Best Schools in Richmond, Virginia
138 schools · 79 Elementary · 19 Middle · 25 High · 15 Other
Choosing a school in Richmond?
Use this page to compare every school in Richmond 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.
Open High
High · Richmond City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Richmond Community High
High · Richmond City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Franklin Military Academy
High · Richmond City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Richmond for 2026 are Open High (9.7/10), Richmond Community High (9.2/10), and Franklin Military Academy (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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
138
95 public · 43 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$341,261
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
138
95 public · 43 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$341,261
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 9.7/10 despite 101% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 5.7 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 Richmond schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Richmond
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 138). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open High | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Richmond Community High | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Franklin Military Academy | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Thomas Jefferson High | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Gayton Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Linwood Holton Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Tuckahoe Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts | 8.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Good Shepherd Episcopal School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Landmark Christian School | 7.7 / 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
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $79,629
- Median home value
- $341,261
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 46%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Richmond compares
Virginia rank
#160 of 182
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.2
below Virginia avg (6.2)
Median household income
$80k
91% of Virginia median
Schools in this city
128
Education Snapshot
Richmond, VirginiaRichmond's 3 school districts operate 138 schools serving approximately 65,373 students, with the level mix weighted toward elementary: 79 elementary campuses against 25 high schools and 19 middle schools. The city's MySchoolScout composite rating averages 5.0/10 across 128 scored schools — 1.2 points below the Virginia state average of 6.2/10, a measurable gap for parents comparing Richmond to statewide benchmarks. Median household income stands at $80,007, 21% below Virginia's state median of $101,703. Adult educational attainment reaches 47%, with nearly half of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Only 2 charter schools operate within city limits, meaning most of Richmond's students stay within the traditional district system. The 5.0 composite average spans Richmond's three districts; individual school ratings diverge meaningfully from that figure, making school-level browsing the more useful starting point.
About Schools in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond's public school system spans 94 ranked schools, with performance ranging widely across the city. The average school scores 5.5 out of 10, which means families need to research individual schools carefully — the difference between the bottom and top of the range is substantial. That said, 23 schools, or 24% of the total, score 7 or higher, giving parents a meaningful pool of strong options to consider.
At the top of the rankings, Open High leads the city with a 9.8 out of 10, the highest score among all Richmond public schools. Richmond Community High follows at 9.5, and Thomas Jefferson High rounds out the top three at 9.3. All three are high schools, which signals that Richmond's strongest academic options at the secondary level are genuinely competitive. On the elementary side, Linwood Holton Elementary and Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts both score 8.7, making them standout choices for families with younger children.
Richmond's top performers skew toward specialized or magnet-style programs. Open High and Richmond Community High both reflect a model built around motivated students and focused academics. Parents should confirm enrollment requirements, application deadlines, and any lottery processes early — seats at these schools are limited and demand tends to be high. Geographic zoning also matters here. Richmond Public Schools serves a dense urban area, and a family's assigned neighborhood school may score well below the citywide average, making school choice applications worth pursuing if you have flexibility.
Practically speaking, Richmond rewards parents who research early and apply broadly. With nearly a quarter of schools scoring 7 or above, options exist across grade levels and parts of the city. But the 5.5 average is a real signal: many schools are performing at or below a middle-of-the-road benchmark, and zoned assignments are uneven. Focus your search on schools with scores of 7 or higher, prioritize visiting top-ranked schools to understand their fit, and factor commute logistics into your decision. Richmond's best public schools are genuinely excellent — finding them just takes deliberate effort.
Elementary Schools
79 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 604 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 439 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 642 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 328 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 607 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 6 | 471 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 7 | 370 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 8 | 541 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 9 | 299 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 10 | 375 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
Show all 79 elementary schools in Richmond
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 834 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 2 | 1,102 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 769 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 494 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 5 | 1,057 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
| 6 | 450 students · 6th–8th | 4.1 |
| 7 | 390 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 |
| 8 | 889 students · 6th–8th | 3.2 |
| 9 | 617 students · 6th–8th | 2.9 |
| 10 | 1,013 students · 6th–8th | 2.8 |
Show all 19 middle schools in Richmond
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
25 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 173 students · 9th–12th | 9.7 |
| 2 | 198 students · 9th–12th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 314 students · 6th–12th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 778 students · 9th–12th | 8.4 |
| 5 | 1,740 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 622 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 7 | 1,310 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 1,643 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 2,032 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 1,887 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
Show all 25 high schools in Richmond
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 152 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 204 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.0 | ||
| 3 | 211 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.3 | ||
| 4 | 27 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
Private Schools11 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Landmark Christian SchoolPrivate 102 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 37 students · 3rd–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Richmond AcademyPrivate 110 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | St Catherines SchoolPrivate 906 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Grove Christian SchoolPrivate 293 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | The Steward SchoolPrivate 683 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 15 other schools in Richmond
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia · 138 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 18 ZIP codes
Median Income
$79,629
Median Home Value
$341,261
Median Rent
$1,462/mo
Population
556,878
College Educated
46%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Community Profile
Richmond has a median household income of $79,629. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $341,261, with a median rent of $1,462/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.4%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Virginia
- Elementary
- 79
- Middle
- 19
- High
- 25
- Other
- 15
Resources
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 Richmond, Virginia
How many schools are in Richmond, Virginia?
Richmond has 138 schools, including 95 public and 43 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Richmond, Virginia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Richmond is 5.0 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 Richmond, Virginia?
The top-ranked school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Open High with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Richmond, Virginia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Gayton Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Richmond, Virginia?
The top-ranked middle school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Seven Hills School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Richmond, Virginia?
The top-ranked high school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Open High with a composite score of 9.7/10.
How many school districts serve Richmond, Virginia?
Richmond is served by 3 school districts: Chesterfield County Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond City Public Schools.
What is the education level in Richmond, Virginia?
According to Census data, 46% of adults in Richmond have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Richmond, Virginia?
The median household income in Richmond is approximately $79,629 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Richmond, Virginia?
Yes, Richmond has 43 private schools alongside 95 public schools. The top-rated private school is Good Shepherd Episcopal School with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Richmond, Virginia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Richmond is 13.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Richmond, 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.