5 Loudoun High Schools Make Top 25 In U.S. News Best In VA Ranking

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Five high schools within the Loudoun County Public Schools system are among the top 25 schools in Virginia, according to a new ranking Tuesday from U.S. News & World Report.

In the 2024 Best High Schools list, Virginia ranks 16th among U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Among the 320 of ranked schools, 19 are in the top 5.9 percent nationally, and 89 were in the top 27.8 percent.

U.S. News ranked 17,660 out of 24,000 reviewed public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The top high schools have students who score exceptionally high on math, reading and science assessments, as well strong performance among under-served students. High school graduation rates and college readiness among graduates are also measured.

Loudoun County schools in the top 25 in Virginia are:

17. Briar Woods High School, Ashburn

18. Freedom High School, South Riding

22. Riverside High School, Leesburg

24. Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn

25. Independence High School, Ashburn

"We are proud of all of our LCPS high schools, and appreciate US News & World Report highlighting the achievements of those schools that excel above and beyond," said LCPS spokesperson Daniel Adams.

Adams said while the ranking incorporates factors like graduation rate, proficiency scores and AP classes, these high schools succeed in additional ways. For example, Briar Woods High School will be one of two locations hosting the new Health and Medical Sciences program next school year, and Rock Ridge High School has received the Blue Ribbon Award for nine consecutive years for excellence in the arts.

According to Adams, Riverside High School was Loudoun's first high school to create a coffee business to train students with special needs in workplace readiness.

"Students interact within the coffee room and the students do everything from making the coffee to handling the cash register in order to learn vital work skills," Adams shared.

Athletics are a highlight at Independence High School, where teams have won regional and state championships in numerous sports. The school was the first in LCPS to win The Virginia Commonwealth Cup last season. Meanwhile, Freedom High School has shined by hosting a charity prom and donating over $100,000 to date to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Here are how other LCPS schools ranked on the new U.S. News list:

38. Broad Run High School, Ashburn

40. John Champe High School, Aldie

57. Potomac Falls High School, Potomac Falls

75. Woodgrove High School, Purcellville

78. Heritage High School, Leesburg

81. Tuscarora High School, Leesburg

82. Loudoun County High School, Leesburg

115. Loudoun Valley High School, Purcellville

181. Dominion High School, Sterling

225. Park View High School, Sterling

SEE ALSO: 19 VA High Schools Make U.S. News 2024 ‘Best’ Ranking