Education is a very vital tool that enhances the future and economic growth of any nation. The most important investment is the one made on human resources. As a result, It is one of the obligations of every family or parent to give their child or ward a qualitative education so as to enable the child grow intellectually, morally, mentally, and otherwise. In this article, we are actually going to look at some of the best prep schools in Virginia.
Going through Kindergarten and Elementary school are the early stages of childhood education. This is given in order to ensure that a child is able to acquire the necessary knowledge band and skills required at his or her age.
At the end of the elementary school, there’s a need to enroll a child for higher studies that will help guide him or her towards choosing a career of interest. Preparatory school education should be given to the child to guide him through the path of a bright future and an amazing career so as to live an outstanding and independent life.
In the course of this article, we will outline and discuss the best prep schools in Virginia where you can send your child or ward.
Meanwhile, see the table of contents below for an overview of what you’ll find in this article.
Table of contents
- What is A Prep School?
- Why Attend A Prep School?
- How Much Does It Cost to Attend A Prep School?
- Best Prep Schools in the USA | 2022 Rankings
- 1. VIRGINIA EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
- 2. THE MADEIRA SCHOOL
- 3. MASSANUTTEN MILITARY ACADEMY
- 4. FLINT HILL SCHOOL
- 5. BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
- 6. WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL
- 7. FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY
- 8. NORFOLK ACADEMY
- 9. CAPE HENRY COLLEGIATE
- 10. PENINSULA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
- 11. JOHN CHAMPE HIGH SCHOOL
- 12. MASSANUTTEN MILITARY ACADEMY
- 13. ST.CATHERINE SCHOOL
- FAQ on Best Prep Schools in Virginia
- Conclusion
- References
What is A Prep School?
According to Wikipedia, a college-preparatory school can refer to public, private independent, or parochial schools primarily designed to prepare students for higher education. It is a type of secondary school.
The term “prep school” in the U.S is usually associated with private institutions that have very selective admission criteria and high tuition fees, catering to students in the range of 13 -18 years. Prep schools can take the following forms;
- Day schools
- Boarding schools
- Day and Boarding schools
- Co-educational or ( both boys and girls) schools
- Single-sex (either boys or girls only )
Why Attend A Prep School?
There is just no parent who doesn’t want the best for their child. Everyone wants the very best for their child.
There are many reasons why you would need to send your ward to a prep school. The first is what you’ll find in the next line.
Prep school is where the foundation for a successful career and adult life is laid. Truth is, every child is different and unique in their own way and needs some special kind of treatment to really get on the right course. Interestingly, it is at this young age that the excellent foundations can be laid, and a sense of aspiration created.
Academic rigors are quite in prep schools, stretching out the best in the child. Prep schools, aside from helping the pupils and students become academically sound, they offer additional value on many other levels.
Prep schools offer a wide and varied curriculum, enhanced by a diverse and complementary extra-curricular program. Extra-curricular activities such as these introduce children to new skills, engage them in social activities, develop positive learning traits, and help to shape their lives in a positive way.
Every child has talents and skills, some of these are more difficult to find and recognize, but what a good prep school education does is unearth these latent abilities. Some of the extra-curricular activities students engage in include sport, music, drama, art, and design.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend A Prep School?
The cost of prep schools vary. This is largely dependent on the quality of education and on the quality of facilities in the school.
It is important to understand that some prep schools are of very high standard and they are not cheap at all.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of one year of private elementary school is $7,770. One year of private high school is $13,030. This is basically for day students.
If your ward is going to attend a boarding school, just know you’ll be spending up to $50,000 or more per year. This may be huge but the benefits are way bigger than that amount.
If You Can’t Afford Tuition, See Best Boarding Schools In Arizona For Boys & Girls | 2023
Best Prep Schools in the USA | 2022 Rankings
There are many good prep schools in Virginia USA but we will be listing and writing briefly on only thirteen of them. To effectively rank the best prep schools in the U.S, we used the following ranking factors. Hence, they include;
We checked their rankings to ensure they occupy excellent positions on other sites.
The acceptance rate of a school is the prep school’s rate of granting admission to students. It is described that the lower the acceptance rate, the higher the quality and reputation of the school.
The student to teacher ratio is the number of students that are assigned to one class teacher per time. It is used to measure how much the students connect and engage to what they are being taught.
