“Which county has the best schools?” is the question I hear most from families moving to Richmond. The honest answer depends on the measure you care about and the specific school zone, so here’s how the 4 main divisions compare on the state’s own data.
Which Richmond-area school division is best? On the state’s numbers, Hanover leads on-time graduation at 96%, followed by Henrico at 91%, Chesterfield at 90%, and Richmond City at 85%. Henrico has the most AP enrollment, and Chesterfield the most dual enrollment. Every high school in all 4 divisions is Fully Accredited, so compare specific zones.
by Daniel Yoon | eXp Realty | Richmond, Virginia
Richmond-area school divisions compared
All figures below come from the Virginia Department of Education’s School Quality Profiles for Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Richmond City, checked November 2, 2026.
| Measure | Henrico | Chesterfield | Hanover | Richmond City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment | 50,499 | 63,955 | 16,531 | 21,554 |
| On-time graduation rate | 91% | 90% | 96% | 85% |
| Students in AP courses | 38.32% | 25.09% | 34.53% | 18.25% |
| Students in dual enrollment | 9.3% | 15.08% | 9.26% | 1.69% |
| Students in IB courses | 2.93% | 1.14% | 10.65% | 2.31% |
| Students in Governor’s School | 198 (1.24%) | 354 (1.74%) | 52 (0.99%) | 351 (6.37%) |
| High schools rated Distinguished | 6 of 9 | 2 of 11 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 10 |
A few things jump out. Hanover is the smallest division and has the highest graduation rate. Chesterfield is the largest and has the highest share of students in dual enrollment, which means college courses taken for credit in high school. Henrico has the highest share of students in AP courses. Richmond City has the lowest graduation rate but the highest share of students in a Governor’s School.
How the high schools are rated
Virginia also rates each school on a performance framework, separate from accreditation. Every high school listed for these 4 divisions is Fully Accredited. The performance levels are where they differ:
| Division | Distinguished | Meets Expectations | Approaching Expectations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrico (9) | Deep Run, Freeman, Glen Allen, Godwin, Henrico, Varina | Highland Springs, Tucker | Hermitage | None |
| Chesterfield (11) | Clover Hill, Cosby | James River, Matoaca, Midlothian, Monacan, Thomas Dale | Bird, Manchester | Needs Intensive Support: Carver College and Career Academy, Meadowbrook |
| Hanover (4) | Atlee, Hanover | Mechanicsville, Patrick Henry | None | None |
| Richmond City (10) | Franklin Military Academy, John Marshall, Open High, Richmond Community | Armstrong, Thomas Jefferson | Huguenot, Richmond High School for the Arts | Too small to rate: 2 schools |
Keep the labels in context. A rating summarizes a whole school, and a Meets Expectations school can still have the program that’s right for your child. In Richmond City, 3 of the 4 Distinguished high schools (Franklin Military Academy, Open High, and Richmond Community High) require a separate application, so your zoned school matters more than the division total.
Specialty programs: where the divisions really differ
Henrico
Henrico runs high school specialty centers in areas such as engineering, medical sciences, the arts, and cybersecurity, plus International Baccalaureate programs at Henrico High and Tucker High. Check each center’s admission requirements on the division’s site.
Chesterfield
Chesterfield lists 13 specialty centers, 2 governor’s schools, and a regional computer science school on its high school options page. Applications for specialty centers and governor’s schools open October 1 and close December 4.
Hanover
Hanover’s IB enrollment share, 10.65%, is far above the other 3 divisions, and its 96% graduation rate is the highest of the group. With only 4 high schools, the zone you buy into decides most of your options.
Richmond City
Richmond Public Schools runs selective admission schools, including Open High, Community High, and Franklin Military Academy, which require a separate application with an essay and an interview. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year are open October 1 to December 4, 2026, on Enroll RPS. RPS also offers open enrollment to its comprehensive high schools. All 4 divisions send students to Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, which enrolled 797 students in 2024-25.
How school zones affect where you buy
School division lines follow county lines, but zones inside a division can split a single neighborhood. Census figures show the median owner-occupied home value is $359,200 in Henrico, $366,000 in Chesterfield, $400,400 in Hanover, and $353,000 in the City of Richmond (Census QuickFacts). Those are countywide medians, so they won’t tell you what a specific zone costs. Comparable sales inside the zone you want will.
Before you write an offer, confirm the zone for the exact address with the division:
- Henrico: the school locator. Henrico notes it’s a guide and not official, so call the boundaries team at 804-652-3745 to confirm.
- Chesterfield: the school locator on oneccps.org, or call the division.
- Hanover: the attendance zones page, which posts the 2026-27 zones.
- Richmond City: the School Locator Map linked from Enroll RPS. Students register at their zone school unless they get an open enrollment seat.
Zones can change, and a listing that says “zoned for” a school isn’t a guarantee. My guide to the top school zones in Henrico and Chesterfield goes deeper on specific zones.
Which division fits your family
- Want a smaller division with strong graduation numbers? Look at Hanover. My Hanover County guide covers home prices there.
- Want the widest choice of specialty programs? Henrico and Chesterfield both have large specialty center networks. See my Henrico guide and Chesterfield guide.
- Want city living? Richmond City’s selective schools post strong ratings, but they require an application, so check your zoned school too.
For neighborhoods that pair good zones with the commute and price you want, see my list of the best Richmond neighborhoods for families.
FAQ
It depends on the measure. Hanover has the highest on-time graduation rate at 96%. Henrico has 6 of 9 high schools rated Distinguished and the highest AP enrollment. Chesterfield leads in dual enrollment. Compare the specific schools your address is zoned for, not just the division.
On the state’s latest data, Henrico has a slightly higher graduation rate, 91% vs 90%, and more high schools rated Distinguished, 6 of 9 vs 2 of 11. Chesterfield has more students in dual enrollment. Both have strong specialty centers, and results vary by school.
Use the division’s own tool for the exact address. Henrico has a school locator but says it isn’t official, so confirm with its boundaries team at 804-652-3745. Hanover posts attendance zones on hcps.us. Chesterfield has a school locator, and Richmond Public Schools links its School Locator Map from Enroll RPS.
Yes. Richmond Public Schools has selective admission high schools, including Franklin Military Academy, Open High, and Community High, all rated Distinguished. They require a separate application with an essay and an interview. Richmond City also has the highest share of students in a Governor’s School of the 4 divisions, at 6.37%.
Yes. Every high school listed in the School Quality Profiles for Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Richmond City is Fully Accredited. The schools differ on the state’s separate performance ratings, which range from Distinguished to Needs Intensive Support.
There’s no single published premium for a Richmond-area school zone. The best way to see the effect is to compare recent sales of similar homes just inside and just outside the zone. Confirm the zone for the exact address with the division before you make an offer.
The short summary
- Graduation: Hanover 96%, Henrico 91%, Chesterfield 90%, and Richmond City 85%.
- Ratings: every high school is Fully Accredited, and performance levels vary within each division.
- Programs: Henrico and Chesterfield have the largest specialty center networks, and Hanover leads in IB.
- Before you buy: confirm the zone for the exact address with the division.
Trying to match a school zone with your budget? I’ll pull the zones and recent sales for the areas you’re considering so you can compare them side by side. Book a time at cal.com/danielyoon or call 804-896-2694.
School data from the Virginia Department of Education, checked November 2, 2026. Ratings and zones change, so confirm with the school division before you rely on them.