Collage of students sitting at desks in classrooms

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

As we move closer to the Thanksgiving season, I want to pause and celebrate an incredible milestone for our school division. This week, I had the honor of presenting a four-year review of PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan to the School Board. What began in 2021 as an ambitious plan to strengthen learning, elevate student success, and build a more connected school community has grown into a story of real transformation across Prince William County Public Schools.

From day one, Vision 2025 was defined by a singular vision—to see every student graduate on time with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community—and rooted in our four commitments: learning and achievement for all, positive climate and culture, family and community engagement, and organizational coherence.

Across PWCS, we have seen tremendous growth. Chronic absenteeism has dropped by 6.7 percentage points, more students are meeting and exceeding grade-level expectations, and our SOL pass rates in writing, mathematics, and science continue to rise. One of our crowning achievements is our historic high 94.8% on-time graduation rate. This achievement is the direct result of our dedication to equity and access for all students.

None of this would be possible without the dedicated educators and staff who show up every day for our students. Since 2022, PWCS has implemented a series of competitive raises—averaging increases ranging from 29% to 30.5%—that help us attract and retain exceptional talent. Today, PWCS proudly offers the highest entry-level teacher salary in Northern Virginia. This is a direct investment in our classrooms and in the future of every child we serve.

As we close the chapter on Vision 2025, we are excited to look ahead to what comes next. Our new strategic plan, Elevate 2030, will build on this strong foundation and prepare our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our students are explorers—curious, engaged, and invested in lifelong learning—and together, we will continue to elevate their experiences and open doors to even greater opportunities.

Thank you for your partnership, trust, and belief in PWCS. Our collective efforts have made these four years extraordinary, and I cannot wait to see all we will accomplish together in the years ahead.

As this is a time for gratitude and thanks, I want to remind our community that many PWCS schools collaborate with various nonprofit organizations and private entities to provide food, clothing, toys, books, and care each year for children and their families. To support their efforts, please consider donating to SPARK, our PWCS education foundation, which works directly with schools to provide necessary resources for students. Additionally, organizations such as Northern Virginia Family Service and Action in Community Through Service offer additional services beyond food assistance, including shelter, life skills training, and financial aid. I encourage you to reach out to your school’s parent liaison to learn how you can contribute your time, support, or resources.

We look forward to seeing all PWCS students on Monday and Tuesday next week. As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed to the public on Wednesday, November 26, and closed from November 27-28 in observance of Thanksgiving. From our family to yours, enjoy the holiday.

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