Private School Review - Established 2003
Randolph-Macon Academy Top 18 · Oldest Founding Date (VA)
BASIS Independent School of McLean Top 3 · Highest Avg. ACT Score (VA)
Chesterbrook Academy Preschool of Fairfax

Best Virginia Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 1,035 private schools serving 152,641 students in Virginia, versus 2,135 public schools serving 1,257,051 students (11% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $14,733 for elementary schools and $18,294 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
46% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 1035
  • # Students Served: 152,641
  • Average Tuition: $15,874
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 30%
  • Acceptance Rate: 82%
  • Average Class Size: 14 students
  • % Students of Color: 31%
  • View Virginia School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 1035
  • # Students Served: 152,641
  • Average Tuition: $15,874
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 30%
  • Acceptance Rate: 82%
  • Average Class Size: 14 students
  • % Students of Color: 31%
  • View Virginia School Trends

Top Ranked Virginia Private Schools (2026-27)

Anna's House Photo
Anna's House
Gr: NS-5 | 54 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Extracurriculars: 2
Christian
101 VSDB Drive
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 906-2662
View Profile
BASIS Independent School of McLean Photo
BASIS Independent School of McLean
Gr: PK-12 | 703 students
Sports: 9 | Extracurriculars: 50
8000 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, VA 22102
(571) 378-5510
(5)
View Profile
Blue Ridge School Photo
Blue Ridge School
Gr: 9-12 | 158 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 16 | Extracurriculars: 6
All-boys
273 Mayo Drive
Dyke, VA 22935
(434) 985-2811
(1)
View Profile
Browne Academy Photo
Browne Academy
Gr: NS-8 | 205 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 7
5917 Telegraph Rd
Alexandria, VA 22310
(703) 960-3000
(9)
View Profile
Cape Henry Collegiate Photo
Cape Henry Collegiate
Gr: PK-12 | 1,102 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 18
1320 Mill Dam Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
(757) 481-2446
(7)
View Profile
Chesapeake Bay Academy Photo
Chesapeake Bay Academy
Gr: 1-12 | 120 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 8
Special Education School
821 Baker Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 497-6200
(2)
View Profile
Congressional School Photo
Congressional School
Gr: NS-8 | 480 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 9 | Extracurriculars: 9
3229 Sleepy Hollow Rd
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 533-9711
(21)
View Profile
Edlin School Photo
Edlin School
Gr: PK-8 | 156 students
Avg. class size: 13 students
Extracurriculars: 15
Specialized Curriculum
10742 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 438-3990
(3)
View Profile
Fairfax Christian School Photo
Fairfax Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 316 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 12 | Extracurriculars: 34
Christian
22870 Pacific Boulevard
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 759-5100
(11)
View Profile
Fishburne Military School Photo
Fishburne Military School
Gr: 7-12 | 150 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 13 | Extracurriculars: 8
All-boys
255 South Wayne Avenue
Waynesboro, VA 22980
(540) 946-7700
(2)
View Profile
Show 10 more private schools in Virginia (out of 1,030 total schools)
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Virginia Private School Trends (10-Year)

1,035
Private Schools
+21.2% (+181 schools) 10-yr
152,641
Students
+34.0% (+38,725 students) 10-yr
$15,874
Avg. Tuition
+23.4% (+$3,011) 10-yr
14
Avg. Class Size
+7.7% (+1 student) 10-yr
31%
Students of Color
-3.1% (-1.0 pp) 10-yr
10:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-9.1% (-1.0) 10-yr
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (VA)
US
# Schools
1,035 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year(VA) Total Schools
20251,025
20241,064
20231,019
2022942
2021984
20201,035
2019999
20181,018
2017927
2016938
2015854
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# Students
152,641 Students
5,690,814 Students

View Largest Virginia Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
2025169179
2024163172
2023167174
2022171185
2021165180
2020158171
2019161175
2018158172
2017166180
2016163178
2015149167
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% Average Students of Color
31%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202531%34%
202431%34%
202331%33%
202230%33%
202129%32%
202029%32%
201928%31%
201828%31%
201731%32%
201631%32%
201532%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeVirginia
Nursey4,216
Pre-K28,919
Kind12,812
18,762
28,418
38,804
48,614
58,841
69,195
79,187
89,313
98,679
108,190
118,478
128,204
Not Listed2,009
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Academics
# Teachers
14,553 Teachers
508,370 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202510:111:1
202411:111:1
202311:111:1
202211:111:1
202111:111:1
202011:112:1
201910:112:1
201810:112:1
201710:112:1
201610:112:1
201511:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
54%
55%

