Best Public Schools in Richmond, VA

The city of Richmond, Virginia is home to 110 schools, including 70 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 19 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The schools in this diverse district serve students from a wide range of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds, with varying levels of academic performance.

Several schools stand out in the data, including Open High, which ranks 5th out of 329 Virginia high schools and has a 5-star rating, as well as Richmond Community High, which ranks 41st and has a 4-star rating. These schools boast exceptional test scores, with 100% proficiency in several subjects. On the other hand, schools like Huguenot High and Fairfield Court Elementary struggle with lower proficiency rates and high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant socioeconomic challenges.

The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance across the district, with a clear correlation between socioeconomic status and student outcomes. While some schools, like Nuckols Farm Elementary and Tuckahoe Elementary, achieve exceptional results, others face significant hurdles. The wide range in spending per student, from $6,186 at Meadowbrook High to $77,114 at Amelia Street Special Education, suggests that funding inequities may be a contributing factor to the performance gaps observed across the Richmond City Public Schools district.