Best Schools in Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia has 55 ranked public schools, giving families a broad field to evaluate. The city's schools average 6.5 out of 10, but that number masks real variation across grade levels and neighborhoods. Thirty-eight percent of schools — 21 out of 55 — score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist but require deliberate searching rather than defaulting to proximity alone.

At the top of the city's rankings, Stratford Landing Elementary and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology both score 8.6, the highest marks in Alexandria. Thomas Jefferson, a specialized science and technology program, draws high-achieving students from across the region and carries a national profile. Riverside Elementary scores 8.2, while Whitman Middle and Mount Vernon High each earn 8.0. That spread — strong performers at the elementary and high school levels, with solid middle school options — means parents can often build a coherent academic path through Alexandria's public system without leaving the district.

The city average of 6.5 signals that a meaningful portion of schools fall in the mid-range or below. Parents should look closely at individual school scores rather than assuming a neighborhood school performs near the top. School quality varies by zone, and the gap between the highest-rated schools and the city average is wide enough to matter in day-to-day academic experience. For families who land outside a top-rated zone, charter and magnet options — including the competitive admissions process for Thomas Jefferson — are worth researching early.

Practically speaking, Alexandria rewards families who do the research upfront. Start with the 21 schools that score 7 or better and work backward from your address. Elementary placement tends to lock in a neighborhood trajectory, so score comparisons at that level carry extra weight. Whitman Middle at 8.0 serves as a reliable bridge for families in its zone. If you're targeting Thomas Jefferson for high school, factor in that school's separate admissions process and begin preparing well before the application window opens. Alexandria's public school landscape offers real ceiling — parents just need to know where to look.