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Very Good

#598 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 32% in state

Carson Middle

Middle School · Fairfax County Public Schools

13618 McLearen Road, Herndon, VA 20171

Enrollment

1,381

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

7.3

Grades

7th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#598 of 1,851

In Herndon

#6 of 14

public schools

In district

#88 of 199

Fairfax County Public Schools

School environment

8.2 / 10

Excellent

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Carson Middle

7.3/10

Middle School in Herndon · grades 7th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

King Abdullah Academy

7.2/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Nysmith School for the Gifted

7.8/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Carson Middle

Carson Middle is a public middle school in Herndon, VA, part of Fairfax County Public Schools. Carson Middle serves approximately 1,381 students, and covers grades 7th-8th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Carson Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #598 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Carson Middle show 87% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 93% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.5
  • VA avg 5.9

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.1Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.89 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.1Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency86% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency88% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+10.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.3 pts
Overall Proficiency87% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)85% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+1.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
Resources & Environment8.2Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,975
Chronic Absenteeism11.9%

Carson Middle — Students at Carson Middle score 87% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 85%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

18.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 87.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
66.9% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 93.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.1% (2025 SOL)

Based on 31 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
97%
ELA
98%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
98%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
98%
2012
Math
94%
ELA
94%
2013
Math
94%
ELA
95%
2014
Math
95%
ELA
95%
2015
Math
92%
ELA
94%
2016
Math
70%
ELA
93%
2017
ELA
93%
2018
Math
94%
ELA
93%
2019
Math
94%
ELA
93%
2020*
Math
85%
ELA
92%
2021*
Math
85%
ELA
92%
2025
Math
72.3%
ELA
88%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.1/10.

How Carson Middle Compares

See how Carson Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
68th percentile in VA
Academic
8.1/10
Excellent
Growth
6.1/10
Average
Environment
8.2/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
90 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

13618 McLearen Road, Herndon, VA 20171

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Carson Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. AL FATIH ACADEMY (rated 8.7/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Reston), which scores notably higher. Another option is Oak Hill Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, McNair Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Herndon, see our Herndon schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
KING ABDULLAH ACADEMY Herndon 0.2 mi 7.2
NYSMITH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED Herndon 0.2 mi 7.8
Floris Elementary Herndon 0.6 mi 6.8
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF CHANTILLY Chantilly 1.0 mi
Oak Hill Elementary Herndon 1.1 mi 8.4
ST VERONICA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Chantilly 1.3 mi 6.4
Franklin Middle Chantilly 1.4 mi 7.5
BERTHOLD ACADEMY FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED Herndon 1.4 mi
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FAIRFAX Chantilly 1.6 mi 8.1
McNair Elementary Herndon 1.5 mi 8.2
Coates Elementary Herndon 1.7 mi 3.6
McNair Upper Elementary Herndon 1.6 mi 8.1
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT HERNDON Herndon 1.9 mi
Hutchison Elementary Herndon 2.4 mi 3.3
THE AUBURN SCHOOL Chantilly 2.1 mi 6.8
Fox Mill Elementary Herndon 2.0 mi 8.2
Lees Corner Elementary Fairfax 2.6 mi 7.9
Brookfield Elementary Chantilly 3.1 mi 3.3
MONTESSORI COUNTRY SCHOOL Herndon 2.9 mi
AL FATIH ACADEMY Reston 2.6 mi 8.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 20171 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$166,154

Median Home Value

$770,200

Median Rent

$2,276/mo

Population

50,796

College Educated

73.8%

Homeownership

56.2%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

3.7%

Median Age

35.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Belmont Ridge Middle Leesburg, VA 7.2
Blacksburg Middle Blacksburg, VA 7.2
Forest Middle Forest, VA 7.2
Gainesville Middle Gainesville, VA 7.2
Salem Middle Virginia Beach, VA 7.2
Thoreau Middle Vienna, VA 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Carson Middle

What grades does Carson Middle serve?

Carson Middle serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Carson Middle?

Carson Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,381 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carson Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Carson Middle is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Carson Middle rank in VA?

Carson Middle ranks #598 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Carson Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Carson Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Carson Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Carson Middle has 87% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 93% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Carson Middle a charter school?

No, Carson Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Carson Middle a Title I school?

No, Carson Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carson Middle?

18.4% of students at Carson Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
23 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
33 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
1,381
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
90
Free/Reduced Lunch
18.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Fairfax County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.9%

District

Fairfax County Public Schools
District Enrollment
180,714
Schools in District
223
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,975
District Rank
#88 of 199

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