The Stafford County School Board is deciding on new high school boundaries as the district confronts rising enrollment numbers, resource imbalances, and transportation challenges. The Board is set to cast its final vote on December 10, 2024 in January 2025, a decision that will impact thousands of families across the county.
The anticipated decision comes as Stafford County experiences unprecedented growth, with an expected increase of over 2,400 students in the next five years. By 2034, that number is projected to exceed 6,000 additional students, straining existing facilities and prompting the need for realigned boundaries.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.Â
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
From the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:
ASSAULT:
Brooke Point High School, 1700 Courthouse Road, 10/8, 7:00 a.m. Deputy D.J. Taylor was conducting his SRO duties when he was informed of a fight. Two students agreed to participate in a fight in the boy’s bathroom. Both received a criminal complaint for assault and battery.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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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:
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.
Recently, the Stafford County School Board Chair, Maureen Siegmund, acknowledged these ongoing problems and discussed the potential for an independent investigation into what went wrong. The board is considering various steps to address the issues, which include software malfunctions and staff shortages that have significantly disrupted daily routines.
Your experiences are precious to us and to our community. Whether your child’s bus was late or didn’t show up, or if you’ve had to make alternative arrangements, we want to hear from you. You can simply share your story (please include your name, your child’s age, and the name of your child’s school) by texting 571-989-1695 or emailing us.
If you like, you may indicate if you are open to being contacted for an interview. Your voice is crucial in our continued coverage and advocacy for solutions.
Thank you for helping us gather this vital information and supporting local journalism.
Best regards,
Uriah Kiser
Founder & Publisher
Potomac Local News
