The School Board’s legislative agenda underscores several issues:
1. Cost-of-Competing Adjustment (COCA): Stafford County receives only 25% of the COCA funding that neighboring Northern Virginia districts enjoy, despite facing similar cost-of-living and market conditions. The Board urged lawmakers to support full COCA funding to help Stafford attract and retain educators, noting a $10,000 average salary gap between teachers in Stafford and nearby districts.
On Wednesday, October 23, a note containing a threat of bodily harm was found at North Stafford High School, located at 839 Garrisonville Road. The note was initially discovered by a student and circulated among other students before eventually being passed to an adult, who alerted authorities.
Deputy A.N. Taormina, the school resource officer, was informed of the situation at approximately 1:15 p.m. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, school administration, and school security quickly began investigating the potential threat.
From chisels to chills, Stafford High School’s (SHS) carpentry students have found a new way to haunt locals with their talent.
The Fredericksburg Fairgrounds’ upcoming Dead Whispers Haunted Attraction will feature a haunted maze, which is entirely the work of these budding carpenters. Led by carpentry teacher Dan Harding, the students have spent weeks constructing the maze, which adds a new element of scare and excitement to the Halloween event.
Stafford County Public Schools saw significant growth in both Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment participation during the 2023–2024 academic year, continuing their efforts to offer more rigorous academic options and improve student outcomes. As discussed during the Stafford County School Board meeting on October 8, 2024, the district has focused on expanding access to AP and Dual Enrollment courses, resulting in increased participation and success rates.
The number of AP exams administered in Stafford schools has risen steadily over the past few years. During the 2023–2024 academic year, 3,452 AP exams were administered to 1,974 students, with 67% earning a score of three or higher. This score is critical as it is typically the threshold for earning college credit, reflecting the district’s progress in offering challenging coursework and preparing students for post-secondary education.
Accreditation with Conditions Explained
During the October 8, 2024, Stafford School Board meeting, officials explained accreditation with conditions signals that while a school meets basic operational standards, it has significant shortcomings in academic performance that need to be addressed. These three schools earned a “Level 3” rating in at least one performance area, indicating performance “below standard.” According to Virginia’s accreditation system, schools at this level need targeted interventions.
Stafford County Public Schools will host its 14th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger Program on November 4, 2024. The event will be held at Mountain View High School at 7 p.m.
In 2005, Mountain View High School welcomed its first Band Director, Doug Armstrong, a Virginia Tech graduate who helped establish Hokies for the Hungry, a fundraiser supporting the local food bank in Blacksburg, VA. Inspired by this, Armstrong created Band Together to Fight Hunger in Stafford County to help the community. The annual event gathers five high school marching bands—Mountain View, Colonial Forge, Stafford, Brooke Point, and North Stafford—to perform their shows.
Courage Lane, 10/8, 8:57 a.m. Deputy S.M. Craig responded to an assault. It was advised a female suspect assaulted the victim due to a previous eviction. Deputy Craig located the suspect and detained her without incident. She was charged with assault and battery and held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
Deputies investigated a complaint about gunfire in the 2100 block of Mountain View Road in Stafford County, prompting temporary secure status at Mountain View High School and Margaret Brent Elementary School. The status was lifted without issues at the schools, and deputies remain on the scene. Further updates are pending.
Press release:
Dear Members,
We seek your insights on the ongoing challenges with the Stafford County Public Schools transportation system. As many of you know, the start of the school year was marked by significant bus scheduling issues, leaving 3,000 children without transportation, as reported in late August. This has continued with late buses and some that never showed, profoundly affecting students and families.
The new elementary school will serve 1,070 students in a 130,000-square-foot building. The $46.1 million project is expected to be completed by June 2026, with substantial completion for temporary occupancy by April 2026.
The groundbreaking comes just days after the Stafford County School Board awarded a $44 million contract for constructing Elementary School 19. During its September 10, 2024, meeting, the board unanimously approved the contract with Branch Builds, Inc., to build the new school next to Brooke Point High School at 80 Black Hawk Lane. Similar in size to Elementary School 18, the 131,000-square-foot facility will also accommodate 1,070 students and is scheduled to open in 2026.
