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Excellent

#121 of 1,851 schools in VA

Top 7% in state

Cooper Middle

Middle School · Fairfax County Public Schools

977 Balls Hill Rd, Mclean, VA 22101

Enrollment

1,071

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

8.7

Grades

7th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Virginia schools

#121 of 1,851

In Mclean

#4 of 8

public schools

In district

#20 of 199

Fairfax County Public Schools

Academic performance

9.3 / 10

Excellent

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Cooper Middle

8.7/10

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

St Luke Catholic School

6.2/10

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

Churchill Road Elementary

8.8/10

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

About Cooper Middle

Cooper Middle is a public middle school in Mclean, VA, part of Fairfax County Public Schools. Cooper Middle serves approximately 1,071 students, and covers grades 7th-8th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Cooper Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #121 of 1,851 schools in VA.

Structured state assessment records for Cooper Middle show 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 95% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.2 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.5
  • VA avg 5.9

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.29 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.3Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency96% (2025 SOL)
Reading/ELA Proficiency96% (2025 SOL)
Math vs. State Avg+20.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.3 pts
Overall Proficiency96% (2025 SOL, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)89% (model expectation from 2025 SOL)
vs. Expected+7.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,975
Chronic Absenteeism13%

Cooper Middle — Students at Cooper Middle score 96% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 89%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

4.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores VA SOL (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 91.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
66.9% (2025 SOL)
ELA Proficiency 95.3% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
99.5%
ELA
98%
2010
Math
97%
ELA
99.5%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
98%
2012
Math
94%
ELA
90%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
93%
2014
Math
93%
ELA
93%
2015
Math
96%
ELA
96%
2016
Math
75%
ELA
96%
2017
ELA
96%
2018
Math
96%
ELA
95%
2019
Math
96%
ELA
95%
2020*
Math
84%
ELA
94%
2021*
Math
84%
ELA
94%
2025
Math
90.7%
ELA
96%

* 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: 8.5/10.

How Cooper Middle Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
94th percentile in VA
Academic
9.3/10
Excellent
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
8.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
5%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
70 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.0%

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

977 Balls Hill Rd, Mclean, VA 22101

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cooper Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Carderock Springs Elementary (rated 9.6/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby Bethesda), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Kent Gardens Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, McLean High (rated 9.0/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Mclean, see our Mclean schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.3 mi
School Distance Rating
ST LUKE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Mclean 0.3 mi 6.2
Churchill Road Elementary Mclean 0.4 mi 8.8
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL Mclean 1.3 mi 7.3
Sherman Elementary Mclean 1.5 mi 8.3
Langley High Mclean 1.4 mi 8.2
McLean High Mclean 2.0 mi 9.0
BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN Mclean 2.1 mi 7.9
Westgate Elementary Falls Church 2.4 mi 5.0
Kent Gardens Elementary Mclean 2.3 mi 9.1
FIRST STEPS ACADEMY Mclean 2.3 mi
Carderock Springs Elementary Bethesda 2.4 mi 9.6
Pimmit Early Childhood Resource Center Falls Church 2.6 mi 5.3
Spring Hill Elementary Mclean 2.1 mi 7.7
ST JOHN THE BELOVED ACADEMY Mclean 2.5 mi 7.7
THE MADEIRA SCHOOL Mclean 2.6 mi 7.8
Longfellow Middle Falls Church 3.1 mi 8.6
OAK HILL MONTESSORI LLC Falls Church 3.2 mi
BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL Mclean 3.0 mi
Lemon Road Elementary Falls Church 3.3 mi 8.0
CONNELLY SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD Potomac 3.3 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 22101 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$250,001

Median Home Value

$1,282,800

Median Rent

$3,407/mo

Population

31,306

College Educated

85.9%

Homeownership

84.4%

Avg Commute

26.5 min

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Median Age

46.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
South County Middle Lorton, VA 8.7
Longfellow Middle Falls Church, VA 8.6
Trailside Middle Ashburn, VA 8.8
Rocky Run Middle Chantilly, VA 8.5
E.B. Stanley Middle Abingdon, VA 8.9
Old Donation School Virginia Beach, VA 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cooper Middle

What grades does Cooper Middle serve?

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

How many students attend Cooper Middle?

Cooper Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,071 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cooper Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Cooper 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 Cooper Middle rank in VA?

Cooper Middle ranks #121 of 1,851 schools in VA.

What is Cooper Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Cooper Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Cooper Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cooper Middle has 91% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 95% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Cooper Middle a charter school?

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

Is Cooper Middle a Title I school?

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

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

4.7% of students at Cooper 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
12 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
23 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
1,071
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
70
Free/Reduced Lunch
4.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Fairfax County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.0%

District

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

How we rate schools

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