Education spotlight: Culpeper County’s public schools

Get to know how your public school system operates

Projected enrollment for the 2008-08 school year is 7,644 students.

A superintendent, selected by a seven-member elected school board, is responsible for the day-to-day operations. The school system receives its funding through the regular county budgetary process, with its fiscal year starting July 1. With approximately 1,000 employees, the school system is the county's largest employer.

All eight of Culpeper County's public schools have high-speed Internet access provided by a state of the art T-1 line. All eight schools also earned full Standards of Learning accreditation from the state of Virginia for the 2005-2006 school year and are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

- Registration: When registering new students, parents must bring the child's birth certificate, immunization records, record of tuberculin skin test in the past 12 months, report cards from other schools attended, a list of any special needs for the student, social security number and physical examination records.

Public school students do not have to pay a yearly rental fee for their textbooks or for required additional materials such as art, vocational education, science, or classes requiring workbooks. A yearly rental fee is required for gym lockers at the high school and the middle school.

- The schools: The school system is divided into five elementary schools, two middle schools and one senior high school. Local parent-teacher organizations provide for a close working relationship between the schools and the community. A new high school (Eastern View) and a new elementary school (Yowell) are scheduled to open in fall 2008.

Culpeper County School Board Administrative Offices
450 Radio Lane, Culpeper
(near Floyd T. Binns Middle School)
Phone: 825-3677
Online: culpeperschools.org

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Culpeper County High School
Located in the northern section of the county with an enrollment of 2,414 students in grades 9-12. The county's lone high school (a second high school, Eastern View, will open in fall 2008) features a two-story auditorium, an 1,100-seat gymnasium, and a 500-seat cafeteria.
Address: 14240 Achievement Drive
Principal: Jeffrey J. Dietz
Phone: 825-8310
Mascot: Blue Devils

Culpeper Middle School
Located in the northern area of the county with an enrollment of 914 students (capacity 1,100) in grades 6-8; one wing of the building also houses high school classes. CMS is adjacent to Culpeper County High School on an 87-acre complex. Students from the Emerald Hill and Sycamore Park elementary school districts attend CMS. Built in 1977, the two-story building features 76 classrooms, a forum, a 2,000-seat gymnasium and a 240-seat cafeteria.
Address: 14300 Achievement Drive
Principal: Mr. William Zierden
Phone: 825-4140
Mascot: Cougars

Floyd T. Binns Middle School
Located on 19.6 acres in the town of Culpeper with an enrollment of 783 students (capacity 800) in grades 6-8. Students from the A.G. Richardson, Farmington and Pearl Sample Elementary School districts attend FTBMS. Constructed in 2001-02, the three-story building features 42 classrooms, including resource and science labs. The new building also incorporates the existing structure built as a high school in 1948.
Address: 205 Grandview Ave.
Principal: Sherri Harkness
Mascot: Blackhawks
Phone: 829-6894

A.G. Richardson Elementary School
Located in the southern end of the county with 716 students (capacity 650) in kindergarten through fifth grade. A.G. The majority of its students live in neighborhoods geographically remote from the school. Built in 1992. Features a networked computer lab, art room, band room, gymnasium/multipurpose room and 51 classrooms. 
Address: 18370 Simms Drive
Principal: Susan Bridges
Mascot: Bulldogs
Phone: 825-0616

Emerald Hill Elementary School
Located in the northern area of the county with 897 students (capacity 800). The majority of its students live in neighborhoods geographically remote from the school. Built in 1997, Emerald Hill features an art room, a band room, a gymnasium and 52 classrooms.
Address: 11245 Rixeyville Rd.
Principal: Mr. Robert Hauman
Mascot: Eagles
Phone: 937-7361

Farmington Elementary School
Located in the town of Culpeper with 428 students. The majority of its students live in neighborhoods contiguous to the school. Constructed in 1965 with renovations in 1989 and an addition in 1994, Farmington features a gymnasium/multipurpose room and 28 classrooms.
Address: 500 Sunset Lane
Principal: Gail R. Brewer
Mascot: Foxes
Phone: 825-0713

Pearl Sample Elementary School
Located in the southern area of the county with 747 students. The majorities of students live in neighborhoods geographically remote from the school. Built in 1972 with renovations in 1989 and an addition in 1990, Pearl Sample features a gymnasium/multipurpose room and 40 classrooms. 
Address: 18480 Simms Drive
Principal: Karie Lane
Phone: 825-5448
Mascot: Tigers

Sycamore Park Elementary School
Address: 451 Radio Lane
Principal: R. Russell Houck
Mascot: Panthers
Phone: 825-8847
Located in the central area of the county with 742 students. The majority of its students live in a wide geographical area encompassing the northeastern section of Culpeper County and the northern side of town. Constructed in 1960 with renovations in 1989 and an addition in 1991, Sycamore Park features a gymnasium/multipurpose room and 49 classrooms.

