- Enrollment
- 4,411
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
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 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 510126000489
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 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 38/100 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
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-83 students YoY
West Potomac High held near 2,681 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-83 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 165.5 → 171.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-83 students YoY 510126000489 · Alexandria, VA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,710 enr · 16.4:1 · 41.5% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Lake Braddock Secondary (4,411 students)
West Potomac High held near 2,681 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-83 headcount). Teacher FTE added 165.5 → 171.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
West Potomac High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lake Braddock
Lake Braddock Secondary
4,411 students
- Robinson Secon
Robinson Secondary
3,710 students
- Hayfield Secon
Hayfield Secondary
3,256 students
- Chantilly High
Chantilly High
2,937 students
- West Springfie
West Springfield High
2,799 students
- This school
West Potomac High
2,710 students
What this shows West Potomac High reports 2,710 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Potomac High compares
West Potomac High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$18,975
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
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.
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
District finance for Fairfax County Public Schools reports $18,975 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~2,710 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 2,764 (2022-23) → 2,681 (2023-24), nearly flat (-83).
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 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.