Enrollment
2,710
Virginia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Alexandria, VA
West Potomac High
Federal NCES profile for West Potomac High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510126000489
👥 S:T ratio 34
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Potomac High earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Virginia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Virginia.
- #6 of 6
- high schools in Alexandria · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.4:1
- large classes for Virginia
- 41.5%
- free-lunch eligible
West Potomac High has class sizes larger than 86% of Virginia schools. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Potomac High ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Alexandria, VA.
School address
District: Fairfax County Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510126000489 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
165.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.4:1
vs 13.9:1 Virginia avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.5%
vs 57.6% Virginia avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Potomac High compares with Virginia and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Potomac High
West Potomac High is a large high school in Alexandria, Virginia, enrolling 2,710 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.4:1 is larger than about 86% of Virginia schools and 18% above the 13.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 41.5% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Virginia, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,710 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 1,868 Virginia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 37 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Virginia schools statewide, it ranks #29, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (43%) and White (31%) (diversity index 69/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 28 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 209 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% 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 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Alexandria's high schools, it stands alongside Alexandria City High School (4,655 students): West Potomac High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.4:1 vs 14.4:1).
Fairfax County Public Schools also operates Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students) and Robinson Secondary (3,710 students) alongside West Potomac 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 West Potomac High compares
West Potomac 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 | 16.4:1 | ▲ 18% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.5% | ▼ 28% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,710 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
2,710
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 86% in Virginia - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.3%
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
Counselors13.0 FTE
Per 208 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
196
in-school suspensions + 106 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 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 43.0%
White 30.5%
African American 16.4%
Asian 5.4%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.1, West Potomac High is more mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 28
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fairfax County Public Schools, which includes West Potomac 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 West Potomac High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Braddock Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robinson Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hayfield Secondary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chantilly High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Springfield High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Potomac 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
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
Mount Vernon High
Standard public school
1,858 students 13.5:1 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 (~2,710 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Potomac High's federal record.
- Compare West Potomac 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 West Potomac High
How many students attend West Potomac High?
West Potomac High has 2,710 students enrolled. It is a high school in Alexandria, VA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Potomac High?
The student-teacher ratio at West Potomac High is 16.4:1, which is 18% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Potomac High?
41.5% of students at West Potomac High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Potomac High?
The largest demographic group at West Potomac High is Hispanic or Latino at 43.0% of enrollment, in Alexandria, VA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Potomac High?
West Potomac High has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 West Potomac High rank among high schools in Alexandria?
By Resource Investment Index, West Potomac High ranks #6 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 West Potomac High a good school?
West Potomac High earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Virginia schools. 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 West Potomac 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.