A composite stringer comprising: a skin flange having a first gage , wherein the skin flange is configured to be coupled to a support structure ; a top flange having a second gage ; a web having a third gage and extending between the skin flange and the top flange ; and an upper corner portion extending from the web to the top flange ; wherein: the second gage of the top flange is greater than the first gage of the skin flange and the third gage of the web ; the skin flange , the top flange , and the web comprise a plurality of plies of composite material; the plurality of plies of composite material comprise a plurality of continuous plies and a plurality of drop-off plies ; the skin flange , the web , the upper corner portion , and the top flange comprise each continuous ply ; the top flange and the upper corner portion comprise each drop-off ply ; each drop-off ply has a free end at the upper corner portion such that the drop-off ply does not extend to the web and the skin flange ; and each drop-off ply is separated from each other drop-off ply by at least one continuous ply of the plurality of continuous plies , and each drop-off ply is sandwiched between and abuts against a respective two continuous plies of the plurality of continuous plies . a skin flange having a first gage , wherein the skin flange is configured to be coupled to a support structure ; a top flange having a second gage ; a web having a third gage and extending between the skin flange and the top flange ; and an upper corner portion extending from the web to the top flange ; wherein: the second gage of the top flange is greater than the first gage of the skin flange and the third gage of the web ; the skin flange , the top flange , and the web comprise a plurality of plies of composite material; the plurality of plies of composite material comprise a plurality of continuous plies and a plurality of drop-off plies ; the skin flange , the web , the upper corner portion , and the top flange comprise each continuous ply ; the top flange and the upper corner portion comprise each drop-off ply ; each drop-off ply has a free end at the upper corner portion such that the drop-off ply does not extend to the web and the skin flange ; and each drop-off ply is separated from each other drop-off ply by at least one continuous ply of the plurality of continuous plies , and each drop-off ply is sandwiched between and abuts against a respective two continuous plies of the plurality of continuous plies . the second gage of the top flange is greater than the first gage of the skin flange and the third gage of the web ; the skin flange , the top flange , and the web comprise a plurality of plies of composite material; the plurality of plies of composite material comprise a plurality of continuous plies and a plurality of drop-off plies ; the skin flange , the web , the upper corner portion , and the top flange comprise each continuous ply ; the top flange and the upper corner portion comprise each drop-off ply ; each drop-off ply has a free end at the upper corner portion such that the drop-off ply does not extend to the web and the skin flange ; and each drop-off ply is separated from each other drop-off ply by at least one continuous ply of the plurality of continuous plies , and each drop-off ply is sandwiched between and abuts against a respective two continuous plies of the plurality of continuous plies . <EOS>