2023 High Schools with the Best Teachers in Virginia

• Richmond, VA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  147 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 147 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  563 reviews

Alum: TJHSST offers a unique high school experience. The academics are definitely much different and difficult from what I've experienced in middle school. However, the communities and relationships formed at the school are unmatched. TJ offers many unique opportunities that can't be found at traditional high schools. For example, I learned the Russian language for four years. I know Russian is not a course offered at many other high schools throughout the US. TJ also offers many clubs through 8th period. We are able to choose 4 different clubs per week allowing us to further explore both our academic and creative interests during school. TJ is the perfect place for students who want to challenge themselves and always aim to do better.... Read 563 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,809

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  500 reviews

Senior: As a Senior in Oakton High School currently, I have faced the curriculum and teaching while being in-person and virtual. Overall, the teachers have done an amazing job to be inclusive and teach material well. The staff is very considerate of all students as long as there is clear communication between the student, their family, and the school. As for the opportunities, there is a good mix of athletics, academics and clubs. It is extremely easy to start something and all students are very involved in some sort of activity throughout each high school year. The only thing I would tweak for this school would be it's course offerings. When compared with Chantilly High School, they can be more offerings so that students in FCPS can compete better with their neighboring schools when coming to course load (APs, IBs, academies, etc).... Read 500 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,715

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Charlotte County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  93 reviews

Senior: I have enjoyed my time at Randolph Henry High School. The teachers and guidance counselors are great! The girls basketball and softball coaches are great! I love playing sports at Randolph Henry High School! I have made lifelong friendships.... Read 93 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Students 564

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  339 reviews

Junior: Offers a wide variety of opportunities for a diverse student body with exceptional academics, arts, and clubs & activities, where many students are able to go above and beyond pursuing their passions. While there are plenty of resources-for example, students have their first 6 AP tests financially covered by the school-the facilities need renovations and the cafeteria should provide healthier and more wholesome options (then again it's cafeteria food). Though the school fosters excellence, the competition can become less healthy and more toxic, and the predominantly rigorous, college-oriented environment can become stressful. I make sure to maintain my mental health, but I am thankful for the flexible array of academic opportunities offered by McLean's course offerings. The student-counselor relationship is relatively close here compared to other schools and getting the classes/schedule modifications you want is not difficult. There're also tons of school spirit and awesome people!... Read 339 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,317

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  390 reviews

Sophomore: Last year, I started freshman year at James Madison High School, and the experience so far has been absolutely unbelievable! The school offers a variety of clubs to bring the student community together, and I have recently joined Key Club and Junior Civitan in order to give back to my community. Moreover, my experience with club members and others in the student body has been remarkable! The student community that Madison has built is diverse, success driven, and unified. The school also includes a pleather of sports teams, where students can focus on team building, health, and competitive drive. I am currently a member of the Tennis Team, and though my time on the team so far has been cut short due to the pandemic, I have created several new friends and improved my athletic ability. Lastly, I have not had a single bad experience in my learning, and all of my teachers have inspired me to strive for success and push myself in order to become an even better learner.... Read 390 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,230

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Arlington Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  556 reviews

Freshman: Everyone there is very nice and accepting. Teachers are very nice and there are a lot of options for different classes. Depending on what classes you take you might have a lot of homework. The school offers many different enjoyable extracurricular activities as well. They have an art hall with a bunch of art classes you can take. There is also a marching band, concert band, symphonic band, orchestra, and different choirs you can join. Washington Liberty high school also offers AP classes as early as freshman year. They also are one of the only schools that has a full IB program as well. The kids there are very diverse and interesting. Washington Liberty also has a theater program. This high school has many sports teams as well. There’s crew, football, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, cheer, ultimate frisbee and more. We also have lots of clubs at our school. Washington Liberty offers lots of opportunities that will set you up for success in the real world.... Read 556 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,436

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  269 reviews

Senior: As someone who is extroverted, Langley is seemingly the best suited high school for me. I have gotten along with the majority of people. Moving to Great Falls the summer before my eighth grade year was a hard transition, as Langley is more student oriented than my last schooling system. The school spirit at Langley is elevated, making me proud of what school I go to. The academic system, though challenging, allows me to grow as a student to the best of my ability. Overall, my experience being a Langley High School student is astounding.... Read 269 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,023

