5.7 avg / 10

Best Schools in Richmond, Virginia

138 schools · 79 Elementary · 19 Middle · 25 High · 15 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 95

Private: 43

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 5.7/10

Estimated Scores: 30%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.7/10
Median household income: $79,629
Median home value: $341,261
Bachelor's degree or higher: 46%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 56%

How Richmond compares

Virginia rank

#140 of 182

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.6

below Virginia avg (6.3)

Median household income

$80k

91% of Virginia median

Schools in this city

128

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (138) Elementary (79) Middle (19) High (25)

Filter by Type: All Types (138) Public (95) Private (43)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (138) Academics (138) Growth (89) Diversity (89) Resources (94)

Filter by ZIP: 23223 (17) 23225 (13) 23229 (13) 23220 (10) 23227 (10) 23233 (10) 23226 (9) 23222 (8) 23228 (8) 23231 (8) 23224 (7) 23221 (5)

Elementary Schools

79 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Linwood Holton Elementary 439 students · Pre-K–5th	439	Pre-K–5th	8.7
2	Patrick Henry School Of Science And Arts 328 students · Kindergarten–5th	328	Kindergarten–5th	8.7
3	Pemberton Elementary 370 students · Pre-K–5th	370	Pre-K–5th	8.4
4	J.B. Fisher Elementary 278 students · Pre-K–5th	278	Pre-K–5th	8.4
5	Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary 232 students · Pre-K–5th	232	Pre-K–5th	7.8
6	Mary Munford Elementary 471 students · Pre-K–5th	471	Pre-K–5th	7.8
7	Fairfield Court Elementary 227 students · Pre-K–5th	227	Pre-K–5th	7.7
8	Crestview Elementary 375 students · Pre-K–5th	375	Pre-K–5th	7.6
9	Swansboro Elementary 152 students · Pre-K–5th	152	Pre-K–5th	7.6
10	Tuckahoe Elementary 642 students · Pre-K–5th	642	Pre-K–5th	7.5
11	William Fox Elementary 334 students · Pre-K–5th	334	Pre-K–5th	7.2
12	Arthur Ashe Jr. Elementary 460 students · Pre-K–5th	460	Pre-K–5th	7.0
13	Overby-Sheppard Elementary 254 students · Pre-K–5th	254	Pre-K–5th	6.9
14	Westover Hills Elementary 365 students · Pre-K–5th	365	Pre-K–5th	6.9
15	J.L. Francis Elementary 509 students · Pre-K–5th	509	Pre-K–5th	6.8
16	Nuckols Farm Elementary 607 students · Pre-K–5th	607	Pre-K–5th	6.7
17	Gayton Elementary 604 students · Pre-K–5th	604	Pre-K–5th	6.6
18	Broad Rock Elementary 581 students · Pre-K–5th	581	Pre-K–5th	6.6
19	Pinchbeck Elementary 538 students · Pre-K–5th	538	Pre-K–5th	6.4
20	Three Chopt Elementary 299 students · Pre-K–5th	299	Pre-K–5th	6.4
21	Harvie Elementary 530 students · Pre-K–5th	530	Pre-K–5th	6.3
22	George W. Carver Elementary 374 students · Pre-K–5th	374	Pre-K–5th	6.2
23	Chimborazo Elementary 388 students · Pre-K–5th	388	Pre-K–5th	5.9
24	Cardinal Elementary 849 students · Pre-K–5th	849	Pre-K–5th	5.8
25	Crestwood Elementary 600 students · Pre-K–5th	600	Pre-K–5th	5.6

