Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) provided a quarter two update highlighting notable improvement in the division’s student reading levels and steady reductions in chronic absenteeism rates. The data showed the school division’s chronic absenteeism rate this school year (August to January) at 15.2%, down from 17.3% during the same period last year. PWCS has experienced a more than a 7% drop in chronic absenteeism over the last two years.
“I’m grateful to our teachers and staff for working hard to implement our strategic plan. This plan addresses the needs of all our students, and we are seeing the impacts of that implementation across the board. The reduction of absenteeism and the improvement of reading levels are good markers of that success,” said Prince William County School Board Chairman At-Large Dr. Babur Lateef.
“We’re seeing substantial improvement being made in students reading at or above grade level, which is a testament to all of the hard work that our classroom teachers are doing every day as they continue to implement the science of reading through the Virginia Literacy Act and so we’re seeing some really positive momentum with that work,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade.
The HMH Growth Assessment is a research-based, computer-adaptive test that evaluates students’ language and reading comprehension skills in grades second through eighth, three times a year. Mid-year test results show a significant increase in the number of students across all grades reading at or above grade level, compared to the beginning of the year. For example, only 36% of second grade students were reading at or above grade level in early fall of 2024. Currently, 60% of our second graders are now reading at or above grade level.
PWCS also utilizes the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) to assess early language and literacy skills of students in kindergarten through third grade, measuring reading fluency, decoding, phonics, and comprehension. The VALLSS identifies students who may be at risk of developing reading difficulties so they can receive early intervention. Students are placed into three risk bands: low, moderate, and high. Individualized plans are created for students in high-risk bands.
The VALLSS assessment showed significant improvement from the beginning to the middle of the current school year. The percentage of kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students in the low-risk category increased, meaning fewer students were classified as high-risk. At the start of the school year, 47% of third graders were in the low-risk band, while 25% were in the high-risk band. Only the high-risk students are reassessed in the middle of the year. Of those, half have now moved to either moderate or low-risk bands.
PWCS remains dedicated to ensuring every student graduates on time with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community. Currently, more than 94% of our high school seniors are meeting core content credit requirements for graduation.
PWCS provides a variety of resources to support students with their learning, such as ALL In Tutoring, which provides in-person and virtual tutors to students. Additionally, Varsity Tutors are available to students 24/7. SAT prep resource, Khan Academy, is also available to 10th-12th grade students. Additional support is also available for English language learning students and students with disabilities. PWCS is committed to ensuring the success of our students and creating a brighter future for every child in the division.