Lake Anne Village Center Historic District · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0Reston’s public schools outscore 74% of Virginia districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Reston, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 61% of students in Reston’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Virginia average (54%). 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 8 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.
Reston’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 107 Virginia towns with household incomes within a quarter of Reston’s, its schools beat 37%, lower than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $20,064 per student, against $17,169 across Virginia (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Nine elementary schools, then one middle and one high school
Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Hughes Middle, then South Lakes High. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
The Keystone School (private), Academy of Christian Education (private), Al Fatih Academy (private), Sunset Hills Montessori School (private), Edlin School (private), Ideaventions Academy for Mathematics and Science (private), Children's House Montessori School of Reston (private), Russian Kids House (private) and Fusion Academy, Reston (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 Reston’s grade
B+: better than 74% of Virginia school districts, #63 of 250 Virginia towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Virginia average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Reston, with each school’s own grade.
7th grade in Reston
Hughes Middle
Grades 7–8 · 1,012 students · 14:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Reston
Hughes Middle
Grades 7–8 · 1,012 students · 14:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Reston
South Lakes High
Grades 9–12 · 2,434 students · 12:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Reston
South Lakes High
Grades 9–12 · 2,434 students · 12:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Reston
South Lakes High
Grades 9–12 · 2,434 students · 12:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Reston
South Lakes High
Grades 9–12 · 2,434 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Reston’s public schools are run by Fairfax County Public Schools, which also serves Clifton, Herndon and Vienna. 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
Reston vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Virginia towns that share Reston’s borders.
Every school in Reston
20 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).
1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about Reston’s schools
Are Reston’s schools good?
By Virginia’s own tests, yes: the public schools Reston children attend outscore 74% of Virginia’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #63 of 250 Virginia towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 37%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Reston in?
Fairfax County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 179,323 students in 199 schools (2024–25).
Where do Reston kids go to high school?
South Lakes High, with 2,434 students; its own test results earn a C+.
What is Reston’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Fairfax County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 89% across Virginia.
How much does Reston spend per student?
$20,064 in Fairfax County Public Schools (FY2024), against $17,169 across Virginia. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Reston?
Yes: The Keystone School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 8,873 students), Academy of Christian Education (religious, grades PK–9, 311 students), Al Fatih Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 212 students), Sunset Hills Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 172 students), Edlin School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 142 students), Ideaventions Academy for Mathematics and Science (nonsectarian, grades 2–12, 67 students), Children's House Montessori School of Reston (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 34 students), Russian Kids House (nonsectarian, grades PK–3, 31 students) and Fusion Academy, Reston (nonsectarian, grades 1–12, 27 students).
Parents talk
What Reston families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Reston → 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.