Steven L. Walts, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Thank you for your interest in Prince William County Public Schools. This Web site provides essential information about the excellent education offered to our students.  The Web site also highlights various programs the School Division has developed to help meet the needs of all students from our community's diverse population. It is our cultural diversity that makes our schools and community special.

School employees are strongly committed to ensuring that each student has the opportunity to reach his or her potential and there are numerous indications that our students are excelling.  County students score at or above the state and national averages on standardized tests.  Pupils and teachers earn awards in regional, state, national, and international competitions. Guided by our School Board and supported by our dedicated staff, Prince William County Public Schools are striving to meet the individual needs of students to support their success.

I encourage you to participate in your child's education and school activities. Please become familiar with your school's teachers, administrators, support staff, principal, curriculum, and special programs. Involved parents and guardians are vital to student success. Together, we will prepare our children for the future and continue our journey toward World-Class schools.

Educational Leadership

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is well-known for its system of school-based management, which places decision-making and accountability at the school level. A few examples of initiatives that bring recognition to our School Division are school specialty programs, an enhanced curriculum, teacher committees that guide the transition and implementation of the curriculum, a multicultural program, a health and wellness program, a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, and pioneering use of instructional support teams that work with schools and teachers at the classroom level.

Prince William is repeatedly asked by the Virginia Department of Education to share its innovative programs with other school divisions. PWCS led state efforts to develop the Standards of Learning (SOL) for science and was the first in Virginia to restructure its curriculum. In addition, the School Division was the first to develop its own performance tests. As a result, the state followed Prince William’s model for the SOL testing program.

Recognition of Excellence

Prince William County Public Schools, its programs, administration, staff, and students are often singled out by regional, state, and national organizations. Last year, "Newsweek" ranked eight Prince William County high schools among the top 1,100 schools in the United States.

Stonewall Jackson High School, considered one of the top high schools by "Newsweek" in 2003, was named by "Time" as the best high school in America in 2001. For 10 consecutive years, the Association of School Business Officials International has given the School Division its Meritorious Budget Award.

"Expansion Management" magazine gave Prince William County Public Schools a Blue Medal rating as one of the nation’s top-performing school divisions. This designation indicates that Prince William County is a prime location for businesses that are considering expanding or relocating. The educational level of residents is high; the median income ranks favorably; and the School Division, local government, and community are investing in education. Businesses can count on a well-educated work force with the technical competency to meet future job demands. Go to Recognition & Awards home page.

Prince William County Public Schools is a past recipient of the Medallion of Excellence, a U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award (SPQA), presented to businesses and municipalities that demonstrate productivity and quality excellence.

Prince William County Public Schools is the only Northern Virginia school district to have won the prestigious Medallion of Excellence since the inception of the awards program in 1982. The Medallion of Excellence, the highest level of recognition in the SPQA program, is presented to organizations for their implementation and application of quality principles. Selection is based on a written application and an on-site visit to evaluate quality and productivity in eight management areas.

Many Prince William County residents and those considering moving to the county are interested in how Prince William County Public Schools compares with other school districts. There is no one method of comparison, but there are many indicators of success.

• According to the approved 2007 budget, the basic program cost per pupil in Prince William County Public Schools for the 2007-08 school year is $10,551.
• All schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). PWCS is one of the first school divisions in the nation to become Divisionwide accredited by SACS CASI. All PWCS schools are also accredited by the State Board of Education.
• More than $25 million in scholarships was awarded to the Class of 2006.
• For 2006, 83 percent of high school graduates plan to pursue post-secondary education.

“School Focus,” Prince William County Public Schools’ news program, is broadcast daily on PWCS-TV, available to all Comcast Cable subscribers in Prince William County on Channel 18 and on Verizon FiOS Channel 36. Segments offer important information about the School Division and highlight special events, educational programs, and award-winning staff and students. “School Focus” is produced by the Media Production Services Office and airs daily on PWCS-TV at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with other time slots throughout the week. Please visit pwcs.edu/media/school.html for more information on “School Focus” and how you can submit story ideas.

School Focus is produced by the Media Production Services Office.  Please call 703.791.7328 for more information.

