Enrollment
1,858
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Alexandria, VA
Mount Vernon High
Federal NCES profile for Mount Vernon High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510126000542
👥 S:T ratio 46
📚 AP courses 25
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 66
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mount Vernon High earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia.
- #5 of 6
- high schools in Alexandria · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- students per teacher
- 49.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Mount Vernon High has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mount Vernon High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Alexandria, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126000542 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
138.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
49.0%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mount Vernon High compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mount Vernon High
Mount Vernon High is a large high school in Alexandria, Virginia, enrolling 1,858 students.
At 13.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Virginia median, within a few percentage points of the 13.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 49.0% lands close to the Virginia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Virginia, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,858 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,868 scored Virginia schools.
Against 43 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #28.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (52%) and African American (21%) (diversity index 65/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 5 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 169 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Fairfax County Public Schools spends $17,977 per pupil, 23% above the Virginia average, a better-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Alexandria's high schools, it stands alongside Alexandria City High School (4,655 students): Mount Vernon High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.5:1 vs 14.4:1).
Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students) and Robinson Secondary (3,710 students) alongside Mount Vernon High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mount Vernon High compares
Mount Vernon High on the metrics families compare, against Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▼ 3% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.0% | ▼ 15% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,858 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,858
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
49.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below the Virginia average of 57.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 45% in Virginia - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,977
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $14,649
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors11.0 FTE
Per 169 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
134
in-school suspensions + 71 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 52.3%
African American 21.3%
White 16.9%
Asian 5.2%
Two or More 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.9, Mount Vernon High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fairfax County Public Schools, which includes Mount Vernon High.
$17,977
Per student
+23%
vs Virginia
Avg $14,649
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 66.6%
State 23.3%
Federal 10.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mount Vernon High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mount Vernon High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,411
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 3,710
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 3,256
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 2,937
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,799
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar high schools in Alexandria
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Alexandria City High School
Standard public school
4,655 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
West Potomac High
Standard public school
2,710 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Edison High
Standard public school
2,294 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology
Standard public school
2,108 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Bryant High
Alternative education program
154 students 9.6:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Virginia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,858 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mount Vernon High's federal record.
- Compare Mount Vernon High against another school. Compare schools
- Fairfax County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mount Vernon High
How many students attend Mount Vernon High?
Mount Vernon High has 1,858 students enrolled. It is a high school in Alexandria, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mount Vernon High?
The student-teacher ratio at Mount Vernon High is 13.5:1, which is 3% lower than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mount Vernon High?
49.0% of students at Mount Vernon High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mount Vernon High?
The largest demographic group at Mount Vernon High is Hispanic or Latino at 52.3% of enrollment, in Alexandria, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mount Vernon High?
Mount Vernon High has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mount Vernon High rank among high schools in Alexandria?
By Resource Investment Index, Mount Vernon High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Alexandria, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Alexandria on the city page.
Is Mount Vernon High a good school?
Mount Vernon High earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Fairfax County Public Schools?
Besides Mount Vernon High, Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students), Robinson Secondary (3,710 students), and Hayfield Secondary (3,256 students). See the Fairfax County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.