School counselor at Osbourn Park High School sitting at a desk while speaking with a student

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

As we welcome October, there is a renewed sense of excitement and purpose surrounding college and career planning across our schools. This pivotal time of year is a reminder of the incredible opportunities awaiting our students as they plan for their thriving future.

In preparation for securing thriving futures for our students after graduation, college and career counselors in every high school are scheduling university visits, postsecondary planning, Naviance work sessions, scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and career and self-discovery explorations.

A large part of this endeavor occurs on Wednesday, October 9, when all grade 9, 10, and 11 PWCS students will take the PSAT, also known as the Preliminary SAT. Grade 9 will take the PSAT 8/9 and grades 10 and 11 will take the PSAT/NMSQT.

The PSAT is a diagnostic test of future performance on the SAT and provides students opportunities for potential scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship program during their 11th grade year. It also helps guide academic planning for participation in advanced coursework and can be used as a substitute test for the Algebra I SOL. As you can surmise, the PSAT is an important milestone when it comes to opportunities for our students.

Please be advised of the available dates for juniors and graduating seniors to register to take the SAT and ACT. Both tests are academic measurement tools used by some institutions in the college admission process. All grade 11 PWCS students will take the SAT in the spring on April 2, 2025. This test is given at no cost, and we will share more information as we get closer to the date.

As a reminder, PWCS is excited to invite all students to attend one of two upcoming college fairs: Hylton High School on October 9 and Osbourn Park High School on October 17. Both fairs are scheduled from 6-8 p.m. These college fairs are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), meet and greet with in-state and out-of-state college and university representatives, as well as attend “Tiny Talks” about the planning process for postsecondary education.

Next week, please be on the lookout for the PWCS 2025-26 calendar survey. This survey will ask for feedback on key dates such as the first day of school, winter and spring breaks, and the last day of school.

Sincerely,
Dr. McDade signature
LaTanya D. McDade, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Prince William County Public Schools