Show 54 more elementary schools

26	Short Pump Elementary 541 students · Pre-K–5th	541	Pre-K–5th	5.5
27	Maude Trevvett Elementary 544 students · Pre-K–5th	544	Pre-K–5th	5.5
28	Bellevue Elementary 195 students · Pre-K–5th	195	Pre-K–5th	5.5
29	Ruby F. Carver Elementary 475 students · Pre-K–5th	475	Pre-K–5th	5.3
30	Woodville Elementary 228 students · Pre-K–5th	228	Pre-K–5th	4.9
31	Chamberlayne Elementary 349 students · Pre-K–5th	349	Pre-K–5th	4.8
32	Barack Obama Elementary 280 students · Pre-K–5th	280	Pre-K–5th	4.6
33	Oak Grove/Bellemeade Elementary 523 students · Pre-K–5th	523	Pre-K–5th	4.2
34	Anthony P. Mehfoud Elementary 339 students · Pre-K–2nd	339	Pre-K–2nd	4.1
35	Blackwell Elementary 378 students · Pre-K–5th	378	Pre-K–5th	4.0
36	Jackson Davis Elementary 529 students · Pre-K–5th	529	Pre-K–5th	3.9
37	Jacob L. Adams Elementary 469 students · Pre-K–5th	469	Pre-K–5th	3.8
38	Varina Elementary 261 students · 3rd–5th	261	3rd–5th	3.8
39	Henry D. Ward Elementary 499 students · Pre-K–5th	499	Pre-K–5th	3.8
40	Laburnum Elementary 454 students · Pre-K–5th	454	Pre-K–5th	3.6
41	Lakeside Elementary 414 students · Pre-K–5th	414	Pre-K–5th	3.6
42	Elizabeth Holladay Elementary 805 students · Pre-K–5th	805	Pre-K–5th	3.5
43	Falling Creek Elementary 796 students · Pre-K–5th	796	Pre-K–5th	3.3
44	Maybeury Elementary 662 students · Pre-K–5th	662	Pre-K–5th	3.0
45	Montrose Elementary 309 students · Pre-K–5th	309	Pre-K–5th	3.0
46	Harold Macon Ratcliffe Elementary 392 students · Pre-K–5th	392	Pre-K–5th	3.0
47	Miles Jones Elementary 506 students · Pre-K–5th	506	Pre-K–5th	3.0
48	Charles M. Johnson Elementary 396 students · Pre-K–5th	396	Pre-K–5th	2.8
49	Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary 344 students · Pre-K–5th	344	Pre-K–5th	2.8
50	G.H. Reid Elementary 660 students · Pre-K–5th	660	Pre-K–5th	2.8
51	Skipwith Elementary 565 students · Pre-K–5th	565	Pre-K–5th	2.7
52	Frances W. McClenney Elementary 281 students · Pre-K–5th	281	Pre-K–5th	2.7
53	Southampton Elementary 432 students · Pre-K–5th	432	Pre-K–5th	2.7
54	Glen Lea Elementary 430 students · Pre-K–5th	430	Pre-K–5th	2.6
55	R.C. Longan Elementary 487 students · Pre-K–5th	487	Pre-K–5th	2.5
56	George F. Baker Elementary 452 students · Pre-K–5th	452	Pre-K–5th	2.4
57	Dumbarton Elementary 620 students · Pre-K–5th	620	Pre-K–5th	2.2
58	Ridge Elementary 485 students · Pre-K–5th	485	Pre-K–5th	1.9
59	Henry Marsh III Elementary 523 students · Pre-K–5th	523	Pre-K–5th	1.9
Private Schools 20 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Private 126 students · Pre-K–8th	126	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	WEST END MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 50 students · Pre-K–6th	50	Pre-K–6th	Not Rated
3	CENTRAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF VIRGINIA Private 75 students · Pre-K–8th	75	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
4	SABOT SCHOOL Private 141 students · Pre-K–8th	141	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
5	JACK & JILL SCHOOL Private 44 students · Pre-K–5th	44	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
6	ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 178 students · Pre-K–8th	178	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
7	ST ANDREW'S SCHOOL Private 84 students · Kindergarten–5th	84	Kindergarten–5th	Not Rated
8	OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 332 students · Pre-K–8th	332	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
9	TUCKAHOE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 50 students · Pre-K–5th	50	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
10	ST BENEDICT SCHOOL Private 203 students · Pre-K–8th	203	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
11	RICHMOND MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 205 students · Pre-K–8th	205	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
12	ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL - RICHMOND Private 396 students · Pre-K–8th	396	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
13	ST BRIDGET SCHOOL Private 463 students · Pre-K–8th	463	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
14	RUDLIN TORAH ACADEMY Private 95 students · Kindergarten–8th	95	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
15	ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY Private 173 students · Kindergarten–8th	173	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
16	GODDARD SCHOOL Private 40 students · Pre-K–TK	40	Pre-K–TK	Not Rated
17	ST EDWARD-EPIPHANY SCHOOL Private 508 students · Pre-K–8th	508	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
18	MONUMENT HEIGHTS DAY SCHOOL LLC Private 5 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	5	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated
19	LEAFSPRING - THREE CHOPT Private 14 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten	14	Kindergarten–Kindergarten	Not Rated
20	WESTHAMPTON DAY SCHOOL Private 27 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	27	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