Our final criteria for judging these schools is the number of students that are in each of them.
List of Best Prep Schools in Virginia
- VIRGINIA EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
- THE MADEIRA SCHOOL
- FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY
- CAPE HENRY COLLEGIATE
- HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY
- BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
- NORFOLK ACADEMY
- JOHN CHAMPE HIGH SCHOOL
- THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL
- FLINT HILL SCHOOL
- MASSANUTTEN MILITARY ACADEMY
- FREDERICKSBURG ACADEMY
- SAINT GERTRUDE HIGH SCHOOL
- OCEAN LAKE HIGH SCHOOL
1. VIRGINIA EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
Cost: $53,210
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Number of students: 260
Virginia Episcopal School is a private, co-educational college preparatory, boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12. The school was founded in 1916 but was first conceived in 1906 by the Reverend Robert Carter Jett.
The school as one of the best prep schools in Virginia guides students to strive to be their very best-what is called “Toward Full Stature” – through academic, ethical, spiritual, and personal growth.
Virginia Episcopal school admits 260 students with 70% boarding and 30% day students. The acceptance rate is 60% and an average class size of 12 students with a 7:1 student-teacher ratio.
Virginia Episcopal school has a total of 40 classroom teachers with 73% faculty.
The yearly tuition fee for Virginia Episcopal school is $53,210
2. THE MADEIRA SCHOOL
Cost: $62,000
Acceptance rate: 48%
The Madeira School is one of the best prep schools in Virginia. It is an independent boarding and day girls school for students in grades 9 through 12. The school is located at 8328 Georgetown Pike Mc Lean, VA 22102.
Madeira school carries out challenging academic programmes and experiential learning opportunities, like the award winning co-curriculum internship programme, cultivate women leaders who are ready to make positive impacts in their local and global communities.
The Madeira school educates 325 students with an acceptance rate of 48%. The average class size has 12 students with the student-teacher ratio of 9:1. The school has a total of 37 classroom teachers.
The yearly tuition fee for the Madeira school is $62,000 for boarding students and $47,310 for day students.
3. MASSANUTTEN MILITARY ACADEMY
Cost: $38,000
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Number of students: 150
The school is a co-educational military school for grades 5 through 12.
Massanutten Military Academy was established by the Virginia Classis of the Reformed Church in 1899 and is located in Woodstock, Virginia, United States.
The school offers an education above and beyond that of public schools. It features a challenging curriculum, cadet development, opportunities for leadership, and the shared experience of teamwork.
Massanutten Military Academy admits 150 students with an acceptance rate of 75%. The average class size is 10 students with the teacher-student ratio of 1:10.
Yearly tuition is $29,000 while International students tuition is $38,000.
4. FLINT HILL SCHOOL
Cost: $35,010
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: 952
Flint hill school is one of the best boarding schools in Virginia founded in 1956. The school is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school, located in Oakton, Virginia. Flint Hill School is specially designed for grades JK – 12.
The school is interested in inspiring the students by awakening each student’s curiosity and foster critical and creative thinking that translates to deeper competencies and an enduring love of learning.
Flint hill school admits 952 students and has 250 faculties. The average class size is 16 students.
The yearly tuition fee for Flint Hill school is $35,010.
5. BENEDICTINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY
Cost: $16,500
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: 270
This is a private Roman Catholic Military high school in Goochland, Virginia. The school is one of the prep schools in Virginia that educates students in grades 9 through 12.
It is owned and operated by the Benedictine Society of Virginia, part of the American-Cassinese Congregation.
Benedictine college preparatory offers education through a private military institute model, which has long been a traditional form of education for young men in Virginia. The school admits 270 students.
The yearly tuition fee for Benedictine college prep is $16,500.
6. WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL
Cost: $58,950
Acceptance rate: 51%
Number of students: 399
Woodberry Forest School is an all-boarding community for boys in grades nine through twelve. It is located at 241 Woodberry station, Woodberry Forest, VA 22989 U.S.A.
Woodberry Forest school is interested in education and emphasizes intellectual thoroughness and moral integrity. It has a 1,200-acre campus feature, state-of-the-art facilities, and technology for academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors.
The school admits 399 students at an acceptance rate of 51%. It has an average class size of 9 students at a teacher-student ratio of 1:6.
