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Very Good

#133 of 457 private schools in VA

Top 29% of private schools

The Howard Gardner School

High School

4913 FRANCONIA RD, Alexandria, VA 22310

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 53 schools in Alexandria. Learn more

Enrollment

49

Student-Teacher

5.9:1

Score

7.0

Grades

7th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Alexandria

#11 of 27

public schools

Virginia high schools

#33 of 57

About The Howard Gardner School

The Howard Gardner School is a regular public high school located in the Fairfax area of Alexandria, Virginia. Serving students from seventh through twelfth grade, the school has an enrollment of just 49 students, creating a small and intimate learning environment with a student-to-teacher ratio of 5.9:1. This allows for personalized attention and support for each student.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting, offering easy access to local amenities and transportation. While the MySchoolScout rating stands at 4.2 out of 10, placing it around the 59th percentile among Virginia schools, there are no specific test score data available to provide context for academic performance. The Howard Gardner School focuses on fostering a nurturing atmosphere where students can grow both academically and personally.

The school's setting in Alexandria provides a suburban community that balances quiet residential areas with convenient access to nearby urban centers and cultural attractions.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 49 students, The Howard Gardner School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.9:1, The Howard Gardner School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, The Howard Gardner School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How The Howard Gardner School compares to 16 public schools serving similar grades in Alexandria, VA

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.9:1
This School
vs
13.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
49
This School
vs
1,701
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.0
This School
vs
6.8
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 49% vs 0%
Black 16.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 12.2% vs 0%
Asian 12.2% vs 0%
The Howard Gardner School Alexandria Public Avg

Nearby High Schools

School Rating
The Howard Gardner School (this school) 7.0
Twain Middle 7.5
Edison High 7.2
Patrick Henry K-8 School 5.5
West Potomac High 6.8
Bryant High 7.4
Francis C. Hammond Middle 4.7
Hayfield Secondary 6.4
Holmes Middle 6.3
Alexandria City High School 5.7
Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology 8.6
Glasgow Middle 5.9
Jefferson-Houston PK-8 School 7.1
Whitman Middle 8.0
George Washington Middle 6.9
Mount Vernon High 8.0
Sandburg Middle 7.0

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in VA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.9:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C+ 3.9 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,164
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 68%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 3.8 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 49
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in VA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 49.0%
Black 16.3%
Hispanic 12.2%
Asian 12.2%
Two or More 8.2%
Native American 2.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4913 FRANCONIA RD, Alexandria, VA 22310

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The Howard Gardner School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. BROWNE ACADEMY (rated 8.2/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Clermont Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Rose Hill Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Alexandria, see our Alexandria schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Rose Hill Elementary Alexandria 0.4 mi 7.7
Twain Middle Alexandria 0.4 mi 7.5
Bush Hill Elementary Alexandria 0.4 mi 7.6
Clermont Elementary Alexandria 0.7 mi 7.9
Edison High Alexandria 0.9 mi 7.2
CARD ACADEMY ALEXANDRIA Alexandria 1.2 mi 7.5
LITTLE ACORN PATCH AT KINGSTOWNE Alexandria 1.0 mi
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary Alexandria 1.4 mi 4.5
Virginia Hills Early Childhood Resource Center Alexandria 1.2 mi 7.0
RIVER FARM COOPERATIVE SCHOOL Alexandria 1.4 mi 5.7
Franconia Elementary Alexandria 1.5 mi 6.9
Groveton Elementary Alexandria 1.8 mi 5.0
Cameron Elementary Alexandria 1.7 mi 6.8
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA Alexandria 1.7 mi 6.4
Patrick Henry K-8 School Alexandria 2.2 mi 5.5
BROWNE ACADEMY Alexandria 1.9 mi 8.2
James K. Polk Elementary Alexandria 2.4 mi 5.2
ST STEPHENS & ST AGNES SCHOOL - UPPER SCHOOL Alexandria 2.3 mi 5.5
CALVARY ROAD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Alexandria 2.2 mi 6.3
CALVARY ROAD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Alexandria 2.2 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 22310 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$160,872

Median Home Value

$627,400

Median Rent

$2,396/mo

Population

29,120

College Educated

64%

Homeownership

78.3%

Avg Commute

32.2 min

Poverty Rate

2.5%

Median Age

39.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding The Howard Gardner School has a median household income of $160,872. It is a well-educated community where 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $627,400, with a median rent of $2,396/month. The local poverty rate of 2.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 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
BENJAMIN & LILLIAN ROCHKIND YESHIVA OF VIRGINIA Richmond, VA 7.0
Richmond Career Education and Employment Charter School Richmond, VA 7.0
FUSION ACADEMY ALYKANDRIA Alexandria, VA 6.9
COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL Roanoke, VA 7.2
THE HAGUE SCHOOL Norfolk, VA 6.8
RENAISSANCE SCHOOL Charlottesville, VA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The Howard Gardner School

What grades does The Howard Gardner School serve?

The Howard Gardner School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend The Howard Gardner School?

The Howard Gardner School has an enrollment of approximately 49 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Howard Gardner School?

The student-teacher ratio at The Howard Gardner School is 5.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does The Howard Gardner School rank in VA?

The Howard Gardner School is ranked #133 out of 457 private schools in VA.

What is The Howard Gardner School's MySchoolScout rating?

The Howard Gardner School has a composite rating of 7.0 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.

Is The Howard Gardner School a private school?

Yes, The Howard Gardner School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is The Howard Gardner School a religious school?

No, The Howard Gardner School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
60 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
47 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,862/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Alexandria). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
49
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
194 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
FAIRFAX
Data Year
2022–2023

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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