Schools

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va – Stafford County Public Schools will draw on its health benefits reserves to cover a sharp increase in employee healthcare costs.

The Board of Supervisors on Sept. 16 unanimously approved the school division’s request to use $1.5 million from its health benefits fund after claims rose 25% in the past year, far above normal levels.


Stafford

Elementary School 18 will be known as Falls Run Elementary School, complete with Foxhounds as its mascot and the colors purple, navy, and gold. In July, officials marked a construction milestone—known as the “topping out” ceremony—at the school’s site located at 580 Stafford Plaza Drive, Fredericksburg. The school will span over 130,000 square feet and house up to 1,070 students.

Elementary School 19 has been named Crow’s Nest Elementary School, with Blue Jays as its mascot and school colors of turquoise, navy, and lime. This school is under construction at a site off Blackhawk Drive, adjacent to Brooke Point High School, in the Aquia Election District.


Stafford

In partnership with Germanna Community College and the Rotary Clubs of Stafford and North Stafford, Stafford Schools has launched the Clothing Connection at Germanna’s Stafford County Center. This new spot offers free clothing—from baby clothes to adult sizes, including work attire—for students and families who need a little extra support.

“This isn’t just a clothing closet,” says Superintendent Dr. Daniel Smith. “It’s about opening doors to education and job opportunities.”


Schools

Students across Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania saw mixed results on this year’s Standards of Learning (SOL) reading tests, according to data released this week by the Virginia Department of Education.

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Schools

STAFFORD, Va. — Stafford County’s newest high school now has a name, mascot, and colors. The School Board voted this week to name the county’s sixth high school Hartwood High School, with the Stallion as its mascot and black, silver, and gold as its colors.

Hartwood High is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. Construction is already underway, designed to add classroom space and modern facilities for academics, athletics, arts, and career training. The school is being built to ease crowding and serve Stafford’s fast-growing population.


Schools

STAFFORD, Va. – The folks at Sheehy Toyota of Stafford just handed over a $30,000 check to Stafford County Public Schools—and it’s going straight to the classrooms and kids who need it most.

The donation, presented to the school district Director of Engagement Hunter Berry, will fund everything from early childhood programs and classroom supplies to winter coats for students and appreciation events for hardworking staff. It’s all part of a partnership that’s been going strong since 2017.


Schools

According to the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department, around 8:40 a.m., crews were alerted to the smell of smoke at the school before students had arrived.

Firefighters investigated swiftly and, with the help of school maintenance staff, traced the issue to a malfunctioning HVAC unit. The situation was resolved quickly enough that the building was deemed safe and reopened a short time later. 


Stafford

 

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.


News

Eligible Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) high schoolers will now receive admission offers directly from George Mason University (GMU), a step in the institution’s expansion into the region through the Direct Admissions program.

The program, which began in the fall of 2023, was piloted to try to reach students who may experience challenges in pursuing higher education. The release from 2023 stated that if eligible, students would not have to submit an application fee, teacher recommendations or essays.


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