K-12 Education

Stafford County citizens enjoy exceptional educational opportunities through Stafford County Public Schools, which continue to rank among the top in Virginia. In 2003 & 2004 Expansion Magazine ranked Stafford a Gold Medal School District, placing the district among the top 16% in the nation.

All public education students receive instruction in state accredited classrooms, housed in permanent structures. Despite continued growth, the locality's longstanding commitment to education is evidenced by its investment in the public K - 12 educational facilities and their professional staff.

• Stafford County Public Schools - official website
• VA Department of Education - Schools Report Card System
  • Stafford School District Report Card (2006-2009) 
• Stafford Schools Facts 2010
• Article: Stafford Schools Top Rating (2004)

There are several area private schools with campuses available in Stafford.

• Fredericksburg Christian Schools (K-6)
• Holy Cross Academy (K-8)
• St. William of York Catholic School (K-8)

Higher Education - Undergraduate & Graduate

The University of Mary Washington (UMW) is a nationally known liberal arts institution located on 176 acres in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia, roughly 50 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 50 miles north of Richmond, the Virginia state capital.  With approximately 4,000 degree-seeking undergraduate students and more than 200 full-time faculty members, UMW offers over 40 undergraduate majors and programs of study and confers more than 900 undergraduate degrees each year.

In its 2007 edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” U.S. News and World Report ranked UMW 6th among master’s degree-granting institutions in the South and second among public schools in the same category. UMW also was recognized for having the second highest graduation rate in the South.  In addition, Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges’ 2007 edition placed Mary Washington in its “highly competitive” category, designating the university as one of the 171 top colleges and universities in the nation in terms of academic selectivity.  UMW also has seen its academic reputation gain national recognition in several selective guidebooks, such as Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, The Fiske Guide to Colleges, The Princeton Review, and Peterson’s Competitive Colleges.

Both the University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College offer customized technical training and incentive programs to meet the specific needs of local businesses.

• Germanna Community College (GCC)
  • GCC Stafford Campus
• Marine Corps University (MCU) - For active duty military and their families.
• Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC)
• University of Mary Washington (UMW)

  • UMW College of Graduate & Professional Studies (Stafford Campus)

Employee Training & Workforce Development

There are several resources within Stafford County to assist in the development of current and future employees.  View the information below for employment training resources.  Click here for more information on current Workforce Demographics.    

• Germanna Community College (GCC) Center for Workforce & Business Education: Conducts some state-sponsored industrial training and local secondary school programs. Conducts on the job training and specialized seminars on business issues at its nearby campus. Germanna is also affiliated with the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology. The CIT focuses on innovative technology for high tech industries and offers a wide range of assistance to businesses.
• Rappahannock Region Small Business Development Center (RRSBDC): Opened in 1992. Offers one-on-one counseling to small businesses on practical matters such as business plans, bookkeeping, accounting, auditing, and quality control. This center is located at the UMW College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
• Stafford Public Schools Career & Technology Programs. Career and technology education is provided at both the high school and middle school levels with over 48 different course offerings, including business education, consumer education, plus special program education for the handicapped.  These programs provide the necessary training for certification so that students are prepared to enter the job market upon completion of high school.
• Univ. of Mary Washington (UMW) College of Graduate &Professional Studies: Offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs designed especially for adults who desire to complete a degree while managing work and a family.
• Virginia Department of Business Assistance: Creates and coordinates free training programs tailored to the specific needs of growing industries.

Stafford Workforce and Education Partnership (SWEP)

The new Stafford Workforce and Education Partnership (SWEP) strives to educate businesses about existing education opportunities and new industry-specific, customized courses available to the Stafford County business community.  Making relevant professional training resources available to citizens beginning at the secondary education level, Stafford's existing and potential employees will be better suited to meet local workforce needs. 

The SWEP Committee is comprised of representatives from Stafford Public Schools, Stafford Economic Development, the Univeristy of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, and the private sector.  During the first quarter of 2010, the Committee organized a series of focus groups to gather input from four key industry sectors - Federal Contractors, Healthcare Practitioners, Skilled / Technical Trades, and Hospitality / Tourism.  A report of the focus group results was presented to the Board of Supervisors on August 17, 2010.  Click below for the Executive Summary and complete Final Report. 

• SWEP Committee Executive Summary (Aug. 2010)
• SWEP Committee Final Report (Aug. 2010)
• Focus Group Handout (1.25.10)