Potomac High

Summary:

Potomac High is a public magnet high school located in Dumfries, Virginia, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,065 students. The school is part of the Prince William County Public Schools district, which is ranked 39 out of 130 school districts in Virginia.

Potomac High has a diverse student population, with a significantly higher percentage of African American (44.5%) and Hispanic (30.99%) students compared to nearby schools like West Springfield High and Osbourn High. The school performs relatively well for its African American and English Language Learner student subgroups, but struggles with its White, Asian, and multi-racial student subgroups. Potomac High's test scores are generally below the state and district averages, particularly in subjects like Biology, Earth Science, and US/VA History, but the school performs better in Algebra I, Algebra II, and English Reading.

Potomac High serves a more economically disadvantaged student population, with a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (46.08% to 54.43%) and lower per-student spending ($7,755 to $8,357) compared to nearby schools. This could be a contributing factor to the school's overall academic performance, which has consistently been in the middle range of Virginia high schools with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the school's strengths in certain subject areas and subgroups suggest that there are opportunities for targeted interventions and collaboration with other schools in the Prince William County Public Schools district to improve student outcomes.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

 3401 Panther Pride Drive
       Dumfries, VA  22026


(703) 441-4200

District: Prince William County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
216th of 329 Virginia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,357 Help


Feeder schools for Potomac High:

Elementary:    Leesylvania Elementary
    Mary Williams Elementary
    River Oaks Elementary
    Swans Creek Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Potomac Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  2,173

Racial breakdown:

African American:
43.4%
Hispanic:
32.1%
White:
9.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Potomac High ranks worse than 65.7% of high schools in Virginia. It also ranks 9th among 12 ranked high schools in the Prince William County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.01. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Potomac High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (43.4%), Hispanic (32.1%), Asian (9.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 59% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Potomac High is 15.8, which is the 5th best among 12 high schools in the Prince William County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Potomac High employs 137 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Potomac High is $8,357, which is the 3rd highest among 12 high schools in the Prince William County Public Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Potomac High:

SchoolDigger ranks Potomac High 216th of 329 Virginia public high schools. (See Potomac High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Prince William County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Prince William County Public Schools 39th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Potomac High

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Rank History for all students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 28.68 275th 308 10.7%
2006 34.41 246th 314 21.7%
2007 28.64 272nd 313 13.1%
2008 36.61 232nd 316 26.6%
2009 26.18 279th 313 10.9%
2010 51.57 155th 317 51.1%
2011 45.07 186th 320 41.9%
2012 39.09 220th 321 31.5%
2013 35.80 233rd 321 27.4%
2014 22.13 294th 322 8.7%
2015 33.29 249th 322 22.7%
2016 30.34 263rd 321 18.1%
2017 25.35 284th 324 12.3%
2018 25.29 288th 326 11.7%
2019 38.60 228th 327 30.3%
2021 43.20 174th 327 46.8%
2022 38.73 219th 325 32.6%
2023 42.93 229th 326 29.8%
2024 47.01 216th 329 34.3%
See the entire list of Virginia High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 48.93 107th 193 44.6%
2024 25.57 167th 198 15.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 56.62 35th 97 63.9%
2024 62.91 39th 122 68.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 55.50 151st 320 52.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 38.59 243rd 320 24.1%
2024 50.60 191st 322 40.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 36.06 168th 249 32.5%
2024 53.62 115th 253 54.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 51.27 57th 92 38.0%
2024 39.41 71st 92 22.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 45.56 201st 321 37.4%
2024 42.67 218th 322 32.3%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 15.91 118th 120 1.7%
2024 37.52 90th 118 23.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 59.31 89th 240 62.9%
2024 66.35 71st 249 71.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 47.64 134th 232 42.2%
2024 46.30 138th 233 40.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Potomac High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 29.91 274th 315 13.0%
2024 42.09 228th 314 27.4%
See the entire list of Best Virginia High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Potomac High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.5)
50%

50%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Open Quote It’s great school! Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, June 16, 2017

Open Quote Excellent school where students can be independent thinkers. Much love Close Quote