To request an Information Packet be sent to you, call the Community Relations Department at 703.791.8720 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or Email (Include your address).

Prince William County Public Schools' enrollment on September 30, 2007, was 72,654 pupils, making it the third-largest School Division in the state.

The average class size for elementary school is 18.6 students; for middle school, 21.3; and for high school, 21.9 students.

There are currently 53 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 10 high schools, four special education schools, two alternative schools, and two traditional schools. The elementary schools house kindergarten through grade 5, the middle schools have grades 6 through 8, and the high schools include grades 9 through 12.

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Parents should enroll their child as soon as they arrive in Prince William County.  For information regarding which school a child should attend, please visit the School Division Web site, www.pwcs.edu, and select "Find Your School". or Email.  (Also visit the School Boundaries home page.)

The following forms must be filled out and brought to the school at the time of enrollment:

• School Registration Form (This form is for all grades)
• Planilla de Inscripción Escolar
• Proof of Tuberculosis Screening (Reg. 723-4 Attach. I)
• Requisitos para el examen de Tuberculosis (Reg. 723-4 Attach. I)

The following documentation is to be presented at the time of enrollment:

Required Documentation:

• Valid birth certificate, a certified copy, or completion of an affidavit provided by the school.

• One of the following documents must be presented to school staff as proof of residence in Prince William County: 
  • Deed for residential property or contract on a residential property in Prince William County.
  • Current rental or lease agreement for residential property; or
  • Notarized Affidavit of Residency attesting to bona fide residency in Prince William County.

• Additionally, any two of the following showing the residence address must also be presented to school staff: Valid driver's license, car registration, utility bill or utility hook-up paperwork, personal property tax bill, county or town car sticker receipt, voter registration, other bills, or other documentary evidence of similar reliability.
  • A social security number (no student will be denied enrollment or attendance due to failure to present a social security number).
  • A copy of the current IEP if the student has been receiving special education services.
  • A certificate of physical examination done within one year of school entrance for students entering kindergarten through grade 5.
  • Documentary proof of adequate immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, mumps, measles (rubeola), and German measles (rubella), and varicella as outlined in Attachment II of PWCS Regulation 755-1 (available in schools or online at pwcs.edu). All students are required to present evidence of having two doses of the rebeola measles vaccine. Students who have had one dose of rubeola vaccine have 90 days from the date of enrollment to present proof of having had the second dose. All rising sixth-grade students will need to get tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) booster shots prior to the start of school in September 2007, unless fewer than five years has passed since their last Tdap immunization. One dose of DTP or DTaP vaccine must have been taken after age 4. Hepatitis B immunization is required for entry to grade 6. Students born after January 1, 1994 must present proof of having received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine with at least four months time between the first and third doses. This also applies to students enrolling in grade 6 on or after July 1, 2001, if previously unvaccinated. All susceptible children (those who have not had chicken pox) born after January 1, 1997 are required to have a dose of varicella not earlier than the age of 12 months.

• All preschool, school-age, or adult students who are seeking admission to Prince William County Public Schools who have been out of the United States for a period of three or more consecutive months during the previous five years are required to submit a tuberculosis screening test prior to admittance.

• Students who do not have all of the immunizations and a physical examination will not be allowed to attend school.  However, students may be conditionally enrolled if they provide proof of having received at least one dose of the required immunizations accompanied by a schedule for completion of the required doses within 90 days, and a physical examination recorded on the state-approved form (MCH 213F). Objections based on religious or medical grounds may be discussed with the principal.

• The Prince William County Public Health Department gives immunizations at its clinics. There is no fee for routine childhood immunizations. Call 703.792.6300 (Manassas), or 703.792.7300 (Woodbridge) for information. (For more details about the physical examination, immunizations, or to download forms, go to the Student Services' Health Services home page.)

Virginia law provides for the following:

Non-Residents Attending Prince William County Public Schools

Parents who do not live in Prince William County must pay tuition for any child who attends Prince William County Public Schools.  Tuition for 2007-08 school year is $5,488 in-state and $10,551 out-of-state.

School hours are staggered by grade level to use buses most efficiently. Generally, high schools are in session from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; middle schools from approximately 8:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.; and elementary schools from approximately 9-9:10 a.m. to 3:30-3:40 p.m.

