Top Schools Methodology
While schools offer much more than test scores, academic results are the major factor in sending a child to school. To determine the top 25 percent of Northern Virginia elementary and middle schools, we used four different attributes to rank them, and they are ranked only in relation to other schools within that county. For high schools we used five attributes. The attributes used to rank schools in the counties all point to school academic quality. They are: the percentage of students who passed the 2015-16 Standards of Learning test (SOLs); the percentage of students who performed above average on the SOLs; the average SOL pass rate over a three-year time period (2013-2016); and the percentage of students who receive free/reduced lunch. For high schools we also factored in the percentage of students who graduated with advanced diplomas in the 2015-16 year. All information is from the Virginia Department of Education.
The attributes are weighted to determine a school’s final ranking; 2015-16 SOL scores count the most, Advanced Proficiency next, 2013-2016 SOL pass rates third and free/reduced lunch percentage last. For high schools, the advanced diploma percentages were ranked highest followed by the above statistics. We’ve also listed useful information such as teacher credentials, safety records and awards to give a better snapshot of a school.
Key
Advanced Diploma: percentage of students who graduated with an advanced diploma
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: percentage of students who passed the Standards of Learning test
Advanced Proficiency SOL Pass Rate (Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate): percentage of students who performed above average on the 2015-16 SOLs
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: average SOL pass rate over a three-year time period, showing long-term academic performance
Free/Reduced Lunch (F/R): percentage of students who received free or reduced lunch, showing the socio-economic breakdown of a school
Note: If any of the above information was not available for a school that school was not included.
(1) Marshall Middle
4048 Zulla Road, Marshall
(2) Longfellow Middle
2000 Westmoreland St., Falls Church
(3) Cooper Middle
977 Balls Hill Road, McLean
(4) Rocky Run Middle
4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly
(5) Carson Middle
13618 McLearen Road, Herndon
(6) Mary G. Porter Traditional
15311 Forest Grove Drive, Woodbridge
(7) Frost Middle
4101 Pickett Road, Fairfax
(8) Auburn Middle
7270 Riley Road, Warrenton
(9) Warrenton Middle
244 Waterloo St., Warrenton
Student Population: 440
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 83.8
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 19.4
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 82.73
F/R: 14.9
Teacher Credentials: 41% bachelor’s, 57% master’s
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: N/A
(10) J. Michael Lunsford Middle
26020 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly
(11) Kilmer Middle
8100 Wolftrap Road, Vienna
(12) Farmwell Station Middle
44281 Gloucester Parkway, Ashburn
(13) Belmont Ridge Middle
19045 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg
(14) Thoreau Middle
2505 Cedar Lane, Vienna
Student Population: 858
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92.2
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 30.6
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 85.86
F/R: 10.4
Teacher Credentials: 17% bachelor’s, 83% master’s
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
(15) Franklin Middle
3300 Lees Corner Road, Chantilly
Student Population: 862
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 92
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 34
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 85.53
Teacher Credentials: 26% bachelor’s, 69% master’s, 4% doctoral
F/R: 14
Safety: 0 incidents
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
(16) Eagle Ridge Middle
42901 Waxpool Road, Ashburn
(17) Gainesville Middle
8001 Limestone Drive, Gainesville
(18) Irving Middle
8100 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield
Student Population: 982
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 90.6
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 25
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 85.13
F/R: 12.7
Teacher Credentials: 28% bachelor’s, 70% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 10 offenses against persons, 30 disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses
Awards: 2014-15 and 2015-16 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award
(19) Mercer Middle
42149 Greenstone Drive, Aldie
Student Population: 1,583
2015-16 SOL Pass Rate: 90.75
Adv. Prof. SOL Pass Rate: 28
2013-2016 Average SOL Pass Rate: 83.86
F/R: 8.4
Teacher Credentials: 30% bachelor’s, 68% master’s, 1% doctoral
Safety: 34 offenses against persons
Awards: 2014-15 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award