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• York County School Division, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  267 reviews

Senior: This school is very inclusive with lots of opportunities to become involved. The teachers are phenomenal and encourage the best from their students. They make time before and after school to help students understand class material. The school offers a diverse selection of courses, even offering specialized schools around the region and virtual courses. School spirit is strong and there is a strong sense of community.... Read 267 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,086

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  653 reviews

Senior: I love Ocean Lakes! From the moment I stepped in the doors as a freshman, I knew this building would truly end up feeling like a second home. I have met some of the best people at this school, including friends, teachers, and admin! This school has rigorous academics, but it is balanced with how much fun we have in between all of the hard work. There's never a dull moment, but the students are kind, respectful, and welcoming, and create a super friendly environment. The teachers are phenomenal, as well. Not only do they all exceed at preparing their students for tests, exams, and college, but they are all so kind and generous with their time and talents and will become your biggest supporters. There is always so much to get involved with at OL; there's clubs and classes to fit every interest and theres always fun activities going on like spirit days, pep rallies, festivals, fundraisers, and more! It's true what they say -- we really are the best at the beach!... Read 653 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,990

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  229 reviews

Senior: Blacksburg High School was an amazing school to grow, nurture, and learn who I truly was. The environment (for the most part) is incredibly friendly and welcoming, with a very diverse set of people with unique backgrounds, interests, and experiences that make for a varied learning environment. The staff there (again, for the most part) feel like they care not only about you learning the information and doing well in their class, but also getting to know you better as a person and understanding your background. All of the arts programs that I took throughout my high school years (choir, theatre, and graphic imaging) were extremely well-ran with very hardworking teachers and solid budgets provided by the school. Overall, Blacksburg High School is an incredibly competent school that hosts caring staff, a mostly positive school culture, and just a general sense of caring and spirit.... Read 229 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,266

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• West Point Public Schools, VA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: West Point is known for being a small town and it's "Friday Night Lights" on the football field. I have attended West Point since I was in Kindergarten. My mother has worked there for 22 years which is how I became so involved within the school. The students is what truly makes West Point what it is, and we always have amazing support from our teachers and administration. We had to take a step back from student activity due to Covid-19, however that did not stop us from keeping the school spirit and happiness alive! While it is my senior year at West Point, I will forever hold the time, education, resources, and most of all the memories I obtained here in my heart.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Students 469

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• York County School Division, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  229 reviews

Senior: I love everything about York High. I especially love York High School's spirit. The most amazing experience is bonding during whatever event I am at and feeling like a true family. I feel proud to call myself a Falcon because the environment at this school is just incredible. These teachers and staff care. They make the environment so much more welcoming and the teachers at York are determined to make sure you understand the material. They do everything possible to help you in their class. The clubs and sports are very competitive and York High has won many awards. The resources needed to succeed at this school are amazing. As a Junior, I was very afraid and anxious about applying to college, but my guidance counselors gave me every resource to set me up. Overall, York is an excellent school and I would recommend it to any parent in the area who wants the best for their student.... Read 229 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,145

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• York County School Division, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  307 reviews

Senior: As a transfer student, I have found Grafton to be a safe and welcoming environment. The teachers, administration, and students are great! All extracurriculars and sports are amazing.... Read 307 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,141

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  597 reviews

Alum: There was lots to enjoy about West Springfield high school. I always enjoyed coming to school and spending the day with my friends whilst knowing I am going to receive the highest quality of education on a daily basis. When I was a junior and a senior, the teachers did not apply much pressure on their students, making the students fully responsible of their own work and letting us decide when to turn in our assignments. This helped me excel and put less pressure on me as a student, knowing the primary goal of my teachers were to help us learn and not stress and cheat to receive high grades. There was not much to dislike about this school. One thing I wished would improve is the school culture. There is a hefty amount of bullying across all grades. The kids that are bullied do not seem to have much help from the school. The school talks about not bullying, but do not provide much action. Other than that, I had a great experience and wish I could relive these amazing four years!... Read 597 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,508

