2023 Best Public High Schools in the Richmond Area

• Richmond, VA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  150 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 150 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  502 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 502 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,988

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  372 reviews

Senior: Mills E. Godwin high school has been the perfect high school for me to attend. I haven’t had many problems with it other than some dumb things, but most schools have little dumb things. Overall, for me as a white woman, the culture and everything was good for me. Last year, apparently we had a high bullying rate, but I bet it was mostly online. I think the only reason we had a high bullying rate was because students today are going to say things. Overall, I like Godwin, it’s spirit, and some help I can get from my teachers. I would recommend Godwin to anyone who has a choice to go there!... Read 372 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,830

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Richmond Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  74 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 74 reviews

• grade A

• Students 191

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Richmond Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  172 reviews

Senior: The main thing I love about Community is that how small and friendly it is. The small student population allows for a deep community to develop where there are very little cliques and most people are familiar with each other. This creates a healthy, productive, and enjoyable environment for almost everyone. There is also little to no bullying. The education is amazing and I have gotten along and liked almost every single one of my teachers I have had over the last four years. If I could change anything I would want there to be more class to class bonding activities.... Read 172 reviews

• grade A

• Students 225

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  328 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 328 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,013

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  583 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 583 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,216

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  275 reviews

Senior: What I enjoyed most about Midlothian High School was the large amount of school spirit. No matter the day of the week, we could always count on at least one member of faculty to bring energy to the school day. I also appreciated the friendships that I developed with peers and with teachers. This created a generally positive atmosphere throughout all of my classes. However, it was hard to ignore the change in attitude between the classroom and the hallway. In the hallways, I hear a lot of judgment and bullying towards other students that takes away from the overall experience of Midlo. If I could make changes to Midlothian High School, I would focus most on eradicating the unnecessary negativity of the student body. This could potentially decrease the already large amount of pressure students face in school everyday.... Read 275 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,978

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  587 reviews

Senior: For my first 2 years of school, I was in the specialty center which was really stressful, but I could feel that all my teachers really cared for us and wanted us to do well. My junior and senior year, I've been in the normal school and while the classes aren't very challenging, you have more freedom with your schedule and free time outside of school. My school is very accepting of the LGBTQ+ and students are encouraged to express themselves freely. We don't have a very strict dress code, so students can almost dress however they want to while experimenting with different styles and makeup looks without judgement. We have a multitude of clubs that people are able to join. There is something for everyone. Our school librarians are absolutely amazing. I find myself spending the most time in the library because it is truly like a home away from home. They have many different genres of books and are constantly expanding their collection. Overall, this is a very good school to attend.... Read 587 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,734

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  295 reviews

Senior: I love the diversity that Freeman has. I transferred from a private school, and my eyes were opened. Freeman offers many opportunities to get involved with the school community as well as the surrounding community. With that being said, I think the math department could be improved. Although they have made some strides by bringing in new teachers, the overall department is weak. The only other negative is the small space, but hopefully, Freeman should be receiving an upgrade soon!... Read 295 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,883

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  262 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 262 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,977

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Henrico County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  302 reviews

Alum: Exceptional faculty that care about student success. They strive to promote a safe learning environment and encourage students to work hard. A very diverse and inclusive school that offers students the ability to grow and learn. This school provides a wide variety of clubs, organizations for students to be involved in such as Keyettes, an all girl volunteer club, and the National Honor Society. Both of these prepared me for future leadership roles in college and my career. Overall, I am thankful to have attended Tucker High School. Go Tigers!... Read 302 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,775

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Goochland County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  137 reviews

Senior: I find that many of the teachers are very engaging in the classroom as well as supportive outside the classroom. I can definitely say I would not have passed without a few very amazing teachers to help me along the way. Our sports programs are competitive and our teams are hardworking, and no matter which sport you play everyone feels like a family. The academics can be quite rigorous, though administration is very adamant about helping every student get to where they want to be. Not once have I felt like any administrator or teacher has either wanted me to fail or not cared about me. Our resource officers are well-known in the school and take every opportunity to reach out and help the students feel safe. This school has a very comfortable and relaxed environment and I consider myself both happy and proud to be here.... Read 137 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 856

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Hanover County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  352 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 352 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,540

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Hanover County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  252 reviews

Senior: If I had to choose one word to describe my high school experience it would have to be… Change. There is not one moment that I can think of where something was constant. My freshman year was cut short. My sophomore year was spent at home, online, at home, and then online again. Junior year was full of highs and lows. Now senior year, everything I’ve ever known seems to be coming to an end. A yet, I feel like I’m stuck at the bottom of an ever flowing river. Never moving. Always watching. It may sound as if I never experienced the liberating feeling of high school. I was the leader of the National Honor Society and two drug and alcohol prevention clubs. A very active member of my varsity cheer team, BETA, and DECA. It’s easy to say that high school sucks, but I’m going to look back and think these were the best four years of my life. I may be stuck at the bottom of the sea, but at least I know, I am the change!... Read 252 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,502

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  270 reviews

Alum: Many teachers were very friendly and wanted students to succeed, some students had 4.0+ GPA's and others were struggling a bit. There were programs to help them out if they wanted it, tutoring usually available. Monacan Morning was like our study hall. I look upon my time there fondly. I graduated in 2020, so things may have changed since then. I always got good grades and learned a lot in my time there, I hope everyone who goes there does too. For those that don't know, Monacan is known for their athletics, they won a few state championships in Basketball and football I believe. They are also known for being the smallest High School in Chesterfield County, which means that things are a bit less overwhelming and more individualized attention. There were times when college administration people came to our school to talk to us, and we could ask our teachers about college frequently. It was very diverse, many different backgrounds and ideas. AP classes offered through college board.... Read 270 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,568

