Best Schools in Mclean, Virginia
17 schools · 12 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Mclean?
Use this page to compare every school in Mclean by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Kent Gardens Elementary
Elementary · Fairfax County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Mclean High
High · Fairfax County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Churchill Road Elementary
Elementary · Fairfax County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Mclean for 2026 are Kent Gardens Elementary (9.1/10), Mclean High (9.0/10), and Churchill Road Elementary (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
17
8 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.9
out of 10
Median Home
$1,143,250
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
17
8 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.9
out of 10
Median Home
$1,143,250
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 13% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Mclean schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Mclean
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent Gardens Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Mclean High | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Churchill Road Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Cooper Middle | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Chesterbrook Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Sherman Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Langley High | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Montessori School of Mclean | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Basis Independent Mclean | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | The Madeira School | 7.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.9/10
- Median household income
- $201,909
- Median home value
- $1,143,250
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 84%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
87% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Mclean compares
Virginia rank
#18 of 182
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.7
above Virginia avg (6.2)
Median household income
$202k
230% of Virginia median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Mclean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia offers one of the most consistently strong public school landscapes in the region. The city has 8 ranked public schools with an average score of 8.1 out of 10 — a ceiling that most American cities never reach, let alone sustain as an average. Eighty-eight percent of McLean's ranked schools score 7 or higher, meaning families have strong options at virtually every grade level, not just at the top.
Churchill Road Elementary leads the city with a 9.1 out of 10, making it the highest-rated school in McLean and a benchmark for elementary performance in Northern Virginia. Kent Gardens Elementary follows at 8.8, and Chesterbrook Elementary rounds out the elementary tier at 8.3. Together, these three schools give families meaningful choice within the elementary years without sacrificing quality at any option. The progression holds into middle school: Cooper Middle scores 8.5, signaling that academic momentum built in the lower grades carries forward.
McLean High scores 8.9 out of 10, the second-highest mark in the city. Parents evaluating long-term school paths can track a clear trajectory — strong elementary entry points, a high-performing middle school, and a high school that competes near the very top of McLean's rankings. That kind of end-to-end consistency is rare and reduces the risk of a performance cliff between grade bands that affects many suburban districts.
For families comparing McLean against other Northern Virginia communities, the 8.1 average tells the most important story. Individual standout schools exist in many cities, but an average that high across eight schools reflects a district-wide floor, not a few outliers pulling up the mean. Parents who prioritize school quality at every grade level will find McLean's public options among the most reliable in the state. Verify current attendance boundaries before committing to a neighborhood, since school assignments in Fairfax County depend on specific address, and some boundaries here draw from adjacent ZIP codes.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,006 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.1 | ||
| 2 | 600 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.8 | ||
| 3 | 537 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.4 | ||
| 4 | 352 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.3 | ||
| 5 | 948 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.7 | ||
| Private Schools 7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Montessori School of Mclean
Private
115 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | St John the Beloved Academy
Private
221 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | The Langley School
Private
452 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 4 | St Luke Catholic School
Private
235 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.2 | ||
| 5 | Ambleside School
Private
137 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.6 | ||
Show all 12 elementary schools in Mclean
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,071 students · 7th–8th | 8.7 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,444 students · 9th–12th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 2,136 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Madeira School
Private
334 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basis Independent Mclean
Private
434 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.9 |
Schools in Mclean
Mclean, Virginia · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$201,909
Median Home Value
$1,143,250
Median Rent
$2,939/mo
Population
59,883
College Educated
84%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Community Profile
Mclean has a median household income of $201,909. It is a well-educated community where 84% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,143,250, with a median rent of $2,939/month. The local poverty rate of 4.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Virginia
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Virginia
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Mclean, Virginia
How many schools are in Mclean, Virginia?
Mclean has 17 schools, including 8 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Mclean, Virginia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Mclean is 7.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Mclean, Virginia?
The top-ranked school in Mclean on MySchoolScout is Kent Gardens Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Mclean, Virginia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Mclean on MySchoolScout is Kent Gardens Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Mclean, Virginia?
The top-ranked middle school in Mclean on MySchoolScout is Cooper Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Mclean, Virginia?
The top-ranked high school in Mclean on MySchoolScout is Mclean High with a composite score of 9.0/10.
How many school districts serve Mclean, Virginia?
Mclean is served by 1 school district: Fairfax County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Mclean, Virginia?
According to Census data, 84% of adults in Mclean have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Mclean, Virginia?
The median household income in Mclean is approximately $201,909 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Mclean, Virginia?
Yes, Mclean has 9 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Montessori School of Mclean with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mclean, Virginia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Mclean is 11.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Mclean, Virginia?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Virginia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.