The yearly tuition fee for Woodberry Forest school is $58,950.
7. FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY
Cost: $78,600
Acceptance rate: 55%
Number of students: 330
Fork Union Military Academy is a Christian, college preparatory, military-style boarding school for young men in grades 7 through 12.
Fork Union Military Academy has a rich tradition that promotes character, leadership. The school strives to keep its tuition as low as possible so that the cost is affordable for as many families as possible.
The school admits 330 students with an acceptance rate of 55%. The average class size is 12 students with a teacher-student of 1:8.
The yearly tuition fee for Fork Union Military Academy is as follows;
Yearly Tuition (Boarding): $33,940
Yearly Tuition (Day): $14,950
Yearly tuition for International students: $42,190
8. NORFOLK ACADEMY
Cost: $19,700
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: 1,188
Norfolk Academy is an independent co-educational day school founded in 1728 that prepares students in grades 1 to 12. The school is located at 1585 Wesleyan Dr, Norfolk, VA.
At Norfolk Academy students not only gain an outstanding education but they develop their voice, strengthen their character, identify their passions, and stretch their limits. Students also get to learn to speak confidently, work collaboratively, and think critically.
The school admits 1,188 students with a student-teacher ratio of 11:1. The total number of the classroom teachers in Norfolk Academy is 104 teachers with an average class size of 10 students.
The Yearly tuition in Norfolk Academy is $19,700.
9. CAPE HENRY COLLEGIATE
Cost: $20,770
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: N/A
Cape Henry Collegiate is a private, college-preparatory co-educational, day school located in Virginia. Cape Henry Collegiate is known for its global education program that prepares students in grades PK-12.
Students are afforded the opportunity to graduate with a distinction as a global scholar and participate in cultural, language, and academic immersion programs domestically and abroad.
The yearly tuition fee is $20,770.
10. PENINSULA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Cost: $13,775
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: 269
This is a private, co-educational, diocesan, college preparatory school located at Harpersville Road Newport News, Virginia 23601, U.S.
Peninsula Catholic High school enrolls 269 students with an average class size of 16 and student to teacher ratio 11:1.
The Yearly tuition is $13,775.
11. JOHN CHAMPE HIGH SCHOOL
Cost: N/A
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: 1,653
John Champe high school is a public secondary school in Aldie, an unincorporated community in Loudoun County Virginia, United States. The school was established in 2012.
The school is a top-rated, public prep school with 1,653 students in grades 10-12.
According to the state test scores,77% of students are at least proficient in math and 96% in reading.
12. MASSANUTTEN MILITARY ACADEMY
Cost: $38,000
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Number of students: N/A
The school is a co-educational military school for grades 5 through 12.
Massanutten Military Academy was established by the Virginia Classis of the Reformed Church in 1899 and is located in Woodstock, Virginia, United States.
The school offers an education above and beyond that of public schools. It features a challenging curriculum, cadet development, opportunities for leadership, and the shared experience of teamwork.
Massanutten Military Academy admits 150 students with an acceptance rate of 75%. The average class size is 10 students with a teacher-student ratio of 1:10.
Yearly tuition is $29,000 while International students tuition is $38,000.
13. ST.CATHERINE SCHOOL
Cost: $29,700
Acceptance rate: N/A
Number of students: 978
St.Catherine school is a private, day, college-preparatory independent school in Richmond Virginia. The school is specially designed for girls age 3 through grade 12.
The school enrolls 978 students.
St.Catherine school develops the girl child by intentionally fostering a culture of confidence that allows each girl to emerge as a strong, smart, and confident woman.
The yearly tuition is $29,700.
FAQ on Best Prep Schools in Virginia
Prep schools help your child learn basic things that will help them make smarter decisions in college and life generally.
While some prep schools give scholarships, others don’t give these scholarships as well.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of one year of private elementary school is $7,770. One year of private high school is$13,030. This is basically for day students.
Conclusion
Most times, a lot of parents don’t think it’s essential to send their child to a prep school. Well, if you make up that lot you should be aware you’re denying that child something valuable.
Research has actually made it clear that children who go to amazing prep schools like those listed above usually do very well in their lives and careers going forward.
At this point, what should matter should be the future of that child. So, take the right step and register them into a prep school today.