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Prince George County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  345 reviews

Alum: Prince George High was a great school with great teachers and staff who made sure you were doing well, offered assistance, made you feel at home, helped to keep stress away, and teach the lessons in such a manner that they will be remembered forever! This school is jaw dropping and you cannot go wrong going here, Technical and vocational schools offered to 10th grade plus students, for example I went to Rowanty for Electrical for 2 years and I am now at New River Community College for Instrumentation and electrical engineering! Live this school, very clean, professional, and loveable to learn in!... Read 345 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,802

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Powhatan County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  245 reviews

Alum: I transferred to Powhatan in 8th grade from Henrico Co, VA, and it was life changing. I went from a school system where teachers actively antagonized me and wanted me to fail, and students treated each other terribly. To Powhatan, where teachers actually cared, and so many other opportunities opened up. I did sports all year every year, participated in honors societies, the senate mock debate, and I even graduated with my associates degree! Things I never would've done if I hadn't gone there. It may sound cheesy, but I wouldn't be where I am today without this school, it had a really big impact on my life and I'm extremely greatful!... Read 245 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,438

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  587 reviews

Senior: TDHS genuinely offered me a well rounded high school career. Being in their specialty center art program has allowed me to develop my abilities as an artist along with being able to create relationships with likeminded people. I got to be around teachers and students who share my passion for art while not being isolated from students at the school not in the same program. The diverse community of students has been an incredible experience, especially as a black student who grew up mainly around white people. I've been able to be involved in so many different aspects of art, grow my abilities in my program, and even get to know teachers for fundamental classes just as passionate and personable about their topics. TDHS has so many extracurriculars and I've been able to be involved in so many of them with there still being so many more, our pep rallies are entertaining and full of faculty participation, and the school shows genuine pride in the art students that make up the SCFA.... Read 587 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 2,451

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  330 reviews

Junior: I loved how diverse the school was, and how accommodating all teachers were to all students' needs. Teachers at Manchester care deeply for their students and want them to succeed in life by teaching them not only academics, but real life knowledge. In order to succeed in life, you need to be able to bounce back after a small failure. Each and every one of the students and faculty members are there to be supportive, they provide amazing advice on how to become the best student possible. Manchester high also allows students to participate in a number of activities such as clubs, sports, and class offerings. Examples of this include DECA, honor societies, game clubs, etc. Being able to balance your mind with academics and extracurricular is a major part of high school. Manchester allows for students to volunteer in the community, participate in over 30 sports, and over 100 clubs!... Read 330 reviews

• grade B

• Students 2,167

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Colonial Heights City Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  244 reviews

Senior: Colonial Heights High School is a loving school with teachers who care for each and every student´s success. The exhilirated acedemic courses provide me with chances to better myself everyday. This school provides a safe and an accepting enviornment for everyone, and positiviness all around. One thing I would like to see more of is diverse Clubs. In addition to the variety of Clubs that are offered here, I would like to see more Clubs dedicated to minorities and those who stray from the heard. Overall, Colonial Heights High School is an amazing shcool, and I will be forever proud to be a Colonial!... Read 244 reviews

• grade B

• Students 833

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  307 reviews

Senior: I personally enjoyed my four years at Matoaca High school so much! Everyone there is so kind hearted and always willing to help. Between the students, the teachers, counselors, etc, they have always been great! I have always been a very shy and outspoken person, and I never once felt out of place at Matoaca. They do a great job at providing a diverse, safe, learning environment for everyone who attends. I am so thankful that I attended Matoaca High School because I have made so many wonderful connections and friendships. The thing I love the most about Matoaca is that it feels like we are all one big family, people are always willing to help each other. Matoaca is a school, that everyone school in America should strive to be like!!... Read 307 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,626

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Amelia County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 2.95 out of 5  75 reviews

Junior: As a current student enrolled at, Amelia high I can say it has been the typical high school experience. Classes that stress the students out, teachers that become roll models and mentors, friendships that will last a life time and so on. However, I feel that Amelia does offer many programs for the gifted students. One of the best and most rigorous opportunities includes the governors school program that only accepts a number of students to experience college in high school. This one of a kind school gives the students the unique chance to attain an associates in either STEM or Humanities. Other options include Dual enrollment, Vo-Tech, AP classes and of course there are also honors classes. Therefore, as I continue to experience high school at Amelia I know that with the broad amount of choices that are available I will get the most of out it.... Read 75 reviews

• grade B

• Students 496

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• New Kent County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  183 reviews

Alum: I have few complaints about my experience at NKHS. I had ample opportunities to participate in extracurriculars such as soccer, quizbowl, and various clubs. With the help of faculty members and the administration, I and some of my friends were able to create a fairly successful club in my senior year as well. NKHS isn't a large high school and it's not known for being good at sports (except for wrestling), so we never had much attendance at sports events outside of football, which was a little disappointing. I think if there were more incentives for students to attend games, there might be better attendance. Academically speaking, I liked the vast majority of my teachers, and the material was usually sufficiently rigorous, though not always. I do wish we offered a wider variety of classes, particularly philosophy classes.... Read 183 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,030

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hanover County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  340 reviews

Senior: Mechanicsville High School is a school built on family and tradition. The administration and staff go above and beyond to educate students but even more than that, they support the students in becoming life long learners and productive members of society. Beside academics, they have strong sport programs, clubs and activities to meet a diverse group of students. They work hard to keep parents connected to their child's education.... Read 340 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,374

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1