Niche Ranking

Recognized by Niche.com. Proven by students

Niche.com analyzes, compares, and ranks thousands of schools across the country. It weighs academics, athletics, test scores, and real family reviews to help parents find the schools that deliver. This year, Niche named Highland School the #1 STEM High School in Fauquier County and the #1 High School for Athletics in Fauquier County.

Two categories. Two number-one rankings. One school that earns its reputation the hard way, by focusing on what our students actually achieve.

Best high school for STEM education in Fauquier County

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at Highland isn't something students read about. It's something they do.

Our students don't passively absorb hard concepts. They step into the roles of researchers, engineers, and problem-solvers long before they graduate. That hands-on spirit is exactly why Niche.com recently ranked Highland first for STEM education in Fauquier County.

Real research, real data

In biology, Upper School Biology teacher Stephanie Kilminster guides students through the Citizen Science Project. Students analyze real data across scientific fields and contribute to global research, not just as a classroom exercise, but as working scientists.

Wonder, on purpose

Dave Robertson's Astronomy elective invites students who never saw themselves as "science people" to look up and reconsider. During evening campus events, he sets up his high-powered telescopes for stargazing sessions that turn curiosity into discovery.

Engineering under pressure

Elisabeth Carver leads engineering, math, and robotics and mentors Team Robohawk, Highland's FIRST® Robotics team. Her students solder, debate STEM ethics, and manage real build and business teams. They connect with Warrenton's business community and step into leadership roles most students never get to try.

This is STEM that produces builders, not just test-takers.

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Top high school athletics program in Fauquier County

Great athletic programs win games. The best ones build character.

Highland does both, and Niche recognized it by ranking our Upper School first for athletics in the county. Our coaches teach effort, integrity, and resilience — the tenets that outlast any final score. That approach works.

The proof is on the record:

25 state championships earned across our program
85% student participation — most Hawks play, not just the standouts
20 varsity sports to compete in, master, or try for the first time

Winning matters. Character matters more

Some of our best coaches once wore the Hawk uniform themselves. They came back to build something lasting and prove that the Highland community keeps giving back, one generation to the next.

Michelle Pais, a member of the Class of '01, came back to lead the cross country program that shaped her as a student. She centers her athletes on well-being, growth, and the pure joy of the sport. Her recent squad delivered a season where every single runner set a personal record. That's what happens when a coach measures success by growth, not just the scoreboard.

Micah Higgins first walked our halls as a Middle School student. Today he leads a baseball program that wins, and keeps winning. His Hawks are back-to-back VISAA Division II state champions, with three state titles in the past five years. A multi-time Virginia Coach of the Year, Coach Higgins builds teams that compete with discipline and play for each other.

Logan Miller graduated from Highland in 2014 and returned to lead his alma mater in 2023. He and fellow alum and assistant coach RJ Johnson '14, won a Division II state title in their first season. In 2024, their team fought back to the championship game and came up short. That loss set the stage. In 2025, the Hawks claimed a second state title, this time in Division I, beating some of Virginia's biggest, most established basketball programs to earn it.

Our athletes don't just chase personal bests. They build resilience, leadership, and friendships that outlast graduations, often coming back to the halls of Highland to lead the next generation of Hawks.

See it for yourself

Rankings tell part of the story. A visit tells the rest. The best way to understand what these awards mean is to walk our campus, meet our teachers, and watch our students in action.