January 15, 2024
Are you a Virginia parent actively searching for the best-fit private schools for your child or teen? If so, no matter the current age of your student, you are likely interested in the college preparation and counseling offered by each prospective school. Of course, in addition to that particular angle, you will also need to balance your teen’s academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. Are you seeking a boarding or day school? Do you want your child’s high school to have a religious affiliation?However, College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in Virginia will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each of the schools do at sending their graduates on to the region/nation’s premier 4-year schools.
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Best Private Schools in Virginia
Here’s a quick preview of the schools that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.
1) Basis Independent McClean
2) The Potomac School
3) Collegiate School
4) Episcopal High School
5) Norfolk Academy
6) St. Christopher’s School
7) St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
8) The Madeira School
9) Flint Hill School
10) Woodberry Forest School
Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Virginia list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear is not representative of any further ranking; the numbering is solely intended to enhance the ease of navigating this resource. All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the top colleges in the country. For the best private high schools in Virginia, College Transitions will provide you with each school’s:
- Location
- Tuition (9-12)
- Enrollment (9-12)
- Average SAT Score
- Average ACT Score
- Senior Class Size
- College Admissions Highlights
- Academic Highlights
Without further ado, let’s look at the best private schools in Virginia.
#1 Best Private Schools in Virginia
Basis Independent McClean – Virginia
- 8000 Jones Branch Dr, McLean, VA 22102
College Admissions Highlights:In the last three years, students have gained acceptance to Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, John Hopkins, Middlebury, Northwestern, Pomona, Princeton, UChicago, UMich, Penn, Vanderbilt, WashU, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 44% of teachers have advance degrees. 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students begin AP coursework in 9th. 95% AP exam pass rate. In 2023, 42% of students received AP Scholar Distinction. 50+ sports, clubs and activities offered. Nearly 80% of the student body participated in a club, activity or sport; 50% participated in at least two.
- Tuition (9-12): $36,800
- Enrollment (Seniors): 174
- Average SAT Score: 1482
- Average ACT Score: 33
#2 Best Private Schools in Virginia
The Potomac School – Virginia
- 1301 Potomac School Rd, McLean, VA 22101
College Admissions Highlights: 2020-2023 had multiple students attend the following schools: BC (12), BU (7), Brown (7), William & Mary (20), Dartmouth (11), Duke (8), Georgetown (10), Harvard (10), NYU (7), Northwestern (8), Stanford (6), UChicago (8), Penn (10), UVA (21), Wake Forest (13), Washington & Lee (8), and WashU (7).
Academic Highlights: 71% of faculty have advanced degrees. The average class size is 15. 44% students of color. The Class of 2024 had 19 National Merit Commended Scholars and 7 Semifinalists. 34 advanced and 30 honors level courses. 70% of AP test-takers earned a 4 or 5.
- Tuition (9-12): $49,200
- Enrollment (seniors): 117
- Average SAT Score: 1388
- Average ACT Score: 31.6
#3 Best Private Schools in Virginia
Collegiate School – Virginia
- 103 N Mooreland Rd, Richmond, VA 23229
College Admissions Highlights: The institutions saw multiple members of the Class of 2023 enroll: UVA (20), VaTech (10), William & Mary (6), UGA (4), Bucknell (3), Penn State (3), Duke (2), UCLA (2), UChicago (2), UPenn (2), and Wake Forest (2). One member of the Class of 2023 enrolled in Amherst, BC, Dartmouth, Georgetown, UNC Chapel Hill, and USC.
Academic Highlights: 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 167 of 231 faculty hold advanced degrees. 51 students received National Merit recognition between 2020 and 2023. 23% student body diversity. 78 athletic teams. 42 performing arts ensembles.
- Tuition (9-12): $31,410
- Enrollment (9-12): 567
- Mid-50% SAT Score: 1200-1430
- Mid-50% ACT Score: 26-32
#4 Best Private Schools in Virginia
Episcopal High School – Virginia
- 1200 N Quaker Ln, Alexandria, VA 22302
College Admissions Highlights: Large numbers of students from the Classes of 2020 to 2023 have matriculated into: BC (5), Cornell (4), Dartmouth (3), Duke (6), Georgetown (9), NYU (8), Princeton (3), Yale (7), Wake Forest (18), Washington & Lee (20), UVA (31), USC (5), UChicago (5), UNC Chapel Hill (31), US Military Academy (5), and Notre Dame (3).
Academic Highlights: Episcopal is 100% residential – all students are boarded. 90% of faculty live on campus. Offer more than 40 Honors or Advanced classes. 82% of students taking AP exams achieved a score of 3 or better. 48 interscholastic teams including 29 varsity in 17 sports. 80% of student participate in athletics.
- Tuition (9-12): $69,700 (Includes Boarding)
- Enrollment (9-12): 450
- Mid-50% SAT Score: Not Reported
- Mid-50% ACT Score: Not Reported
#5 Best Private Schools in Virginia
Norfolk Academy – Virginia
- 1585 Wesleyan Dr, Norfolk, VA 23502
College Admissions Highlights: Members of the last five graduating classes went on to enroll at Amherst, Bates, BC, Brown, Colby, CalTech, Cornell, Duke, Dartmouth, Emory, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Pepperdine, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, UChicago, UMich, Notre Dame, Penn, UVA, Vanderbilt, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Norfolk Academy was founded in 1728. 95% of students graduate having taken at least 3 lab sciences. In 2023, 265 AP Exams were taken and 87% scored 3 or above. All students complete 3 levels of a modern foreign language. Signature programs include Batten Leadership – 3 year co-curricular, Medical Scholars – partnering with local physicians, and a Renaissance Reading – reading faculty-sponsored texts outside of curriculum.
