Middle school students doing school work on iPads in a classroom

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

Let me begin by extending a warm welcome back to our students, staff, and families. I also wish to share an important update regarding accreditation. Yesterday, the Virginia Department of Education released its decision on the accreditation appeal made by PWCS. Based on additional evidence of alignment with accreditation requirements, all PWCS schools are now Fully Accredited. Further details about this decision are available on our website.

During the School Board meeting on Wednesday evening, I presented Elevate 2030, the proposed four-year strategic plan. This plan builds on the momentum of Vision 2025 and reflects our collective commitment to academic excellence, classroom innovation, belonging, and preparing every student to graduate on time with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community.

Elevate 2030 is intentionally forward-focused, shaped by the voices of our community, and grounded in the skills and technology needed for the world our students will inherit. PWCS invites the community to review the PWCS Elevate 2030 Strategic Plan and provide feedback via the survey link by Friday, January 16. I am grateful to our Board, staff, students, and families who helped shape this important work, and I look forward to continuing this journey together.

Vision becomes reality through leadership. In PWCS, leadership is evident in every school, every day. During Principal Appreciation Week, January 12-16, we celebrate their role in creating safe, supportive, and future-focused learning environments, which are key to both school success and the well-being of students and staff. Let’s take a moment to express our gratitude to our principals for their ongoing guidance, inspiration, and support within our school community.

I want to remind families that the deadline for our Specialty Program Application is February 1. These programs offer unique learning opportunities aligned to students’ interests and strengths. Please join one of our January sessions to get live support with your application. Families can also contact the Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs office at [email protected].

Finally, this is an important time for students and families to begin reviewing the course catalog in preparation for scheduling for the upcoming school year. The PWCS Middle School Course Catalog and High School Course Catalog for the 2026-27 school year are now available. Thoughtful course selection helps ensure that each student’s academic pathway aligns with their goals, interests, and postsecondary plans. School counselors and staff are available to support families throughout the process.

Thank you for supporting our students and schools. The School Board will hold a live-streamed work session on the Capital Improvement Program, a management tool for addressing changes in enrollment patterns and use of facilities in ways consistent with sound educational practices, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14. I invite you to watch on PWCS-TV, and I look forward to our continued progress in 2026.

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