Stafford County Public Schools saw significant growth in both Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment participation during the 2023–2024 academic year, continuing their efforts to offer more rigorous academic options and improve student outcomes. As discussed during the Stafford County School Board meeting on October 8, 2024, the district has focused on expanding access to AP and Dual Enrollment courses, resulting in increased participation and success rates.
The number of AP exams administered in Stafford schools has risen steadily over the past few years. During the 2023–2024 academic year, 3,452 AP exams were administered to 1,974 students, with 67% earning a score of three or higher. This score is critical as it is typically the threshold for earning college credit, reflecting the district's progress in offering challenging coursework and preparing students for post-secondary education.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) had much to celebrate at the October 16, 2024, school board meeting. The recognition of both T. Clay Wood Elementary School and six outstanding National Merit Scholarship semifinalists underscores the district's dedication to academic achievement and closing performance gaps.
T. Clay Wood Elementary: National Blue Ribbon School
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Prince William County School Board is addressing a growing concern about student overcrowding, particularly at Covington-Harper Elementary School near Dumfries, where eight trailers are being used to accommodate the rising number of students. During the October 16, 2024, school board meeting, board member Justin Wilk proposed beginning the redistricting process to manage the school's overflow of students, but the motion failed to gain unanimous support.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Accreditation with Conditions Explained
During the October 8, 2024, Stafford School Board meeting, officials explained accreditation with conditions signals that while a school meets basic operational standards, it has significant shortcomings in academic performance that need to be addressed. These three schools earned a “Level 3” rating in at least one performance area, indicating performance "below standard." According to Virginia’s accreditation system, schools at this level need targeted interventions.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Inside NOVA:Â "Some Prince William County students will soon be able to earn college credits at Northern Virginia Community College after the launch of the Collegiate High School program.
The program allows high school students to take college courses on NOVA’s college campus and earn credits while completing their high school education, according to a Prince William school system news release."
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Prince William County Schools (PWCS) continues to focus on student and staff safety with a comprehensive security approach that blends advanced technology, leadership development, and a new Security Operations Center.
At the October 16, 2024, School Board meeting, officials highlighted the district's success in drastically reducing weapons on campuses and enhancing the training and capabilities of school security personnel.
A key element of this success is introducing the Evolve weapons detection system, which has significantly decreased the number of dangerous items found on school grounds. Over the last school year, non-firearm weapons, such as knives and brass knuckles, were down by 72%. Since the system was implemented, PWCS has not reported a single firearm on any campus.
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
We just wrapped up an important discussion on the state of Manassas City Public Schools in our latest podcast episode, featuring insights from local education leaders and school board candidates. This special forum covered pressing issues facing our schools and presented diverse perspectives on how we can collectively move forward.
In this episode, you'll hear from Robyn Williams, an eight-year school board member now running for City Council, and Caitlyn Meisner, our dedicated local editor covering Manassas City Public Schools since 2023. Several candidates endorsed by the city's Republican committee, running for four open school board seats, also joined the discussion, including Allie Forkell, Javanese Hailey, Dayna Jackson-Miles, and Maidy Whitesell.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Following months of heated discussion about Grace E. Metz Middle School's declining Standard of Learning (SOL) scores and school culture, new Principal Juliet Finnegan vows to lead the school toward improvement. Finnegan, who took over in July 2024, replaces Gary Morris, who left earlier this year after just two years. Her appointment comes amid ongoing debates about tackling the school's challenges.
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
From The Center Square:
Large, “flagship,” and more selective schools have generally gained enrollment over the same time. Virginia Tech, George Mason University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia and Norfolk State University all grew in the past 10 years, with the first five averaging growth of more than 18% (NSU grew by just 1%).