19 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Henderson Middle 450 students · 6th–8th	450	6th–8th	6.9
2	Pocahontas Middle 834 students · 6th–8th	834	6th–8th	6.4
3	Thomas C. Boushall Middle 617 students · 6th–8th	617	6th–8th	6.4
4	Martin Luther King Jr. Middle 496 students · 6th–8th	496	6th–8th	6.3
5	L. Douglas Wilder Middle 769 students · 6th–8th	769	6th–8th	6.0
6	George H. Moody Middle 1,102 students · 6th–8th	1,102	6th–8th	5.9
7	Albert Hill Middle 494 students · 6th–8th	494	6th–8th	5.7
8	Quioccasin Middle 1,013 students · 6th–8th	1,013	6th–8th	4.9
9	Tuckahoe Middle 1,057 students · 6th–8th	1,057	6th–8th	4.5
10	John Rolfe Middle 678 students · 6th–8th	678	6th–8th	4.5
11	Brookland Middle 1,029 students · 6th–8th	1,029	6th–8th	4.4
12	Fairfield Middle 889 students · 6th–8th	889	6th–8th	4.3
13	River City Middle 1,177 students · 6th–8th	1,177	6th–8th	3.0
14	Dogwood Middle 390 students · 6th–8th	390	6th–8th	2.7
15	Lucille M. Brown Middle 541 students · 6th–8th	541	6th–8th	2.1
Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL Private 76 students · 5th–8th	76	5th–8th	Not Rated
2	ORCHARD HOUSE SCHOOL Private 77 students · 5th–8th	77	5th–8th	Not Rated
3	ANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL Private 145 students · 2nd–8th	145	2nd–8th	Not Rated
4	EPHESUS JUNIOR ACADEMY Private 20 students · 1st–8th	20	1st–8th	Not Rated

High Schools

25 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Open High 173 students · 9th–12th	173	9th–12th	9.8
2	Richmond Community High 198 students · 9th–12th	198	9th–12th	9.5
3	Thomas Jefferson High 778 students · 9th–12th	778	9th–12th	9.3
4	John Marshall High 622 students · 9th–12th	622	9th–12th	8.6
5	Franklin Military Academy 314 students · 6th–12th	314	6th–12th	8.6
6	Armstrong High 690 students · 9th–12th	690	9th–12th	7.6
7	Varina High 1,411 students · 9th–12th	1,411	9th–12th	7.3
8	Henrico High 1,310 students · 9th–12th	1,310	9th–12th	7.2
9	Richmond Career Education and Employment Charter School 38 students · 9th–12th	38	9th–12th	7.0
10	Huguenot High 1,507 students · 9th–12th	1,507	9th–12th	6.9
11	Richmond High School for the Arts 1,292 students · 9th–12th	1,292	9th–12th	6.2
12	Monacan High 1,643 students · 9th–12th	1,643	9th–12th	6.1
13	Mills E. Godwin High 1,740 students · 9th–12th	1,740	9th–12th	5.9
14	Douglas S. Freeman High 1,887 students · 9th–12th	1,887	9th–12th	5.6
15	John Randolph Tucker High 2,032 students · 9th–12th	2,032	9th–12th	5.4
16	Hermitage High 1,720 students · 9th–12th	1,720	9th–12th	5.1
17	Richmond Alternative 134 students · 6th–12th	134	6th–12th	5.0
Private Schools 8 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	THE NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL Private 220 students · 5th–12th	220	5th–12th	Not Rated
2	BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY Private 298 students · 9th–12th	298	9th–12th	Not Rated
3	CRISTO REY RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL Private 202 students · 9th–11th	202	9th–11th	Not Rated
4	BENJAMIN & LILLIAN ROCHKIND YESHIVA OF VIRGINIA Private 34 students · 9th–12th	34	9th–12th	Not Rated
5	TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Private 510 students · 8th–12th	510	8th–12th	Not Rated
6	CHURCH HILL ACADEMY Private 50 students · 9th–12th	50	9th–12th	Not Rated
7	METROPOLITAN DAY SCHOOL Private 9 students · 7th–12th	9	7th–12th	Not Rated
8	SHAAREI TORAH OF RICHMOND Private 12 students · 9th–12th	12	9th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

