McLean Named America's Fifth Most Educated Town

Pat yourselves on the back, McLean, because a recent study of the most educated places in America found McLean to be the entire country’s fifth-most-educated town.

The study was conducted by financial website Nerd Wallet using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the following formula:

• The percentage of residents with at least a high school diploma or associate degree is 40% of the score.
• The percentage of residents with at least a bachelor’s degree is 30% of the score.
• The percentage of residents with at least a master’s degree is 10% of the score.
• The percentage of residents with a doctorate degree is 10% of the score.
• The percentage of residents with a professional degree is 10% of the score.

Based on these criteria, McLean trailed only Palo Alto, Calif., Potomac, Md., Brookline, Mass., and Bethesda, Md., meaning that although it ranked fifth in the nation it only ranked third in its major metropolitan region (the D.C. area). However, McLean did rank first out of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Here’s what the study had to say about McLean:

Like Potomac, McLean is home to many Washington, D.C., commuters, including members of Congress and other government officials. Major corporations, such as Hilton WorldWide and Capital One, are based here. Nearly 81 percent of residents, the third highest on our list, have earned bachelor’s degrees. This Virginia community is close to a host of universities in the capital area.

McLean’s two public high schools — Langley and McLean High Schools — each ranked in the top 30 on a recent list of Virginia’s best high school teachers.

McLean wasn’t alone among Northern Virginia towns on the list. Arlington ranked No. 21, Oakton ranked No. 31, Reston finished No. 48 and Alexandria was No. 86.

And on Nerd Wallet’s list of the most educated “large cities,” Arlington placed No. 1 overall with D.C. not far behind at No. 5.