View Virginia Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202554%55%
202453%54%
202354%54%
202254%54%
202154%54%
202052%54%
201953%53%
201853%53%
201753%53%
201653%52%
201551%52%
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Average Class Size
14 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20251415
20241415
20231415
20221415
20211415
20201415
20191415
20181415
20171415
20161415
20151315
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Average Number of AP Courses
12 courses
13 courses

View Virginia Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20251213
20241112
20231111
20221111
20211111
20201111
20191111
20181111
20171110
20161010
20151010
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Average SAT score
1229
(Out of 1600)
1234

View Average Private School SAT Scores in Virginia

SAT Score Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202512251233
202412341230
202312271228
202212261229
202112201229
202012161226
201912161226
201812221226
201712261233
201612671306
201512341258
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Average ACT score
27
(Out of 36)
26

View Average Private School ACT Scores in Virginia

ACT Score Trends (2016-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20252726
20242726
20232726
20222726
20212626
20202625
20192625
20182625
20172625
20162625
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$15,874
$13,722

View Virginia Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
2025$17,414$15,012
2024$15,256$13,254
2023$15,221$12,626
2022$14,456$12,187
2021$14,203$11,800
2020$14,291$11,512
2019$14,111$11,293
2018$13,894$11,017
2017$13,323$10,708
2016$12,876$10,356
2015$12,863$9,939
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Average Summer Program Cost
$1,108
$1,154

Summer Program Cost Trends (2018-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
2025$1,103$1,152
2024$1,097$1,128
2023$1,410$1,156
2022$803$1,102
2021$764$1,125
2020$1,693$1,217
2019$2,190$1,305
2018$1,651$1,108
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Average % on Financial Aid
30%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202530%34%
202430%34%
202329%34%
202229%33%
202129%33%
202027%32%
201927%31%
201826%30%
201725%30%
201625%29%
201524%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$8,820
$7,264

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
2025$8,819$7,073
2024$8,571$6,930
2023$8,585$6,469
2022$8,791$6,289
2021$8,283$6,055
2020$7,664$5,921
2019$6,891$5,795
2018$6,928$5,456
2017$6,662$5,319
2016$6,697$5,105
2015$6,226$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
82%
85%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Virginia

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202578%81%
202483%85%
202384%85%
202283%85%
202184%85%
202084%85%
201985%85%
201884%85%
201785%85%
201684%85%
201584%85%
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Average Endowment Size
$43.14 million
$31.51 million

View Average Private School endowment in Virginia

Endowment Trends (2018-2025)

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
2025$45 M$39 M
2024$52 M$39 M
2023$55 M$39 M
2022$55 M$40 M
2021$52 M$40 M
2020$46 M$40 M
2019$51 M$40 M
2018$60 M$43 M
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Students by Ethnicity
0.65
0.65

View Virginia Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20250.650.65
20240.650.65
20230.650.65
20220.640.64
20210.640.64
20200.640.64
20190.620.63
20180.620.63
20170.610.61
20160.600.61
20150.620.61
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# American Indian Students
492 Students
29,815 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
8,941 Students
264,431 Students
% Asian Students
6%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20257%5%
20247%5%
20237%5%
20225%4%
20216%4%
20205%4%
20195%4%
20185%4%
20174%4%
20165%4%
20155%4%
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# Hispanic Students
6,674 Students
506,701 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20254%9%
20244%9%
20234%9%
20224%8%
20214%9%
20204%9%
20193%8%
20184%8%
20173%8%
20163%8%
20153%8%
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# Black Students
11,974 Students
415,622 Students
% Black Students
8%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
20258%7%
20248%7%
20238%8%
20228%7%
20218%7%
20209%8%
20198%7%
20188%7%
20178%7%
20168%7%
20159%8%
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# White Students
73,416 Students
2,929,758 Students
% White Students
49%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202549%52%
202449%52%
202348%52%
202251%54%
202151%54%
202052%54%
201953%56%
201853%56%
201756%58%
201656%58%
201553%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
370 Students
20,065 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
47,723 Students
1,473,929 Students
% of Others Students
32%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearVirginia (VA) AvgNational
202532%26%
202432%26%
202333%25%
202232%25%
202131%25%
202030%24%
201931%24%
201830%23%
201729%22%
201628%22%
201530%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Virginia?
The top-ranked private schools in Virginia include Fairfax Christian School, Powhatan School, and The Madeira School.
How many private schools are located in Virginia?
There are 1,035 private schools are located in Virginia.
How much do private schools cost in Virginia?
The average private school tuition in Virginia is $14,733 for elementary schools and $18,294 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Virginia?
Approximately 31% of students in Virginia private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Virginia go to private school?
11% of all K-12 students in Virginia attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Virginia?
46% of private schools in Virginia are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.
Which private schools in Virginia are often viewed compared to one another?

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