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Schools in Gainesville · Prince William County Public Schools

Gainesville’s public schools outscore 59% of Virginia districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Gainesville, 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.

#152of 250 Virginia townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Virginia state tests taken in spring 2021, when about 6 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.

Math proficiency
54%
▼ 0 pts vs VA 54%
2020–21
Graduate on time
88%
▼ 1 pts vs VA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.5K
▼ 4% vs VA $17.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.8
VA 13.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
6,239 students on the public path
In brief

Gainesville’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 80 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Gainesville’s, its schools beat 9%, lower than their 59% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,472 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Gainesville Middle, then Gainesville High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Winwood Childrens Center (private) and Primrose School of Haymarket (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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Gainesville’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 59% of Virginia school districts, #152 of 250 Virginia towns. Both inputs trail the Virginia average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Virginia school districts we grade (133)Better than 59%
Lower resultsHigher results
Virginia towns with similar household incomes (80)Better than 9%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 27,773 test results and a graduating class of 7,132 could put Gainesville anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2021, when about 6 in 10 of Gainesville’s students in the tested grades sat them (27,773 students).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Gainesville, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB to A
6–8Gainesville MiddlePrince William County Public SchoolsB+
9–12Gainesville HighPrince William County Public SchoolsNo scores

Gainesville’s public schools are run by Prince William County Public Schools, which also serves Dumfries, Haymarket and Occoquan. 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.

Prince William County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 95 schools · 90,242 students · 15.8 per teacher (VA 13.9)
$16,472VA $17,169 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2020–21

How students score

Math54%
State average 54.4% · 27773 students tested

Gainesville vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Gainesville’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
GainesvilleBPrince William County
HaymarketBPrince William County

Every school in Gainesville

7 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).

District schools in Gainesvilleby address
Haymarket Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Haymarket
A−
963 students19:1Rate it →
Buckland Mills Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
735 students18:1Rate it →
George G. Tyler Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
490 students19:1Rate it →
Gainesville Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
1,403 students16:1Rate it →
Gainesville High
High · Grades 9–12
2,648 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Winwood Childrens Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
149 students6:1Rate it →
Primrose School of Haymarket
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Haymarket
Private · Nonsectarian
44 studentsRate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Pace West).

Questions about Gainesville’s schools

Are Gainesville’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Virginia: the public schools Gainesville children attend outscore 59% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #152 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 9%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Gainesville in?

Prince William County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 90,242 students in 95 schools (2024–25).

Where do Gainesville kids go to high school?

Gainesville High, with 2,648 students.

What is Gainesville’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Prince William County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.

How much does Gainesville spend per student?

$16,472 in Prince William County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Gainesville?

Yes: Winwood Childrens Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 149 students) and Primrose School of Haymarket (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 44 students).

Parents talk

What Gainesville families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gainesville → 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.