Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) shared the proposed Capital Improvements Program (CIP) with the School Board on January 10. The CIP is a management tool for planning future facility projects, including school additions and renovations, and new school facilities.

The CIP presentation included information indicating Northern Virginia’s first population decline since 1970. According to the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, trends show that Northern Virginian’s are moving to Richmond and other exurbs due to rising housing costs and remote work allowing employees to live further from their employers. The Virginia Department of Health has also noted the decline in birth rate in Prince William County, another factor that impacts the future enrollment in PWCS. Due to current trends, PWCS anticipates a notable deceleration in enrollment growth over the next five years, which will delay or change current and future facility plans. Initiatives and projects slated for 2024-2030 have been reassessed based on projected student enrollment, growth, and need. 

Projects slated for delay include the construction of the 14th High School and renovations at Brentsville District High School. Emerging projects include an addition to The Nokesville School and Potomac Shores area elementary expansion, both planned for 2027-28. Based on the facility condition index (FCI), new classroom spaces and facility renovations and changes have been re-categorized to address the infrastructural needs of the facilities.

The CIP presentation also provided updates on completed and current projects. Construction has been completed on Innovation Elementary School and Independent Hill Garage. The Woodbridge area elementary school is currently under construction, and the Occoquan Elementary School replacement and Potomac Shores area elementary school are in the design stages.

Completed renovation projects (with close-out items remaining) include C.D. Hylton High School, Parkside Middle School, and Bristow Run and Signal Hill Elementary Schools. Renovations at Cedar Point and Swans Creek Elementary Schools are currently in progress and expected to be completed by fall 2025. Upcoming renovations will include Graham Park Middle School and Brentsville Transportation Center. Minor projects are also scheduled for Brentsville District, Gar-Field, Osbourn Park, and Woodbridge High Schools.

General maintenance and repair are continuing to occur throughout the county. Roofing projects have been completed at Forest Park and Osbourn Park high schools, while roofing replacement is in progress at Rippon Middle School. HVAC projects are being completed at Battlefield, Brentsville, Freedom, and Potomac High Schools, Graham Park and Unity Braxton Middle Schools, and Ellis, Pattie, and West Gate Elementary Schools.

During the CIP Work Session, Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade made several notable changes that will be incorporated into the proposed CIP. Those changes include adding a turf management facility at Brentsville District High School for the school's award-winning turf management CTE program. Dr. McDade also suggested adding maintenance work to the track at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School. The PWCS facilities team noticed delamination happening at the Colgan High School track, which is the rubber surfacing from the concrete underneath the track. This isn't currently a safety issue, but the team is planning to get the issue fixed during the summer.

On February 7, the Superintendent will present the CIP to the School Board along with the FY 2025 Proposed Budget. A public meeting on the FY 2025 Proposed Budget and CIP will be held February 12, and an official public hearing on the FY 2025 Budget will be held on February 21. A final markup on the FY 2025 Budget/CIP in a School Board Work Session will occur on March 13. Upon approval, the School Board will submit the FY 2025 Budget/CIP to the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors. Additional information and the FY 2025 CIP planning timeline may be found on our website.