Fredericksburg Parent

20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • August 2026 When I went to college, most people didn't start planning for it until high school. Things have changed over the last thirty years. My oldest daughter always excelled in math, but her middle school didn't place her on the advanced track. By the time I found out the track existed, she was already behind, even though she qualified. She had to play catch-up by doing extra work over the summer and staying after school. She ultimately succeeded, scoring a 5 on her AP Calculus AB exam and tutoring math in college. But had we known about the pathway earlier, she could have taken AP Calculus BC in high school too, potentially saving time in college and allowing her to focus more on her career path. To help families plan with confidence, I spoke with experts about middle school course options and ways students can prepare for high school and beyond. Here's what you need to know to find the best fit for your child's long-term goals. WRITTEN BY CHERYL MAGUIRE What to Know Why Middle School Choices Matter High School before Why Planning Early Matters Middle school was once just a transition period before high school. Today, it's a time for students to begin exploring future career paths and building their academic foundation. In Stafford County Public Schools, those developing interests often point students toward two specialized high school tracks: the IB (International Baccalaureate) and STAT (Stafford Academy for Technology) programs. According to David Heinemann, director of college counseling at Fredericksburg Academy, col- leges value the IB track because of its consistency. "Colleges like IB programs for the most part because they are standardized, so colleges have a good sense of what the students are learning and how they will be prepared for college," he said. "The STAT programs are designed to promote science and technology,"

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