Photo: Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 3.0Alexandria’s public schools score below 80% of Virginia districts on tests and graduation
40% of students in Alexandria’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Virginia average (54%). The grade covers the public school district serving Alexandria, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Virginia, not nationally.
From Virginia state tests taken in spring 2021, when about 7 in 10 of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Alexandria’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 141 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Alexandria’s, its schools beat 1%, lower than their 20% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $21,928 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
14 elementary schools, then four middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Bishop Ireton High School (private), The Basilica School of ST. Mary (private), Episcopal High School (private), Immanuel Lutheran School (private), Blessed Sacrament Grade School & Early Childhood C (private), Alexandria Country Day School (private), Grace Episcopal School (private), Vinci School LLC (private), The Linder Academy (private), The del Ray Montessori School (private), Blue Bird of Alexandria II (private) and The Living Water School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Alexandria’s grade
C−: better than 20% of Virginia school districts, #232 of 250 Virginia towns. Both inputs trail the Virginia average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Alexandria, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Alexandria
Alexandria City High
Grades 9–12 · 4,655 students · 15:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Alexandria
Alexandria City High
Grades 9–12 · 4,655 students · 15:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Alexandria
Alexandria City High
Grades 9–12 · 4,655 students · 15:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Alexandria
Alexandria City High
Grades 9–12 · 4,655 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Alexandria’s public schools are run by Alexandria City Public Schools. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
How students score
Alexandria vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Alexandria’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | C− | Alexandria City |
Washington, DC borders Alexandria but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.
Every school in Alexandria
30 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Virginia’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home and Governor's Health Science Academy at T.C. Williams High).
Questions about Alexandria’s schools
Are Alexandria’s schools good?
On Virginia’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Alexandria children attend score below 80% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #232 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 1%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Alexandria in?
Alexandria City Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 16,575 students in 18 schools (2024–25).
Where do Alexandria kids go to high school?
Alexandria City High, with 4,655 students; its own test results earn a C+.
What is Alexandria’s graduation rate?
80% of the class of 2023 in Alexandria City Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.
How much does Alexandria spend per student?
$21,928 in Alexandria City Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Alexandria?
Yes: Bishop Ireton High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 921 students), The Basilica School of ST. Mary (Catholic, grades PK–8, 739 students), Episcopal High School (religious, grades 9–12, 466 students), Immanuel Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 348 students), Blessed Sacrament Grade School & Early Childhood C (Catholic, grades PK–8, 278 students), Alexandria Country Day School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 199 students), Grace Episcopal School (religious, grades PK–5, 111 students), Vinci School LLC (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 87 students), The Linder Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 73 students), The del Ray Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 51 students), Blue Bird of Alexandria II (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 44 students) and The Living Water School (religious, grades 2–12, 32 students).
Parents talk
What Alexandria families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Alexandria → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Virginia. Stars are from neighbors.