Enrollment information for Potomac High

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1715 1715
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1722 1722
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1775 1775
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1783 1783
1993 915 337 69 87 9 n/a n/a 0 1417
1994 827 364 68 91 5 n/a n/a 0 1355
1995 881 513 68 121 10 n/a n/a 0 1593
1996 881 513 68 121 10 n/a n/a 0 1593
1997 928 629 70 131 10 n/a n/a 0 1768
1998 950 666 73 149 13 n/a n/a 0 1851
1999 922 770 86 161 8 n/a n/a 0 1947
2000 913 797 96 181 12 n/a n/a -4 1995
2001 684 645 96 163 12 n/a n/a 0 1600
2002 486 722 110 243 11 n/a n/a 37 1609
2003 486 722 110 243 11 n/a n/a 37 1609
2004 555 753 130 272 11 n/a n/a 37 1758
2005 474 679 116 218 10 n/a n/a 41 1538
2006 419 656 106 193 6 n/a n/a 43 1423
2007 373 706 114 232 8 n/a n/a 49 1482
2008 370 783 122 289 7 n/a n/a 65 1636
2009 357 855 148 296 6 n/a n/a 72 1734
2010 359 841 147 316 5 n/a n/a 89 1757
2011 314 764 125 373 3 12 102 0 1693
2012 278 746 114 380 8 5 104 0 1635
2013 257 724 114 367 8 6 90 0 1566
2014 235 833 125 378 7 5 97 0 1680
2015 243 907 125 404 8 6 91 0 1784
2016 252 1006 142 428 11 5 102 0 1946
2017 252 1032 161 482 11 6 112 0 2056
2018 236 1026 162 499 9 2 95 0 2029
2019 220 988 159 513 10 4 103 0 1997
2020 208 938 161 560 8 2 93 0 1970
2021 201 933 154 574 6 1 94 0 1963
2022 207 899 177 595 7 5 113 0 2003
2023 215 919 173 640 1 7 110 0 2065
2024 203 943 202 697 2 5 121 0 2173

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Potomac High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1715 100.9 16.9 n/a
1990 1722 102.3 16.8 n/a
1991 1775 117.4 15.1 n/a
1992 1783 119.6 14.9 n/a
1993 1417 92.9 15.3 n/a
1994 1355 117.7 n/a 13.1
1995 1593 n/a 0.0 15.6
1996 1593 n/a 0.0 15.6
1997 1768 n/a 0.0 17.4
1998 1851 n/a 0.0 15.5
1999 1947 119.0 16.4 21.9
2000 1995 n/a 0.0 22.1
2001 1600 104.1 15.4 21.9
2002 1609 100.8 16.0 29.4
2003 1609 100.8 16.0 29.4
2004 1758 101.0 17.4 29
2005 1538 106.5 14.4 26.1
2006 1423 82.0 17.4 29.4
2007 1482 93.7 15.8 30.1
2008 1636 74.8 21.9 32.7
2009 1734 84.9 20.4 34.8
2010 1757 85.3 20.6 38.8
2011 1693 82.8 20.4 40
2012 1635 89.2 18.3 40.7
2013 1566 82.8 18.8 43
2014 1680 94.5 17.7 45
2015 1784 99.0 18.0 44.4
2016 1946 109.0 17.8 44.2
2017 2056 117.6 17.4 45.2
2018 2029 120.2 16.8 46.5
2019 1997 119.6 16.6 48.2
2020 1970 115.5 17.0 46.9
2021 1963 120.3 16.3 n/a
2022 2003 115.0 17.4 46.1
2023 2065 125.0 16.5 54.4
2024 2173 137.0 15.8 59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Potomac High

