thanks to the support of the teachers and staff.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,070

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Christchurch, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  68 reviews

Parent: Having 3 children who attended Christchurch School, we couldn’t be more pleased with the education they received. The faculty and staff work together in support of the integrated curriculum which prepares students to be not only successful in the classroom, but also instills life lessons, preparing them to successful members within their community. We highly recommend Christchurch School!... Read 68 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 216

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  61 reviews

Parent: Steward is an education community like no other in that it is more than a school.  Steward has the unique ability to really make it feel like home!  From the faculty that truly enjoys what they do--seen both in the ways the care for and respect their students, but also in how the engage, challenge and support them--- to the many campus offerings through sports, theater, clubs and more--- to the families that attend that not only want what's best for their children, but also rally around and support everyone's children--you genuinely feel a great sense of care, pride and love for the school and its community!  We fell in love with it from the minute our children set foot on campus and that love has only grown deeper with each passing year!  We are confident that Steward will not only care for and challenge our children while they attend the school, but also set them up for a successful future where they will continue to take the values and tools learned here and thrive!... Read 61 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 717

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chesapeake, VA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.61 out of 5  112 reviews

Parent: Veritas has been such a good fit for our family. Coming from a homeschooled background, we were concerned how our child would do there all day. My child looks forward to being at school everyday and especially in his classroom with his teacher. Our son feels totally safe there and had no separation anxiety. Every morning my child excitedly ran to greet the administrators at the door. He loved that he could start his day by racing them to be the first to say hello. He also loves going to memory period. He has grown so much this year. His teacher is bright, loving, fun and very patient. She takes them outside several times a day, gives them snack time and miraculously gets them to nap. It is amazing how much better his reading and social grace has gotten too. They have an excellent classical curriculum delivered in love. The teachers are very invested and the small class sizes guarantee personal attention. We also love the other parents. This family community is priceless!... Read 112 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 259

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Front Royal, VA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  177 reviews

Parent: The Admissions department made the application process seamless. They were easy to reach; gladly returned phone calls and inquiries; and, assisted with the application process during each step. Compared to other independent college prep institutions, RMA is a small school. However, we were thoroughly impressed with the diversity that we saw during the summer camp program; We were pleased to see that it carried over to the academic year. The curriculum is rigorous. The staff is caring. There are a variety of extracurricular activities that are day and boarding inclusive. Any family "on the fence" about RMA should definitely consider a second look, or reach out to staff. You'll be glad you did!... Read 177 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 323

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  26 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 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 938

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Ashburn, VA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Parent: Brilliant teachers who always have time for another question, know the answers, and know how to teach where to find answers. The entire LSAS staff demonstrates life-long learning and are passionate educators. LSAS pivoted to on-line learning within a day of the state shutting down schools due to COVID-19. As it was before COVID-19 and will be after, the school provides high-quality educational experience with fully engaged students and faculty. LSAS provides sanity, structure, and support for students with a strong emphasis on emotional health - enabling persistent deep learning opportunities. The new school campus is amazing: excellent scientific lab spaces, creative spaces, study cubicles, cozy library, and spacious grounds that include a historical site and old trees. We look forward to getting back to the school building once it is safe to do so.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 75

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Charlottesville, VA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  16 reviews

Parent: Renaissance is simply wonderful. It is a small college prep school that manages to be both nurturing and challenging to its students. My daughter has thrived there. The faculty truly care about the students, and the students truly care about the school and each other. Within this environment of care, kindness, and respect, students are expected to handle a rigorous academic course load. There is plenty of individual attention and no student gets lost in the crowd. Class size is very small. Students are encouraged to pursue their own interests and have several vehicles in which to do so (distinction projects, 11th grade independent study, 12th grade senior thesis). What is most remarkable about this school , however, is that the students are invested in their own learning. They all want to be there! If your student is intellectually curious, artistically inclined, and eager to meet like-minded peers, they will do very well at Renaissance.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 50

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Huntly, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  26 reviews

Parent: Wakefield Country Day School provides a supportive and welcoming environment to all families. It is clear the teachers care deeply about all students and want to help them reach success. WCDS helps each student grow in all areas: academics, sports, and character. WCDS is a special place!... Read 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 188

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Charlottesville, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  90 reviews

Parent: The administrators and teachers at Saint Anne’s-Belfield really get to know your children. When speaking with these providers in formal or informal settings, it’s clear just how observant they are and how they take special care with each kiddo. The classroom activities are educational, organized and just plain fun! We have had two very different children go through the pre-school and both were engaged and happy.... Read 90 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 882

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1