Kindergartners on a half-day schedule attend either in the morning from approximately 9:00 a.m. to noon, or in the afternoon from approximately 12:15 p.m. to 3:30-3:40 p.m.

Special education preschool students typically attend one of two half-day sessions that run from approximately 9 a.m. to noon, or from approximately 12:15 to 3:30 p.m.

Individual school hours may vary slightly from the general hours of operation for that level. The principal will inform parents and students of the hours school is in session. The business hours for the central office are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Prince William County offers School Age Care (SAC) to address the needs of the growing number of working parents who would like adult supervision for their elementary-age children before and after school. The self-supporting program is part of the Prince William County Office on Youth.  Minnieland Private Day School, Inc., which is licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services, offers the program in 44 elementary schools.

Before-school care begins at 6:00 a.m. The after-school program starts when classes are dismissed and the service ends daily at 6:30 p.m.  An all-day program from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. is offered on teacher workdays. Parents have the option of choosing either before-school or after-school day care, or both.

SAC serves students at 44 elementary schools: Alvey, Antietam, Ashland, Bel Air, Belmont, Bristow Run, Buckland Mills, Cedar Point, Coles, Dale City, Dumfries, Ellis, Glenkirk, Kerrydale, Lake Ridge, Leesylvania, Marshall, Marumsco Hills, McAuliffe, Minnieville, Montclair, Mountain View, Mullen, Neabsco, Occoquan, Old Bridge, Pattie, Penn, Pennington, Porter, River Oaks, Rockledge, Rosa Parks, Signal Hill, Springwoods, Sudley, Swans Creek, Triangle, Tyler, Vaughan, Victory, Westridge and Williams. Parents whose children attend one of those schools and who work at least 20 hours a week are welcome to register their children in the program.

The weekly fee for care before and after school is $87. Before-school child care costs $58.00 per week and after-school care is $63.00. During school winter, spring and summer vacations a full-day program is offered at selected elementary schools for $125.00 per week. Reduced weekly fees are available for children receiving free or reduced price means through the National School Lunch Program, and for multiple children from one family.  The non-refundable application/registration fee is $30.00 per child.

The SAC program offers students the additional opportunity to participate in school and extracurricular activities which may not be available in other out-of-school child care programs.

Applications and additional information is available at the Prince William County Web site: pwcgov.org/sacare

If you have questions about serving children with special needs or questions not answered on the application form, please call the Office of School Age Care at  703.792.6091

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Inclement weather occasionally causes schools to open late, close early, or close for the entire day. A decision on whether to close schools or let them remain open is generally made by 5 a.m.  Radio and television stations are called between 5-6 a.m. When severe weather is forecast, parents and students should listen to one of the following radio or television stations for information:

Parents and students are requested not to call schools, school officials, or radio and television stations to find out if schools are being closed. It is essential that these telephone lines be kept open to enable schools and stations to receive notification about school closings. Parents may call 703. 791.2776 to hear a recorded message on school closing information, visit the School Division Web page at www.pwcs.edu, turn to PWCS-TV on Comcast Cable channel 18 (watch PWCS-TV on the Internet), or sign up for PWCS E-news on the Web page, or Verizon channel 36.  For more details about the school closing policies during inclement weather go to School Closing Information.

A decision to close or open schools in cases of severe weather is based on the condition of the roads and the weather forecast at the time the decision is made. Weather can deteriorate or improve between the time the decision is made and the time children would normally leave for school. Road conditions may look normal in one area of the county but may be hazardous in another area.

Occasionally individual schools must close because of other emergencies, such as power outages. Efforts will be made to notify parents and the public. However, parents should plan in advance to have a place for their children to stay in case schools are closed early.