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1715 100.9 16.9 n/a
1990 1722 102.3 16.8 n/a
1991 1775 117.4 15.1 n/a
1992 1783 119.6 14.9 n/a
1993 1417 92.9 15.3 n/a
1994 1355 117.7 n/a 13.1
1995 1593 n/a 0.0 15.6
1996 1593 n/a 0.0 15.6
1997 1768 n/a 0.0 17.4
1998 1851 n/a 0.0 15.5
1999 1947 119.0 16.4 21.9
2000 1995 n/a 0.0 22.1
2001 1600 104.1 15.4 21.9
2002 1609 100.8 16.0 29.4
2003 1609 100.8 16.0 29.4
2004 1758 101.0 17.4 29
2005 1538 106.5 14.4 26.1
2006 1423 82.0 17.4 29.4
2007 1482 93.7 15.8 30.1
2008 1636 74.8 21.9 32.7
2009 1734 84.9 20.4 34.8
2010 1757 85.3 20.6 38.8
2011 1693 82.8 20.4 40
2012 1635 89.2 18.3 40.7
2013 1566 82.8 18.8 43
2014 1680 94.5 17.7 45
2015 1784 99.0 18.0 44.4
2016 1946 109.0 17.8 44.2
2017 2056 117.6 17.4 45.2
2018 2029 120.2 16.8 46.5
2019 1997 119.6 16.6 48.2
2020 1970 115.5 17.0 46.9
2021 1963 120.3 16.3 n/a
2022 2003 115.0 17.4 46.1
2023 2065 125.0 16.5 54.4
2024 2173 137.0 15.8 59

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Potomac High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $329 (4.1%) $7,620 (95.9%) $7,948
2020 $69 (0.9%) $7,687 (99.1%) $7,755
2021 $95 (1.1%) $8,262 (98.9%) $8,357

Data source: Virginia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Potomac High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 228th of 327 High schoolsRanks 229th of 326 High schools
 0.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Writing (Potomac High)7168
 3%
   End of Course Writing (Prince William County Public Schools)8377
 6%
   End of Course Writing (Virginia)8174
 7%
End of Course Geometry (Potomac High)6866
 2%
   End of Course Geometry (Prince William County Public Schools)8475
 9%
   End of Course Geometry (Virginia)8380
 3%
End of Course Algebra I (Potomac High)7773
 4%
   End of Course Algebra I (Prince William County Public Schools)8576
 9%
   End of Course Algebra I (Virginia)8680
 6%
End of Course Algebra II (Potomac High)9496
 2%
   End of Course Algebra II (Prince William County Public Schools)9186
 5%
   End of Course Algebra II (Virginia)9186
 5%
End of Course Chemistry (Potomac High)9567
 28%
   End of Course Chemistry (Prince William County Public Schools)9272
 20%
   End of Course Chemistry (Virginia)8864
 24%
End of Course Biology (Potomac High)7452
 22%
   End of Course Biology (Prince William County Public Schools)8165
 16%
   End of Course Biology (Virginia)8370
 13%
End of Course Earth Science (Potomac High)7458
 16%
   End of Course Earth Science (Prince William County Public Schools)7759
 18%
   End of Course Earth Science (Virginia)8172
 9%
End of Course English Reading (Potomac High)7684
 8%
   End of Course English Reading (Prince William County Public Schools)8686
   End of Course English Reading (Virginia)8685
 1%
End of Course VA and US History (Potomac High)6632
 34%
   End of Course VA and US History (Prince William County Public Schools)7230
 42%
   End of Course VA and US History (Virginia)6838
 30%
End of Course World History I (Potomac High)8463
 21%
   End of Course World History I (Prince William County Public Schools)8467
 17%
   End of Course World History I (Virginia)8066
 14%
End of Course World History II (Potomac High)7729
 48%
   End of Course World History II (Prince William County Public Schools)8656
 30%
   End of Course World History II (Virginia)8148
 33%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students19972065
 3.4%
African American988919
 7%
American Indian101
 90%
Asian159173
 8.8%
Hispanic513640
 24.8%
Pacific Islander47
 75%
White220215
 2.3%
Two or More Races103110
 6.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients48.2%54.4%
 6.3%


Schools Near Potomac High









Frequently Asked Questions about Potomac High

Potomac High ranks 216th of 329 Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Potomac High are 43% African American, 32% Hispanic, 9% White, 9% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,173 students attended Potomac High.

Potomac High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Leesylvania Elementary
Elementary : Mary Williams Elementary
Elementary : River Oaks Elementary
Elementary : Swans Creek Elementary
Elementary : Triangle Elementary
Middle : Potomac Middle


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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