The Fredericksburg area has a wide range of options that
parents can consider when their students go to high school. Students
going into ninth grade next year can choose from diverse programming options in
surrounding school divisions, from cybersecurity programs such as Cyber4+ in
Stafford and the cybersecurity pathway in Spotsylvania, to the AP focused
curriculum of the Commonwealth Governor’s School (CGS) in Caroline, King
George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, there are a multitude of options spanning
career and technical education to accelerated college options.
Next year, one additional option will be available to
Fredericksburg area students. The Academy of Technology and Innovation at
the University of Mary Washington (ATI-UMW) will open its doors to its first
cohort of 100 area 9th graders during the 2024-2025 school
year. This college partnership laboratory school is a collaborative
effort between the University of Mary Washington and local school divisions to
develop a new regional high school program that will support current high
school students and serve as a center for innovation to benefit educational
practice throughout the region. Caroline, Fredericksburg, King George,
and Stafford school systems have fully committed to participate in the first
year.
The school focuses on the intersection of computer and data
science as applied across content areas. Interdisciplinary learning
approaches, collaborative work on real world scenarios, and opportunities for
customized learning pathways will augment learning experiences as students
focus on learning skills in coding and data science. Pathways will be
available for students who plan to enter the workforce immediately after
graduation as well as those who want to complete significant amounts of college-level
work ahead of high school graduation. All three colleges at the
University of Mary Washington will partner with ATI-UMW, creating mutually
beneficial relationships to enhance educational experiences. The
partnership with the College of Education with ATI-UMW will also serve an
important role in supporting the development of the next generation of
educators.
Current area eighth-grade students (regardless
of whether they currently attend public school) can enter through a lottery
application that opens November 15th. Eighth grade students
living in participating counties, or the city will be eligible to enter the
lottery, if they plan to pursue a standard or advanced diploma.
Sidebar: Is your student a good fit?
· Does your student enjoy having opportunities to move at
their own pace?
ATI-UMW will have a combination of traditional classes and
independent study options for students, providing opportunities to work on
durable skills in groups, while also including opportunities to move at one’s
own pace.
· Does your student thrive in a smaller learning environment?
Students who attend ATI-UMW will attend classes on a daily
basis at the Stafford Campus of the University of Mary Washington. Each
cohort will have approximately 100 students, with the entire program ultimately
building to 400 students.
· Would your student enjoy learning how to learn computer
programming and/or data science skills that would support their area of
passion, whether it’s art, political science, mathematics, or marketing?
ATI-UMW will focus on ensuring students develop the
computer and data science skills needed to augment their area of passion,
whether that’s directly in a STEM field, the liberal arts and sciences, or
business. Staff will support students in building out customized pathways
to support students in exploring different aspects of computer and data science
applied across content areas and developing robust skill sets to amplify and
augment students’ abilities for their future endeavors.
We are excited to be able to serve the community as we
prepare to open our doors next year. If you are interested in learning
more, please consider following our Facebook and Instagram pages, or reach out
and schedule a visit.
Dr. Rebecca Towery is the
Executive Director of the Academy of Technology and Innovation at the University of Mary Washington. She received her doctorate from Vanderbilt University. You can
reach her at rtowery@umw.edu or toweryrl@staffordschools.net
