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Excellent

#216 of 1,850 schools in VA

Top 12% 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

8.1

Grades

7th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mclean

#4 of 8

public schools

Virginia middle schools

#52 of 340

In district

#39 of 199

Fairfax County Public Schools

Academic performance

9.3 / 10

Exceptional

About Cooper Middle

Cooper Middle is a public middle school in Mclean, VA, part of the Fairfax County Public Schools. The school serves approximately 1,071 students in grades 7th – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1/10, placing it in the 88.4th percentile among VA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 91% proficiency in math, 24 points above the state average and 95% in reading/language arts, 21 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (7.5/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $250,001, where 86% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a small city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.15 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.3Exceptional35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency99%
Reading/ELA Proficiency96%
Math vs. State Avg+23.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.3 pts
Overall Proficiency98%
Expected (poverty-adj.)90%
vs. Expected+7.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
Resources & Environment7.4Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,977

Cooper Middle — Students at Cooper Middle score 98% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 90%).

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 91.0%
School
State
66.9%
ELA Proficiency 95.4%
School
State
74.1%

Based on 10 test records from VA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
96%
ELA
95%
2021*
Math
84%
ELA
94%
2025
Math
91.7%
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: 7.5/10.

How Cooper Middle Compares

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

Overall Score
8.1/10
88th percentile in VA
Academic
9.3/10
9.3/10
Growth
7.5/10
Above average
Environment
7.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
5%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
70 teachers

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. McLean High (rated 8.8/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Churchill Road Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Carderock Springs Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby Bethesda), 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 8.7
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL Mclean 1.3 mi 7.3
Sherman Elementary Mclean 1.5 mi 6.7
Langley High Mclean 1.4 mi 7.1
McLean High Mclean 2.0 mi 8.8
BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN Mclean 2.1 mi 7.9
Westgate Elementary Falls Church 2.4 mi 5.9
Kent Gardens Elementary Mclean 2.3 mi 8.4
FIRST STEPS ACADEMY Mclean 2.3 mi
Carderock Springs Elementary Bethesda 2.4 mi 8.7
Pimmit Early Childhood Resource Center Falls Church 2.6 mi 7.1
Spring Hill Elementary Mclean 2.1 mi 7.0
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 7.5
OAK HILL MONTESSORI LLC Falls Church 3.2 mi
BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL Mclean 3.0 mi
Lemon Road Elementary Falls Church 3.3 mi 8.4
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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Cooper Middle has a median household income of $250,001. It is a well-educated community where 86% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,282,800, with a median rent of $3,407/month. The local poverty rate of 3.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Cave Spring Middle Roanoke, VA 8.0
Farmwell Station Middle Ashburn, VA 8.2
Greenbrier Middle Chesapeake, VA 8.2
Gunston Middle Arlington, VA 8.0
Rocky Run Middle Chantilly, VA 8.2
Tabb Middle Yorktown, VA 8.0

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 is ranked #216 out of 1,850 schools in VA.

What is Cooper Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Cooper Middle has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Cooper Middle?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Cooper Middle has 91.0% math proficiency and 95.4% reading/ELA proficiency.

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

FBI UCR. County-level only.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

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

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