Education & Training
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.
There are several area private schools with
campuses available in Stafford.
Higher Education - Undergraduate &
Graduate
The local University
of Mary Washington (UMW) was ranked 3rd in the top "Public Liberal Arts
Colleges" in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in 2001. Money magazine
ranked UMW as the Best Educational value in Virginia, and 12th in the nation for
its high quality education at a reasonable price. UMW's new Stafford campus, the
College of Graduate and Professional Studies primarily serves adults
pursuing postgraduate degrees. This state-of-the-art facility provides
convenient access to the main UMW campus, as well as distance learning from
other higher education institutions throughout the state and nation.
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.
Employee Training & Workforce
Development
- GCC Center for Business Studies:
Conducts some state-sponsored industrial training and local secondary schools.
In addition, Germanna's Center for Business Studies 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: Opened in 1992 and offers one-on-one counseling
to small businesses on practical business matters such as bookkeeping,
accounting, auditing, quality control and business plans. This center is located
at the UMW College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
- Stafford Public Schools Career and
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.
- UMW College of Graduate and 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.
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