As high schools around the country prepare to graduate the Class of 2026, a Christian school in Ashburn, Virginia is making waves in the world of college admissions. In a graduating class of 63 students, 7 Virginia Academy seniors have been accepted to the University of Virginia for an incredible 11% acceptance rate. UVA is often considered one of the best schools in the nation and has been named a “New Ivy” by Forbes for the third year in a row.
One of the UVA-bound graduates, Emma Saleh, has been at Virginia Academy since joining the preschool program at just 2 years old. In her many years at the school, she has been elected to student council, played on the varsity soccer team, sang in weekly chapel services, excelled in a variety of Advance Placement classes, and starred in theatre performances. She thanks the staff at Virginia Academy for supporting her through the college admissions process.
“I had a great community backing me up. A lot of people helped me through my application process. A big thank you to Mrs. Emery! She truly lifted the weight off my shoulders of getting everything in on time, figuring out my schedule, and figuring out the right credits I needed,” says Saleh, “All that led to me getting accepted into UVA, which is by far one of the best schools in the state.”
Although Virginia Academy has always been a college-preparatory school, the addition of College and Career Counselor Emily Emery has enabled the school to reach new heights in the world of college admissions. Emery had previously overseen the College and Career Program at Fairfax County Public Schools before being called to Christian education last year and joining Virginia Academy.
Kyle Grambow, a Virginia Academy student since fourth grade, also attributes his UVA acceptance to the support of teachers and staff, “They truly want you to succeed, and they’re not just here to teach you the subject. They want you to understand it. They want you to enjoy it. They want you to love it just as much as them.”
Graduation is an exciting and bittersweet time as these students leave high school and prepare for their next chapter at the University of Virginia. “[Virginia Academy is] where my heart is,” Emma Saleh reminisces, “This place will always have my heart.”