Several Stafford County schools have been rated Off Track or in Needs Intensive Support under Virginia’s new statewide accountability system, according to the first round of ratings released this week.
Six elementary schools — Ferry Farm, Grafton Village, Hampton Oaks, Hartwood, Kate Waller Barrett, and Widewater — were designated Off Track, along with Shirley C. Heim Middle School. Two schools, Anne E. Moncure Elementary and Falmouth Elementary, received the lowest designation, Needs Intensive Support.
The ratings come under Virginia’s new School Performance and Support Framework, which evaluates academic achievement, student growth, readiness measures, absenteeism, and graduation performance for high schools. Federal school identification also affects ratings, automatically lowering a school’s designation even if only a small number of students triggered the status.
Despite the lower ratings for some schools, Superintendent Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D., said the division continues to make progress in several key areas. “We have incredible school administrators, focused on implementing high quality instruction,” Smith said. “Our graduation rate continually exceeds the state average, we awarded 5,252 industry certifications last year, and we are lowering our chronic absenteeism rate. We are doing the right things for students every day.”
The division emphasized that many of its schools performed well under the new system. Four of Stafford’s five high schools — Brooke Point, Colonial Forge, Mountain View, and North Stafford — earned the highest designation, Distinguished.
All Stafford SPSF Ratings
Needs Intensive Support
• Anne E. Moncure Elementary
• Falmouth Elementary
Off Track
• Ferry Farm Elementary
• Grafton Village Elementary
• Hampton Oaks Elementary
• Hartwood Elementary
• Kate Waller Barrett Elementary
• Widewater Elementary
• Shirley C. Heim Middle
On Track
• Anthony Burns Elementary
• Conway Elementary
• Garrisonville Elementary
• Margaret Brent Elementary
• Park Ridge Elementary
• Rockhill Elementary
• Rocky Run Elementary
• Stafford Elementary
• Winding Creek Elementary
• A.G. Wright Middle
• Dixon-Smith Middle
• Edward E. Drew Middle
• H.H. Poole Middle
• Rodney Thompson Middle
• Stafford Middle
• T. Benton Gayle Middle
• Stafford High
Distinguished
• Brooke Point High
• Colonial Forge High
• Mountain View High
• North Stafford High
Smith said the new reporting model represents a major shift for Virginia schools. “Over the past year, we have seen dramatic shifts in how our schools are rated and reported to the public,” he said. “We are focused on ensuring that each student is learning and achieving their potential each and every day and we will not waiver in that approach.”
“While the formula continues to change, we remain steadfast in our commitment to high quality instruction in every classroom, every day, to support every child,” he added.
Despite mixed performance under the new categories, every Stafford school received full accreditation under Virginia’s Standards of Accreditation.
“We have been very diligent in implementing our Strategic Plan, which has a direct correlation to each school’s accreditation status,” Smith said. “By expanding course offerings, adhering to staffing standards, ensuring safe and welcoming environments, and being intentional about preparing every student for life after graduation, we are proud to see our efforts translate into meaningful outcomes that benefit every student and strengthen our schools.”
School-by-school data is available at schoolquality.virginia.gov.
Background: How Virginia Adopted the SPSF
Virginia adopted the School Performance and Support Framework on August 29, 2024, replacing the state’s previous accreditation model. The U.S. Department of Education approved the system on January 6, 2025, allowing the state to use a single unified framework for both state and federal accountability beginning with the 2025–26 school year.
The model aligns with federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act and uses multiple indicators — academic mastery, growth, readiness, absenteeism, and graduation performance — to determine school designations and identify schools needing targeted support.