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  506 reviews

Senior: Chantilly is a very diverse environment. There are many clubs that will suit your interests and my favority part is the amount of CTE Academy classes that you can choose from. The academy teachers are very in tune with students and teach you important career skills as well. My favorite classes were Pharmacy Tech and Exploring Health Sciences and taking the pharmacy class even allowed me to participate in an internship. Everyone bonds well with each other and most have common academic goals which helps to lessen the stress that everyone feels. Overall, Chantilly is a great high school with great diversity, teachers, and academics!... Read 506 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,947

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• 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

• grade A

• Students 191

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Arlington Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  332 reviews

Senior: Yorktown High School is a great high school with excelling programs for learning!! The staff and teachers are majority very helpful and kind and challenge students daily to become better students and people in general. The only negative aspect of the school is the lack of diversity and the common bias against certain groups, students can sometimes show exclusive behaviors, and also the culture of "popularity" is a common theme and social aspect of the school. Still, it is relatively easy to connect and find your kind of people.... Read 332 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,514

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Scott County Public Schools, VA•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Freshman: I personally love Twin Springs. The environment always makes me feel safe and at home, and everyone is extremely nice. Most teachers are always there when you need them and congratulate their students on little things.... Read 16 reviews

• grade B

• grade A

• Students 226

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Highland County Public Schools, VA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 2.88 out of 5  24 reviews

Senior: My experience with Highland High School has been nothing short of amazing. Highland High is a small school, meaning students get more one-on-one time with teachers. Highland High also has many clubs for students to actively participate in. I participate in FFA and NHS. The teachers here are extremely nice and they prepare students well for standardized test and real life. This school also has a no bullying policy. Their policy isn't like other schools', bullies actually get punished in this school. In most schools bullies don't get in nearly as much trouble as they should, especially if they have a popular last name. But here at Highland High bullying is not tolerated. I love this school, I've learned so much from this school. At my last school the teachers didn't teach well and they didn't care if you understood it or not. At Highland High every teacher makes sure the students understand and comprehend what is being taught.... Read 24 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A minus

• Students 95

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  438 reviews

Senior: Woodson was the first public school I attended. It was a hard adjustment, but I could not have asked for a better experience. The atmosphere of the school is welcoming, nonjudgemental, and kind. I loved going to school because of the amazing teachers and students. There are many resources for students who may be struggling in certain subject matter or want extra help, such as the Writing and Math centers. Clubs and sports are where many students can find their community. Woodson is known for its great athletic programs, winning many district, regional, and state championships. I have been on the Varsity volleyball program since freshman year, and I am so grateful for it. I was able to meet new people and make friends before school even started. Woodson students are high acheiving in everything they do, specifically acedemics. Overall, Woodson is a great school that prepares you for the future while having many fun and memorable experiences along the way!... Read 438 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Students 2,516

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• 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

• grade A minus

• Students 225

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Charlottesville City Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  218 reviews

Junior: Almost everything at Charlottesville High School is great! The school is a very welcoming place and anyone could fit it! The teachers are very nice and helpful, the population is very diverse and there are many clubs anyone could join! The only thing I would change about CHS is the food. It's not very tasty but still good enough to eat.... Read 218 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Students 1,194

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Scott County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.26 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: Overall, I enjoyed my experience at GCHS. Of course, there were good and bad times but I generally had a pleasant stay, whilst it lasted. I think that anyone who goes to GCHS is a special kinda person because we are a special and unique school. ¨Once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil¨. This saying is true, and I it will go down in my book as one of my most cherishable phrases, because the school treats you like family your first day there. The faculty and Staff are kind to the students, and the Administration there is extremely helpful will all situations. I do not really think there is much I would change about the school because they do the best with what they are given, and that is all that I would ask out of anyone if I am being truly honest. No it is not the most glamerous school, however; it is not always about image but more about ethics, morals, and motives. Therefore; my experience with Gate City High School will be something I never forget, and more of something I miss.... Read 73 reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• Students 638

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Radford City Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  89 reviews

Senior: Radford High School is a school enriched with bobcat spirits. Whether it's from engaging in education, clubs, or sports, the staffs and students always tend to find their own joy and purpose. Other than education, Radford High School provides a variety of opportunities for students to be engaged such as sports, extracurriculars, and clubs. In addition, clubs range from community services (Students vs. Cancer) to personal interests (culinary arts). In this school, it is impossible to miss out!... Read 89 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Students 575

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1