PRESCHOOLS

Boxwood Montessori
507 Winchester St., Warrenton
Ages: 3-8
Phone: 347-1679

Culpeper Assembly of God Heritage Child Development Center
120 Chestnut Drive
Ages: 2½-4
Phone: 825-6420

Culpeper Baptist Church Child Development Center
318 S. West St.
Ages: 3-4
Phone: 825-9798

Culpeper Human Services Head Start
1401 Old Fredericksburg Road
Ages: 3½-5
Phone: 829-2330

Dogwood Montessori Christian
10742 James Madison Hwy., Bealeton
Ages: 3-6
Phone: 439-8405
E-mail:
Online: dogwoodmontessori.com

Early Learning Center of Culpeper
673 Sunset Lane
Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years old
Phone: 825-6333

Epiphany Catholic School
114 East Edmondson St.
Ages: 3-4; extended day program offered for pre-school students
Phone: 825-9017

resta Valley Preschool
6428 Wilson Road, Marshall
Ages: 3-4
Phone: 364-1929

Grymes Memorial School
13775 Spicers Mill Road, Orange
Phone: 672-1010

Highland School
597 Broadview Ave., Warrenton
Ages: 4-5
Phone: 347-1221

St. John's
111 King St., Warrenton, VA
Ages: 3-5
Phone: 347-5341

St. Luke's Lutheran School
1200 Old Rixeyville Road
Ages: 2½-14 years
Phone: 825-8890

Orange Cooperative Preschool
303 W. Gordon Ave., Gordonsville
Phone: 832-2465

Orange County Headstart
230 Montevista Ave., Orange
Phone: 672-1657
 
Wakefield School
4439 Old Tavern Road, The Plains
Age: 3-12 years
Phone: 253-5393

Wakefield Country Day School
1059 Zachary Taylor Hwy., Flint Hill
Age: 3-6
Phone: 635-8555

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Culpeper Christian School
810 Old Rixeyville Road
Grades: K-8
Phone: 825-4208
Mascot: Eagles

Epiphany Catholic School
114 E. Edmondson St.
Grades: PreK-7
Phone: 825-9017
Mascot: Epiphany Star

Fresta Valley Christian
6428 Wilson Road, Marshall
Grades: Preschool-12
Phone: 364-1929

Grymes Memorial School
13775 Spicers Mill Road, Orange
Grades: Preschool-8
Phone: 672-1010

Highland
597 Broadview Ave., Warrenton
Grades: PreK-12
Phone: 347-1221
Mascot: Hawks

Piedmont Christian
2382 Bethany Church Road, Bumpass
Grades: PreK-12
Phone: 872-3543

St. John's
111 King St., Warrenton
Grades: Preschool-8
Phone: 347-2458

St. Luke's Lutheran School
1200 Old Rixeyville Road
Grades: Preschool - 9
Phone: 825-8890
Mascot: Crusaders
Wakefield School
4439 Old Tavern Road, The Plains
Grades: Preschool-12
Phone: 253-5393
Mascot: Owls

Wakefield Country Day School
Flint Hill
Grades: Preschool-12
Phone: 635-8555
Mascot: Owls

Woodberry Forest School
48 Woodberry Station, Woodberry Forest
Grades: 9-12 (boys only)
Phone: 672-3900
Mascot: Tigers

TRADE SCHOOLS

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER PIEDMONT TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER
Located in Rapidan, GWC is an innovative pilot program that provides a variety of professional education, training, life skills and manpower support services. The center also houses programs for Germanna Community College and the Regional Adult & Continuing Educational classes.
Address: 9432 James Madison Hwy.
Phone: 825-2817
Online: atgwc.org

COLLEGES

Germanna Community College
The main campus is located on Route 3, 15 miles east of the town of Culpeper. The school also has campuses in Culpeper and Fredericksburg. Germanna operates on the semester system, with classes beginning in August (fall semester), January (spring), and May (summer). Degree and certificate programs include: associate in arts and sciences, associate in applied science, career certificate programs, and continuing education through the Center for Workforce and Community Excellence.
Online: germanna.edu
President: David A. Sam
Mascot: Grizzlies

Locust Grove campus:
2130 Germanna Hwy., Locust Grove
Phone: 727-3000

Culpeper campus:
18121 Technology Drive. (Germanna Center for Advanced Technology)
Phone: 937-2914 (instruction)
Phone: 937-2900 (work force)

Fredericksburg campus:
10000 Germanna Point Drive
Phone: 891-3000