STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – Stafford County Public Schools says its bus system ran smoothly on the first regular day of the 2025–26 school year, Tuesday, August 12, 2025, with only minor delays typical of the first week back.
“Overall things are going very well — we are hearing from our principals and our community that they are happy with transportation this year,” said school spokeswoman Sandra Osborn.
This fall, Stafford’s voters will choose their representatives for the School Board and Board of Supervisors for Garrisonville, Hartwood, Falmouth, and Aquia. George Washington, Rockhill, and Griffis-Widewater are up for election in 2027.
This fall, Stafford’s voters will also choose their representatives for the School Board and Board of Supervisors for Garrisonville, Hartwood, Falmouth, and Aquia. George Washington, Rockhill, and Griffis-Widewater are up for election in 2027.
Classrooms across Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) filled this morning as more than 31,500 students returned for the 2025–2026 school year. SCPS operates 34 schools and maintains an average student–teacher ratio of 13:1. Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith leads the division, headquartered at 31 Stafford Avenue.
The county kicked off the year with its Transition Day on Monday, August 11, 2025. Designed for incoming kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade students, Transition Day provides a softer start—allowing these students to tour their schools, meet teachers, and get familiar with their surroundings before the whole student body arrives. School officials say the program reduces first-day anxiety and helps build connections that last throughout the year.
On August 26, 2025, the Stafford County School Board will vote to name High School 6, which is currently under construction and slated to open in the near future. The Board will also finalize the school’s mascot and colors at that time.
The two names under consideration are:
STAFFORD, Va. – Three candidates are running for the Garrisonville District seat on the Stafford County School Board, setting up a closely watched contest centered on transparency, parent engagement, and education priorities.
Maureen Siegmund, the incumbent and current chairwoman of the School Board, will seek re-election to a second term. She faces a rematch with Wanda Blackwell, who lost to Siegmund in 2021 by just 41 votes, and Stephanie Mojica, a first-time candidate and Stafford County mother of three.
STAFFORD, Va. – The window to become a new teacher in our area is closing, but school divisions are still hiring as the first day of the 2025–26 school year approaches.
In Stafford County, just over 120 licensed staff positions remained open as of late June. Of those, 98 are classroom teaching roles, while the rest include specialists like counselors. “Special education across all grades and elementary positions are our highest-need areas,” said Patrick Byrnett, the division’s Chief Talent Officer.
STAFFORD, Va. – Thousands of families have now confirmed whether their children will ride the bus next school year, as Stafford County Public Schools continues to implement its new transportation opt-in policy.
As of the end of May 2025, 29,717 students across the division have declared their transportation intentions for the upcoming school year. Of those, 5,640 students have opted out of morning service, and 5,224 have opted out of afternoon service, according to information presented at June 10, 2025 School Board meeting.
Stafford County Public Schools is moving ahead with plans to eliminate artificial food dyes from school meals, following the signing of a new state law that will ban certain synthetic color additives by 2027.
Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed HB 1910 and SB 1289, legislation that “prohibit[s] public elementary and secondary schools from serving any food that contains specific color additives for school meals or competitive food.”
