Collage of students collaborating in a STEM classroom, assembling robotics parts and working on laptops, with a group meeting with an instructor at a table in the foreground.Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is celebrating a significant achievement as four of its high schools have earned the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Program Recognition for the 2025–26 school year.

Battlefield, Brentsville District, Charles J. Colgan Sr., and Gainesville High Schools received the honor, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to increasing student access, engagement and achievement in PLTW programs.

The recognition reflects the school division’s ongoing efforts to provide high-quality, future-focused education that prepares students for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“I am very proud that Colgan’s PLTW program has received this recognition,” said Cheryl Hines, a technology education teacher at Colgan High. “It is an honor for everyone involved with the program. Success in the PLTW program is based on a schoolwide team effort to give students the opportunity to participate in advanced coursework in engineering.”

Brooke Mallin, a technology education teacher at Battlefield High, emphasized the mindset students develop through the program.

“Success in the PLTW program isn’t about being naturally good at math, science, or engineering. It’s about developing a strong mindset,” Mallin said. “Through trial and error, applying prior knowledge, seeking out new knowledge, and persevering through challenges, students learn how to see problems through to the end. These invaluable skills can be applied to any facet of life and to any path students choose to pursue.”

To qualify, high schools must offer at least three PLTW courses within a pathway and meet participation benchmarks. Schools must either have at least 25% of students enrolled in PLTW courses or ensure that at least 33% of participating students complete multiple PLTW courses.

Project Lead The Way is a nonprofit STEM curriculum provider offering hands-on, career-focused courses in engineering, biomedical science and computer science. Through project-based learning, students take on the roles of engineers, designers and scientists while solving real-world problems.