Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

Engaging our community for feedback is vital; we actively use this input to adjust our operations and enhance experiences to better meet student, family, and community needs. Does your child enjoy school? Are you receiving ample communication about your child's educational experience? Is your child being appropriately challenged academically? Our annual divisionwide survey helps us to obtain the answers to these questions and many more. We need your thoughts to help us improve and shape our future strategic plans.

Parents and guardians, please take five minutes today and complete our family engagement survey. Staff and students, in grades 5-12, will receive separate surveys. The survey is being administered by Gallup, one of the top research companies in the world. Gallup will ensure the confidentiality of your response and will compare PWCS to other school divisions nationally to help us improve. Every voice matters and we value your feedback.

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. CTE programs are essential in preparing our students for employment in fast-growing fields, such as computer programming, engineering, health science, and skilled trades. The plumbing class, taught by the 2024 PHCC National Plumbing Teacher of the Year, exemplifies the hands-on trade and industrial learning occurring in our schools, while our recent Success by CTE demonstrates the industrial and technical education taking place in our classrooms and the potential career opportunities they provide.  We are proud to recognize our growth toward accomplishing our goals with these recent examples: 

• 759 active enrollments in CTE dual enrollment courses.
• 347 registered CTE partnerships this year, and the number is still growing.
• 225 students engaged in a paid internship with PWCS last year (2023-24).
• 319 students actively engaged in a paid internship (2024-25 to date).

Also, we are thrilled to congratulate C.D. Hylton High School student, Ezekhiel Miller, who is one of the five students selected to represent our state as a nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in Career and Technical Education. Congratulations to Ezekhiel for this remarkable achievement! These highlights demonstrate how CTE in PWCS, along with strategic partnerships across the county and exceptional teaching and learning in our classrooms, are equipping students to build successful futures.

Now is an exciting time for our seniors receiving early admissions and college decision letters. With the celebration of acceptance letters, paying for college is top of mind for families. In recognition of Financial Aid Awareness Month, I wish to highlight some of the programs available to families to help aid in launching thriving futures.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application used by nearly all two- and four-year universities, colleges, and career schools for awarding federal, state, and college-funded student financial aid. This financial support can alleviate some or all the cost of higher education. Filling out the FAFSA Form is the first step toward finding financial support for our students’ continuing education.

Additionally, students who may not be eligible for federal student aid may still meet state financial aid requirements and should complete the Virginia Alternative State Aid Application at VASAapp.org. Find out more about grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs by contacting your student’s College and Career Counselor or by visiting our Financial Aid website.

Sincerely,

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