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School bus transportation is provided for students who live more than a mile away from the school in which they are enrolled, or who require transportation because of special needs. Express bus service is provided for students enrolled in specialty programs. This service is to and from express bus stops only. Bus schedules are published in local papers prior to the beginning of each school year. Parents with questions about the location or times of bus stops may call their school, or the Transportation Department:

• 703.791.0255 for Central Area schools
• 703.753.6398 for Western Area schools
• 703.445.1240 for Eastern Area schools
• 703.368.0176 for special needs schools

More detailed transportation information is provided in the School Division's Code of Behavior | en Español (Código de Conducta)

Food Service programs (visit home page) that operate in each school offer students nutritious, high-quality meals at a reasonable price. A complete lunch includes an entree with bread, two side dishes, and milk. Several menu choices are available each day from which students can select a complete lunch. Overall, meals meet nutrition standards provided in The Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A variety of a la carte items are available for purchase, as well.

Breakfast can be purchased in all schools. A complete breakfast consists of bread and/or meat, a serving of fruit and/or vegetables, and milk. Other breakfast foods are available on an a la carte basis. In addition to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, morning and afternoon kindergarten snacks are available at most locations.

Free and reduced-price meals are available to students whose households qualify under Federal Guidelines.  Applications for meal assistance are available from the office of each school.

All meals and a la carte items are reasonably priced to encourage participation while maintaining a self-supporting operation.  Prices are as follows:                                             

Prepayments can be made for any number of days. For daily menu information, visit the School Menus home page or call 703.791.2776.

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Shipping Address: (Get Directions)
14800 Joplin Road
Manassas, VA 20112

Telephone:
703.791.7200

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, VA 20108
Interoffice Zip: EA790

www.pwcs.edu

GET INVOLVED

The education of our young people is a primary concern in communities across the nation.

Thomas Jefferson perhaps said it best when he stated that education is the cornerstone of American democracy. The future well-being of each of us rests upon the students attending our schools today.

No one institution can do the job alone. Schools, homes and the community must join together to produce the learning experiences which enable students to be well-informed and capable citizens.

Prince William County residents have always been supportive of educational programs. Many local businesses encourage their employees to volunteer as tutors and mentors in after-school programs. The School Division also encourages parents to be involved in the schools.

Call your local school and volunteer an hour or two a week.
Call your child's teacher and ask what you can do at home to enhance learning. Attend school meetings and contribute your opinions and support. Keep informed about what's happening in the classroom. Visit the schools and observe the instructional programs. Become a partner in education. We need your support and help to do the job you want us to do.

PWCS E-News is an email news and text-messaging alert subscription service that provides timely information about the ongoing activities of the School Division including news releases, legislative updates, teacher and staff information, and emergency announcements and school closings due to inclement weather.  To register online, visit the Prince William County Public Schools' web sit at http://www.pwcs.edu and click on the link to PWCS E-News, under ANNOUNCEMENTS.

PWCS-TV is Learning for Life. Found on Channel 18 on the Prince William County Comcast Cable line-up and on Verizon FiOS Channel 36, PWCS-TV offers a wide variety of programming that is both educational and entertaining while reaching out to a community of learners made up of students, teachers, parents, and staff members. Cable television subscribers can watch Prince William County School Board meetings and special programming on PWCS-TV during the school year.  Click here to see the PWCS-TV Schedule .

• Bulletin board announcements are posted 24 hours a day.
• Watch PWCS TV on the Internet Live, or On-demand.

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Prince William County is a suburban community located 35 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and 80 miles north of Richmond, Virginia. The county encompasses 348 square miles and stretches from the Potomac River to the Bull Run Mountains.

Prince William was established in 1731 and named after Prince William Augustus of England. The First and Second Battles of Manassas (Bull Run) played significant roles in the Civil War. From the end of the Civil War until after World War II, the county's rural population grew slowly. Between 1950 and 1960 the population doubled and in the 1960s more than doubled again as housing developments were constructed. The current population is estimated at 379,577 (as of March 15, 2007), which is approximately 1,123 persons per square mile.  The county has grown 35.2 percent since 2000 when the population was 280,813.  The average annual increase since 2000 is approximately 14,590 persons and the average annual growth rate is 5.2 percent.  The county is projected to grow to more than 556,300 persons by 2030.  Today the county is a suburban community linked to the Washington metropolitan area, yet has an appreciation for its own history, natural features, and rural roots. Click here for more on the Manassas Battlefield.

Records indicate that free, public schools were established in the county in 1869 and operated by magisterial districts until 1923 when the Prince William County School Board was created. Prince William has had 20 school superintendents since 1869.

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