- Tuition (10-12): $27,200
- Enrollment (seniors): 113
- Middle 50% SAT Score: 1344
- Middle 50% ACT Score: 28
#6 Best Private Schools in Virginia
St. Christopher’s School – Virginia
- 711 St Christopher’s Rd, Richmond, VA 23226
College Admissions Highlights: From 2019-2023, grads have attended the likes of Brown, Colorado College, William and Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, GaTech, Hamilton, NYU, Princeton, Purdue, Stanford, US Air Force Academy, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, UVA, and Wesleyan.
Academic Highlights: All boys school. The average class size in the upper school is 16. 17% students of color. X-Term is a year-long experiential learning opportunity held in conjunction with St Catherine’s School. Art classes include music, theatre, visual and industrial arts. Over 15 athletic programs with 20+ teams.
- Tuition (9-12): $32,200
- Enrollment (JK-12): 1001
- Average SAT Score: Not Reported
- Average ACT Score: Not Reported
#7 Best Private Schools in Virginia
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School – Virginia
- 1000 St Stephens Rd, Alexandria, VA 22304
College Admissions Highlights:The Class of 2022 enrolled in colleges such as Yale, Northwestern, UVA, UMich, Harvard, Oberlin, Denison, Bates, the US Air Force Academy, UChicago, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, Lafayette, Colgate, Northeastern, Cornell, William and Mary, and Notre Dame.
Academic Highlights: The average class size is 15. 34.2% US Diversity. 29 AP courses are on the menu. Students have an opportunity to earn two certificate awards with their diploma in World Language and STEM. Art program has visual arts, performing arts, and Fire & Stone (Literary Magazine). 36 athletic teams available to upper school students. Annual Red and Green color war is a chance for faculty and students to work together to win the team banner.
- Tuition (9-12): $49,030
- Enrollment (seniors): 118
- Average SAT Score: Not Reported
- Average ACT Score: Not Reported
#8 Best Private Schools in Virginia
The Madeira School – Virginia
- 8328 VA-193, McLean, VA 22102
College Admissions Highlights: The 74 seniors in the Class of 2023 matriculated into schools such as: BU, Brown, Bryn Mawr, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley (2), UCLA, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, UMichigan (2), Northeastern, NYU (2), UVA (3), Wake Forest, Tulane (2), Notre Dame, and William & Mary (2)
Academic Highlights: Madeira is an all-girls school. 4:1 student: adult ratio. 91% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Students come from 37 countries and 19 states. 13% international students. 43% students of color. 85% of students who take AP exams achieve scores eligible for college credit. 100+ sport, activities and clubs. Teams in 12 sports and an equestrian program. Students graduate with 3 Internships.
- Tuition (9-12): $69,500 (Boarding), $54,200 (Day)
- Enrollment (9-12): 336
- Average SAT Score: Not Reported
- Average ACT Score: Not Reported
#9 Best Private Schools in Virginia
Flint Hill School – Virginia
- 3320 Jermantown Rd, Oakton, VA 22124
College Admissions Highlights: The Class of 2023-2024 earned acceptances to the likes of Amherst, BC, Case Western, Cornell, Columbia, Drexel, Duke, Georgetown, MIT, UGA, UMiami, Northeastern, Penn State, Fordham, SMU, VaTech, Purdue, UMichigan, Stanford, USC, and UVA.
Academic Highlights: 77% of teachers possess advanced degrees. 9:1 student-teacher ratio. There are 23 AP and 3 post AP offerings. Award-winning Robotics and Cybersecurity Teams. Classics department offers courses in Latin & Ancient Greek. 63 fine arts courses offered. 89 athletic teams.
- Tuition (9-12): $52,415
- Enrollment (Upper School): 580
- Mid-50% SAT Score: Not Reported
- Mid-50% ACT Score: Not Reported
#10 Best Private Schools in Virginia
Woodberry Forest School – Virginia
- 898 Woodberry Forest Rd, Woodberry Forest, VA 22989
College Admissions Highlights:From 2021-2023, students enrolled at the following schools: Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Kenyon, Northeastern, NYU, Princeton, Tulane, US Naval Academy, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, USC, UVA, Wake Forest, and Washington & Lee.
Academic Highlights: Woodberry is a boarding school for boys. 36 countries and 34 states are represented. 25% students of color. 11% students are international. 6:1 Student-to-Faculty ratio. 97% of faculty live on campus.Nearly 40% of students are involved in one of eight music ensembles. 5 major theatre production annually. 38 Athletic teams with 18 sports. 40+ clubs and organizations.
- Tuition (9-12): $65,350 (Boarding)
- Enrollment (seniors): 90
- Average SAT Score: Not Reported
- Average ACT Score: Not Reported
Best Private Schools in Virginia – Other Resources
We hope you found our blog on the best private schools in Virginia to be helpful. All high school students and families may wish to explore further information regarding the college search and admissions process at our Dataverse, Blog, and List-Building Tool.
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Dave Bergman
Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).
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