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 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
Enrollment
244
Student-Teacher
8.4:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Pre-K – Pre-K
Updated
2022-23
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 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
View breakdown
View breakdown
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/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.
Funding & Resources
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.
Explore More Schools
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
- Phone
- (540) 368-2559
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Stafford County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 31,547
- Schools in District
- 34
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,431
- District Rank
- #9 of 32
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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