15 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Maymont Pre-K Center 152 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	152	Pre-K–Pre-K	7.0
2	Martin Luther King Jr. Early Learning Center 204 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	204	Pre-K–Pre-K	7.0
3	Summer Hill Preschool Center 211 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	211	Pre-K–Pre-K	6.5
4	Amelia Street Special Education 27 students · Pre-K–12th	27	Pre-K–12th	—
Private Schools 11 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	LANDMARK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 102 students · Pre-K–12th	102	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
2	GEARA GROUP/EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER Private 37 students · 3rd–12th	37	3rd–12th	Not Rated
3	RICHMOND ACADEMY Private 110 students · Pre-K–12th	110	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
4	ST CATHERINES SCHOOL Private 906 students · Pre-K–12th	906	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
5	GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 293 students · Pre-K–12th	293	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
6	THE STEWARD SCHOOL Private 683 students · Pre-K–12th	683	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
7	VERITAS SCHOOL Private 625 students · Pre-K–12th	625	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
8	COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Private 1,626 students · Pre-K–12th	1,626	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
9	JOHN G WOOD SCHOOL Private 28 students · 3rd–12th	28	3rd–12th	Not Rated
10	DOOLEY SCHOOL AT ST. JOSEPH'S VILLA Private 28 students · 2nd–11th	28	2nd–11th	Not Rated
11	COMMONWEALTH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 25 students · T1–11th	25	T1–11th	Not Rated

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.

Quick Facts

State: Virginia
Total Schools: 138
Elementary: 79
Middle: 19
High: 25
Districts: 3
Avg Rating: 5.7/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Richmond schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Richmond 📊 Niche Richmond Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (3)

Chesterfield County Public Schools

73 schools · 64,132 students

Henrico County Public Schools

81 schools · 50,463 students

Richmond City Public Schools

54 schools · 20,819 students

Nearby Cities

North Chesterfield (18 schools)

8 mi

Glen Allen (19 schools)

9 mi

Mechanicsville (18 schools)

9 mi

Highland Springs (3 schools)

9 mi

Chesterfield (11 schools)

11 mi

Ashland (8 schools)

13 mi

Midlothian (26 schools)

Montpelier (1 school)

17 mi

Colonial Heights (6 schools)

Other Major Cities in Virginia

Top metros statewide by school count.

Virginia Beach 115 schools Alexandria 87 schools Norfolk 71 schools Chesapeake 65 schools Roanoke 53 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently 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 5.7 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

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 9.8/10.

What is the best elementary school in Richmond, Virginia?

The top-ranked elementary school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Linwood Holton Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.

What is the best middle school in Richmond, Virginia?

The top-ranked middle school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Henderson Middle with a composite score of 6.9/10.

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 9.8/10.

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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

Best Schools in Richmond, Virginia

Family Snapshot

How Richmond compares

About Schools in Richmond, Virginia

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Other Schools

Schools in Richmond

Community Demographics

Community Profile

Quick Facts

Resources

Nearby Cities

Other Major Cities in Virginia

How We Rate Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

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