School Ratings

Best Schools by City

School quality is one of the strongest predictors of home value. Families moving to Virginia, DC, or Maryland want to know: where are the best schools, and what will it cost to live near them?

Below you will find school quality ratings for 45 cities, based on SOL pass rates and top school performance. Each city also shows walkability and safety data so you can compare the full picture, not just test scores. Cities like Falls Church (% pass rate) and Vienna (92% pass rate) lead the region.

45

Cities Covered

10

Excellent Districts

30

Strong Districts

Excellent10 cities
Strong30 cities

Centreville, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate84%

Top school: Centreville High School

25 WalkVery Safe

Williamsburg, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate84%

Top school: Lafayette High School

35 WalkAverage

Reston, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate83%

Top school: South Lakes High School

45 WalkSafe

Springfield, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate82%

Top school: West Springfield High School

32 WalkSafe

Lorton, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate81%

Top school: South County High School

18 WalkSafe

Herndon, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate80%

Top school: Herndon High School

40 WalkSafe

Annapolis, MD

Strong
SOL Pass Rate80%

Top school: Annapolis High School

45 WalkBelow Average

Charlottesville, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate80%

Top school: Charlottesville High School

48 WalkBelow Average

Gainesville, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate80%

Top school: Gainesville High School

18 WalkVery Safe

Frederick, MD

Strong
SOL Pass Rate79%

Top school: Urbana High School

42 WalkAverage

Chesapeake, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate79%

Top school: Grassfield High School

18 WalkSafe

Chesterfield, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate79%

Top school: Cosby High School

Bristow, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate79%

Top school: Patriot High School

15 WalkVery Safe

Alexandria, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate78%

Top school: T.C. Williams High School

57 WalkAverage

Germantown, MD

Strong
SOL Pass Rate78%

Top school: Northwest High School

28 WalkSafe

Henrico, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate78%

Top school: Deep Run High School

Warrenton, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate78%

Top school: Fauquier High School

32 Walk

Stafford, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate77%

Top school: North Stafford High School

15 WalkSafe

Severn, MD

Strong
SOL Pass Rate77%

Top school: Meade High School

Gaithersburg, MD

Strong
SOL Pass Rate76%

Top school: Quince Orchard High School

42 WalkAverage

Bowie, MD

Strong
SOL Pass Rate75%

Top school: Bowie High School

22 WalkAverage

Winchester, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate75%

Top school: John Handley High School

Spotsylvania, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate74%

Top school: Riverbend High School

14 WalkSafe

Harrisonburg, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate74%

Top school: Harrisonburg High School

Fredericksburg, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate73%

Top school: James Monroe High School

42 WalkBelow Average

Woodbridge, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate73%

Top school: Woodbridge High School

22 WalkSafe

Manassas, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate72%

Top school: Osbourn High School

38 WalkAverage

Suffolk, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate72%

Top school: Nansemond River High School

Lynchburg, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate72%

Top school: E.C. Glass High School

Dumfries, VA

Strong
SOL Pass Rate71%

Top school: Forest Park High School

Average5 cities

Compare Cities Side by Side

See how school quality, home prices, commute times, and safety compare across cities.

How smover Rates School Quality

smover rates school quality using Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) pass rates, Maryland state assessment data, and DC OSSE reports. Schools are grouped into three tiers:

  • Excellent (85%+ pass rate): Top-performing schools that attract strong buyer demand
  • Strong (70-84% pass rate): Solid schools with good outcomes for families
  • Average (below 70% pass rate): Mixed results overall, with standout schools in certain areas

These ratings help home buyers understand school quality at a glance. Individual schools within each city may perform above or below the city average. Walkability and safety badges on each card give you the full neighborhood picture.

Data from 2024 DOE public reports. Enrichment data from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Walk scores from WalkScore.com. Safety data from FBI UCR. Updated annually.

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