Success in science has been a crucial area of focus for Prince William County Public Schools the past three years, and the investment is showing as the division increased its pass rate on the Science Standards of Learning (SOL) total scores by 2.6%.
In honor of National Chemistry Week, October 20-26, PWCS is thrilled to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of three schools with the largest increase in their respective Science SOL scores for the 2023-24 school year.
West Gate Elementary School saw an impressive 26% increase, and both Potomac Shores Middle School and Gar-Field High School experienced a notable 15% improvement. These increases reflect the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff, who have been dedicated to promoting science education and fostering a passion for science.
As PWCS celebrates these successes, National Chemistry Week also serves as a perfect opportunity for students and families to continue exploring the wonders of science at home.
For those interested in conducting fun and educational experiments, like those completed in our classrooms, you can visit Adventures in Chemistry, a website for a variety of safe and engaging activities that can be done with household items. From learning about chemical reactions to exploring properties of matter, these experiments are a great way to ignite curiosity and excitement for students.
But don’t take our word for it! We asked the professionals to recommend their favorite experiment so you can experience them at home.
West Gate Elementary School - Chromatography
“Seeing students engage in a chromatography experiment and watch the colors in food dye separate was as if they were uncovering a hidden spectrum within everyday items. They knew of ‘color mixing’ to create new colors, but to see the reverse sparked a sense of wonder and discovery that only hands-on science can provide. It pushed them to consider what other hidden secrets may be lurking in the world.” Jamie Murphy, gifted resource teacher.
Potomac Shores Middle School – Separating Mixtures
“There’s nothing more inspiring than watching students apply scientific skills in the classroom—where curiosity meets critical thinking, and theory transforms into discovery. The students designed a plan to separate a heterogeneous mixture using science tools and are testing their procedure for accuracy. Each experiment and observation not only deepen their understanding but also ignites a passion for learning that will carry them forward in life,” Marissa Trout, physical science teacher.
Gar-Field High School - Mentos and Diet Coke!
“Usually for the initial meeting [of Chemistry Club] each year, we invite students to bring a liter of any type of soda. I supply the Mentos. Then, we see what type of soda reacts the biggest and gives the largest reaction. So, we line [the students] up in the parking lot and record the reactions as we add the Mentos. The students tend to get excited and competitive to see if their soda will give the biggest or fastest reaction. But it leads to a lot of fun.” Megan Lee, chemistry teacher.