Prince William County Public Schools offers four specialty programs for middle school students. These programs include the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP), Math and Science programs, Traditional Schools, and World Language programs.
Specialty Program information nights are held in the fall and offer an overview of each program and the application process. Program-specific information nights are held at each middle school.
October 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Dates, times, and locations for program-specific information sessions can be found on the program pages listed below.
Yes, the parent/guardian of the student will need to use the email address associated with their ParentVUE account when creating an account on the specialty program application website.
Your child will receive the same level of services at their transfer school.
You can apply for up to five programs in your zoned school locations. You will need to rank your choices: first choice, second choice, third choice, fourth choice, and fifth choice.
Yes, a student will be considered for their other choices if they are not selected for their first choice.
Yes, a student needs to reapply to attend a new specialty program in high school.
The individual school information sessions have been scheduled. You can find the dates and times for each information session on the Information Sessions and Program Coordinators webpage.
Yes, you will be considered a transfer student if offered a seat in the program. As a transfer student, you will complete all courses at the specialty program school.
Once offered a seat in the specialty program, you do not need to reapply to the same program each year.
Specialty Program express bus stops have already been proposed for the next school year. The bus times are set by transportation as the new school year approaches. You will need to identify your Express Bus stop location as part of the application process. Middle school start times vary from 8:15-8:20 a.m. Middle school dismissal can vary by school from 2:55-3 p.m. Visit the Bell Schedule webpage for more information.
You only need to complete an application for your student who is applying to a specialty program. You will need to submit a separate application for each child who is applying to a specialty program.
Yes, you will need to apply to the IB MYP specialty program and be offered a seat to participate in the program in middle school if it is outside your zoned area of attendance. In middle school, all students zoned for an IB middle school participate in the program and do not need to apply.
Students can study a language in the IB MYP program.
All students who are zoned for an IB MYP school participate in the program. Therefore, if it is your zoned school, you do not need to apply to the program.
Yes, due to the limited seats in each specialty program, you must apply even if the specialty program is located at a school you are zoned for, unless it is an IB MYP program.
The number of seats available for transfer students in each program is determined by individual schools and is based on many factors. These factors include availability of space, number of teachers, student base, school enrollment, number of students who have applied to the program, etc.
Please contact the specialty program coordinator at your zoned math and science school to find out more information about the program. All schools follow the PWCS curriculum, but it is how the student may learn the material that looks different. Math and Science programs offer enrichment activities to students.
The younger sibling would need to apply to the program and be offered a seat in it as well.
Traditional schools stress rigorous academic instruction, strong performance expectations, and high behavioral standards. They utilize research-based, innovative instructional strategies within a framework of traditional education. Families and students are involved in facets of school life and must contribute a specified number of hours of service to the school. Students are required to wear uniforms.
The number of seats that will be available in the remaining grade levels from year to year is dependent on availability, since most students begin at the school during first grade.
Students spend one block each year in their language program. The program allows students to receive one high school foreign language credit for work done in sixth and seventh grade and one high school credit for work done in eighth grade.
Due to limited seats in each program, students need to apply as rising sixth graders and be offered a seat in the program.
No, all schools are zoned for specialty programs based on areas of attendance. You cannot apply to a specialty program outside of your assigned area.
Yes, you can choose a different language as program choice #1 and #2 when applying to a World Language specialty program.