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Average

#824 of 1,850 schools in VA

Top 45% in state

North Star Early Childhood Education Center

School · Stafford County Public Schools

101 Shepherds Way, Stafford, VA 22556

Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 20 schools in Stafford. Learn more

Enrollment

244

Student-Teacher

8.4:1

Score

6.7

Grades

Pre-K – Pre-K

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Stafford

#5 of 21

public schools

In district

#9 of 32

Stafford County Public Schools

School environment

7.3 / 10

Strong

About North Star Early Childhood Education Center

North Star Early Childhood Education Center serves pre-kindergarten students in Stafford, Virginia, with an enrollment of 244 children. This public early childhood center maintains an impressive 8.4-to-1 student-teacher ratio with 29 full-time equivalent teachers, providing intimate learning environments crucial for young learners' development. The center has earned recognition for its quality programming, ranking #294 out of 1,856 schools statewide and placing in the 84th percentile among Virginia schools.

MySchoolScout rates the school 7.3 out of 10, reflecting its strong performance in early childhood education within Stafford County's public school system. As a specialized pre-kindergarten facility, North Star focuses exclusively on preparing young children for their educational journey ahead. The dedicated focus on this critical age group allows teachers to concentrate their expertise on developmentally appropriate practices and early learning foundations.

The school draws families from the surrounding 22556 ZIP code area, where the median household income reaches $126,219 and 36% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. With a low poverty rate of 8%, the community demonstrates strong economic stability. North Star Early Childhood Education Center operates within Stafford's large suburban setting, serving families in this growing Northern Virginia community where the median home value is $427,400.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1, North Star Early Childhood Education Center offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student ProgressNot Available

Requires 2+ years of test data

Academics6.0Above Average29%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.·Area estimate · Based on 20 schools in Stafford
College Readiness6.7Above Average43%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good29%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,415

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

93%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

How North Star Early Childhood Education Center Compares

See how North Star Early Childhood Education Center performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.7/10
56th percentile in VA
Academic
6.0/10
6.0/10
Environment
7.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
93%
Teaching Staff
8:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers

Location

101 Shepherds Way, Stafford, VA 22556

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering North Star Early Childhood Education Center may also want to explore other schools in the area. Mountain View High (rated 8.8/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Colonial Forge High (rated 8.1/10, 2.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, GRACE PREPARATORY SCHOOL (rated 7.4/10, 4.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Stafford, see our Stafford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.6 mi
School Distance Rating
North Stafford High Stafford 0.5 mi 6.7
Rockhill Elementary Stafford 1.0 mi 5.2
Andrew G. Wright Middle Stafford 1.0 mi 5.8
Garrisonville Elementary Stafford 1.0 mi 6.0
Park Ridge Elementary Stafford 0.9 mi 5.3
Rodney E. Thompson Middle Stafford 1.2 mi 6.4
MINNIELAND PRIVATE DAY SCHOOL Stafford 1.2 mi
Winding Creek Elementary Stafford 1.9 mi 4.4
Margaret Brent Elementary Stafford 1.6 mi 6.0
H.H. Poole Middle Stafford 1.7 mi 5.2
Mountain View High Stafford 1.8 mi 8.8
Kate Waller Barrett Elementary Stafford 2.0 mi 3.4
Colonial Forge High Stafford 2.4 mi 8.1
Hampton Oaks Elementary Stafford 2.6 mi 4.1
Anne E. Moncure Elementary Stafford 2.7 mi 3.0
Anthony Burns Elementary Stafford 3.3 mi 5.1
RED APPLE SCHOOL INC Stafford 3.4 mi
ST WILLIAM OF YORK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Stafford 3.8 mi 6.0
GRACE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Stafford 4.3 mi 7.4
Stafford Elementary Stafford 4.6 mi 4.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 22556 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,713

Median Home Value

$453,700

Median Rent

$1,765/mo

Population

31,783

College Educated

36.6%

Homeownership

78.6%

Avg Commute

38.7 min

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Median Age

34.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding North Star Early Childhood Education Center has a median household income of $127,713. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $453,700, with a median rent of $1,765/month. The local poverty rate of 6.8% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 39 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about North Star Early Childhood Education Center

What grades does North Star Early Childhood Education Center serve?

North Star Early Childhood Education Center serves students in grades Pre-K through Pre-K.

How many students attend North Star Early Childhood Education Center?

North Star Early Childhood Education Center has an enrollment of approximately 244 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at North Star Early Childhood Education Center?

The student-teacher ratio at North Star Early Childhood Education Center is 8.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does North Star Early Childhood Education Center rank in VA?

North Star Early Childhood Education Center is ranked #824 out of 1,850 schools in VA.

What is North Star Early Childhood Education Center's MySchoolScout rating?

North Star Early Childhood Education Center has a composite rating of 6.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is North Star Early Childhood Education Center a charter school?

No, North Star Early Childhood Education Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is North Star Early Childhood Education Center a Title I school?

No, North Star Early Childhood Education Center is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for North Star Early Childhood Education Center?

93.0% of students at North Star Early Childhood Education Center qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Elevated (1,034/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – Pre-K
Enrollment
244
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
93.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Stafford County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Stafford County Public Schools
District Enrollment
31,547
Schools in District
34
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,431
District Rank
#9 of 32

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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