Fredericksburg Academy

Wonderful independent school. There is a small environment, which allows the kids to be very creative and flexible. This year is my daughter's first year at FA, she came from a local Catholic private school and entered for high school. Her eighth-grade year at her previous school was rough, since her friends that she had known since preschool were all going to different schools, and I was hesitant to not put her in the public school systems, where all of her friends were going. Today, she comes home excited every day to tell me about her day, what she learned, and what is happening with her friends and peers. I am so glad that we chose FA because the academics are incomparable and even though some of the kids have known each other, as her old friends, since preschool, her peers have been so helpful with the transition to high school and they are always there to support her.

Our family was and still is part of the diverse community that is FA. All three of our children graduated from FA and went well prepared to great colleges that have been the right fit for them. The balance of high quality academics, competitive athletics and exploratory arts they experienced at FA prepared them well for life in college and beyond. FA is the capstone in the secondary education system in the Fredericksburg region. Best investment in our children's future we have ever made.

Our son and daughter were at 2 separate schools at the beginning of the school year, in 7th grade at Faith Baptist and at Walker Grant for 8th grade. Even before we set the appointment time for the tour, the administration staff was very welcoming and patient with all of our questions. When we went on the tour, my husband and I were really impressed with the friendly attentiveness of all the instructors. They all seemed remarkably enthusiastic about teaching their specific subject. Our son was able to go on a very well-organized overnight conservational awareness field trip to the Port Isobel and has also gone to Culpeper to plant trees. In science, they do not just talk about helping the environment; they empower the children to show them they can make a difference by committing time to their ideals. Our daughter was also very spirited in her description of the Physics Olympics.Our daughter has also participated in the Grandparents` Day program with 3 other amazingly blended singers that showcased the talented leadership of the choir director. It was also nice that it was called "Grandparent`s and Special Friends Day" as our Children do not have grandparents that are able to attend these activities at the school.Our daughter has also been playing on the soccer team that is actually coached by a previous Pro Soccer Player for Trinidad and Tobago! Her skills and her confidence have improved tremendously in just a few weeks.Our daughter has always enjoyed school but she did surprise me a little the other day when she said she was disappointed that there were only 7 more weeks of school left before summer break.Our son, who can be a little bit of an introvert, indicated that he felt more at home in his new school after a few weeks than he did after a few months the last time he transferred schools to move to middle school. Other postings had mentioned bullying so we were a little concerned with placing our children in a new school so late in the year but our children felt like they were really made to feel at home by both fellow students and all of the staff.We are so grateful for all the teachers and their helpful communication via e-mails and their willingness to talk in person as well. Their commitment to making sure the student, the parent and the teacher are all up to date re: the student`s level of preparedness has been so appreciated.We are looking forward to the college prep years ahead as they start High School soon at FA. The teachers seem to be very focused on identifying each student`s talents and encouraging their best without making them stressed to the point that the students shut down. They learn how to present in front of others utilizing technology and to collaborate in teams, similar to teams that they would need to function in for their future jobs.

We graduated two children from FA, both of which attended since Kindergarten. We couldn't have made a better investment in our children's futures. While attending they were supported academically and given many opportunities to try different sports, arts, and leadership roles. The left with the skills they needed to be successful in college and beyond. This is the best school in the area.

I am proud to have been a part of Fredericksburg Academy since it opened in 1992, first as a parent and for the past 23 years, as an Upper School French teacher. The academics are stellar, the faculty is well prepared and encourages the students to stretch their imaginations and strive to reach their goals. Being a part of this school is like having an extended famliy. Every student has a personal relationship with his or her teachers. I am so glad my daughters had the opportunity to go to a private college preparatory school like FA, which prepared them to do well in their college years at UVa and in graduate school.

Fredericksburg Academy has transformed my daughter! She is comfortable in her learning environment, confident in her abilities, and challenged in the classroom. We are so grateful to the incredible teachers whose partnership extends beyond education.

FA has been part of our vocabulary since 2005. Our daughter is a rising Senior and will graduate as a citizen of the world. BEST decision we ever made!

What an amazing environment in which to teach, learn, and grow! Fredericksburg Academy is a true community of students, faculty, families, and supporters that helps nurture the strengths of each and every student and staff member. The size of FA is key to this amazing community. As a teacher, I love the small class sizes and a population of students that is just the right size so that everyone in the student body and the faculty can know each other and support each other. Students and faculty are given the freedom and flexibility they need to succeed because FA recognizes that everyone is truly unique and needs different things in order to succeed.

We have a 9th grader who just started at FA this school year. We chose FA because we were looking for a school that would engage our teenager on both an academic and social level, while providing him with a challenging academic experience. We were concerned that he would get lost in the shuffle at a large public school. He has been very happy there this year and we have been very impressed. The teachers are dedicated and very interested in the kids, are accessible and give detailed and helpful feedback, which is only possible when class sizes are small and intimate, as they are at FA. The student/teacher interaction and feedback that we have received have far exceeded our expectations, especially compared to what we used to receive in public school. Our main concern was that FA was too small, and that it would be hard for him to break into social groups since most of the students have known each other for quite a long time. He felt accepted from early on and is making friends. In addition, he is thriving in his classwork and is benefitting by being around a group of kids who are academically motivated to do well. We have been very happy with our decision.

FA is an outstanding school for a variety of reasons. I'm impressed with the attention to detail, the small class size, the ability to teach outside the box and not to a standardized test, teacher to student ratio, the ability to provide in depth updates on your children at any given point, and the type of students FA seems to produce. FA is providing tools to each student so they can be citizens of the world. I would HIGHLY recommend FA to anybody looking for a quality education for their children or grandchildren.

Our child has been at FA since preK and is now a sophomore. In addition to giving our kids a high quality education, every teacher at FA knows and cares about every student. Over the years, FA has implemented several security measures to help ensure the students' safety. The sports teams, theater productions and clubs have all been well managed and wonderful experiences for our child. FA provides many leadership opportunities, and the college counselor on staff has been extremely helpful as we gear up for college applications. And at FA, the parents have a voice. The head of school and all faculty and staff are accessible and responsive. FA has been the best possible school for our child in Fredericksburg.

The quality of the educational environment and student - teacher interactions are exceptional. The teachers at all levels enjoy teaching and it shows in the students excitement about the school. Our daughter has been enrolled since Kintergarten and is now a sophmore. The positive environment and coaching show in the young lady she is becoming. We are proud of her and thank the faculty at Fredericksburg Academy.