These Are Virginia's Top Public High Schools: New Rankings Released

Niche has released its list of the best public high schools in America for 2025.

Coming in at No. 12 is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which is within the Fairfax County Public School System.

For Virginia, TJHS came in at No. 1, with Independence HS in Loudoun County ranking at No. 2, and Washington Liberty HS in Arlington at No. 3. You can click here for a full list of state rankings.

We wanted to break it down further and find the best public high schools in northern Virginia, as ranked by Niche. Here's how it looks:

ARLINGTON (only three listed)

• 1. Washington Liberty HS
• 2. Yorktown HS
• 3. Wakefield HS

FAIRFAX

• 1. Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology
• 2. Oakton HS
• 3. McLean HS
• 4. Lake Braddock Secondary School
• 5. Langley HS
• 6. James Madison HS
• 7. Centreville HS
• 8. Chantilly HS
• 9. W. T. Woodson HS
• 10. West Springfield HS

PRINCE WILLIAM

• 1. Osbourn Park HS
• 2. Battlefield HS
• 3. Charles Colgan Senior HS
• 4. Woodbridge HS
• 5. Patriot HS
• 6. Forest Park HS
• 7. Gainesville HS
• 8. CD Hylton HS
• 9. Brentsville District HS
• 10. Potomac HS

STAFFORD

• 1. Mountain View HS
• 2. Colonial Forge HS
• 3. North Stafford HS
• 4. Brooke Point HS
• 5. Stafford Senior HS

LOUDOUN

• 1. Independence HS
• 2. Rock Ridge HS
• 3. Riverside HS
• 4. John Champe HS
• 5. Freedom HS
• 6. Lightridge HS
• 7. Briar Woods HS
• 8. Stone Bridge HS
• 9. Heritage HS
• 10. Broad Run HS

The rankings are based on "rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Factors include teacher quality, high school ratings, college readiness, state test scores, and graduation rates (click here for more on methodology).

Click here for the full list of best public high schools in Virginia.