Best Private Schools in Virginia – 2025
February 24, 2025
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.
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.
Basis Independent McClean – Virginia
- 8000 Jones Branch Dr, McLean, VA 22102
College Admissions Highlights: A recent sample over a 3 year period, students have gained acceptance to Amherst, BC, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, John Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMich, Penn, Vanderbilt, WashU, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 77% of teachers have advance degrees. 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students begin AP coursework in 9th. 98% AP exam pass rate. 19 recognized National Merit scholars & 1 winner. 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.
The Potomac School – Virginia
- 1301 Potomac School Rd, McLean, VA 22101
College Admissions Highlights: Graduates from Potomac over the last four years have matriculated to the following schools: BC, BU, Brown, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, UCLA, U Chicago, Miami, Michigan, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, VaTech, Wake Forest, Washington U, William & Mary, WPI, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 72% of faculty have advanced degrees. The average class size is 15. 45% students of color. 42 advanced level courses. 95% of AP test-takers earned a 3 or higher. 74 teams for 24 sports (7-12). Special concentration programs include: Global Perspectives & Citizenship, Science & Engineering Research, Visual & Performing arts, and Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship & Business.
Collegiate School – Virginia
- 103 N Mooreland Rd, Richmond, VA 23229
College Admissions Highlights: The institutions saw multiple members of the over the last 4 years enroll: Amherst, BC, Bucknell, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Kenyon, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Princeton, Swarthmore, Texas A&M, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, UGA, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, and William & Mary.
Academic Highlights: Collegiate School has a focused initiative on Responsible Citizenship which includes civic engagement, economic literacy, and sustainability. 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 71.1% faculty hold advanced degrees. 57 students received National Merit recognition over the last 4 years. 23% student body diversity. 81 athletic teams. 42 performing arts ensembles.
Episcopal High School – Virginia
- 1200 N Quaker Ln, Alexandria, VA 22302
College Admissions Highlights: Classes over the last 5 years from Episcopal have matriculated to: BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Howard, John Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Texas A&M, Tufts, US Military Academy, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, and Yale.
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.
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, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, NC State, Pepperdine, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, US Military Acad, UCLA, U Chicago, U Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, Tennessee, UT Austin, Vanderbilt, Washington U, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Norfolk Academy was founded in 1728. 95% of students graduate having taken at least 3 lab sciences. 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.
St. Christopher’s School – Virginia
- 711 St Christopher’s Rd, Richmond, VA 23226
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, graduates from St. Christopher’s have attended the likes of Bowdoin, Brown, Bucknell, Cal Tech, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, GaTech, Hamilton, Indiana, Kenyon, NYU, Penn State, Princeton, Purdue, SMU, Stanford, Tennessee, US Air Force Acad, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, UVA, Villanova, VaTech, Wake Forest, 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. 14 interscholastic sports teams. 25 student clubs.
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School – Virginia
- 1000 St Stephens Rd, Alexandria, VA 22304
College Admissions Highlights: A three year sample of colleges St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School graduates attended include: American, Bates, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Davidson, Drexel, Georgetown, Ga Tech, Harvard, Howard, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Skidmore, SMY, Ohio State, US Air Force Acad, UCLA, U Chicago, Florida, Michigan, UNC Chapel hill, PUSC, Tennessee, UVA, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wesleyan, WPT, & Yale.
Academic Highlights: The average class size is 15. 30% US Diversity. 34 AP courses are on the menu. 76% of faculty with advanced degrees. Students have an opportunity to earn two certificate awards with their diploma in World Language and STEM. ~50 visual & performing art annual events. 3 robotics teams. 20+ sports.
The Madeira School – Virginia
- 8328 VA-193, McLean, VA 22102
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, Madeira girls have matriculated to: BC, Brandeis, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Cal Poly, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Georgetown, Harvard, Hofstra, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rice, Spelman, Stanford, Tufts, UCLA, U Chicago, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Washington U, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Madeira is an all-girls school. 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 91% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Students come from 43 countries and 22 states. 49% are students of color & 13% are international. 100+ sports, activities, & clubs.
Flint Hill School – Virginia
- 3320 Jermantown Rd, Oakton, VA 22124
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last 3 years, students have earned acceptances to the likes of Amherst, BC, Bryn Mawr, Bucknell, Case Western, Cornell, Columbia, Drexel, Duke, Fordham, George Washington, Georgetown, GaTech, Hofstra, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Oberlin, Penn State, Purdue, RIT, Rice, SMU, Stanford, Texas A&M, Tufts, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, U Mass, UMichigan, USC, UVA ,VaTech, Washington U, and William & Mary.
Academic Highlights: 77% of teachers possess advanced degrees. 7:1 student-teacher ratio with an average class size of 18. 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.
Woodberry Forest School – Virginia
- 898 Woodberry Forest Rd, Woodberry Forest, VA 22989
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last three years, Woodberry graduates were admitted to the following schools: BU, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, William & Mary, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Grinnell, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, Kenyon, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Princeton, RPI, Rice, SMU, UT Austin, US Military Acad, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, Michigan, Mizzou, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Washington & Lee, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Woodberry is a boarding school for boys. 39 countries and 26 states are represented. 26% 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. 3-5 major theatre production annually. 38 Athletic teams with 18 sports. 40+ clubs and organizations.
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.
