The Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Osbourn High School is a shining example of how Manassas City Public Schools are preparing students for both college and careers by offering practical, hands-on learning experiences. The program covers a variety of fields, including health sciences, information technology, automotive technology, welding, and cosmetology, helping students gain the technical skills they need to thrive in today’s job market.
During a Potomac Local News forum held on October 17, 2024, Maidy Whitesell, a school board candidate and longtime community volunteer, highlighted the need for expanding the program to meet student demand. "There’s a lot of interest in fields like plumbing and electrical work. These are valuable skills, not just for immediate employment but for life in general. We should continue to expand the program to give our students more opportunities to succeed," Whitesell said during a recent town hall forum on Manassas City schools.
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Manassas City Public Schools face increased scrutiny over falling student performance and a contentious grading policy as the November election approaches. During a recent town hall hosted by Potomac Local News, candidates for the city’s school board and concerned residents discussed the troubling decline in Standards of Learning (SOL) scores and how the division’s grading practices may exacerbate the issue.
In the past year, SOL scores for Manassas students have significantly dropped, leaving the school division well below state averages. Two of the city’s schools, Osbourn High School and Metz Middle School, remain partially accredited under pandemic-era standards and struggle to meet performance benchmarks. Caitlyn Meisner, our Manassas Local Editor, covering the school board for Potomac Local News, has followed the downward trend closely since late 2023.
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One of the most pressing concerns discussed during the town hall was increased student behavioral problems, which have created significant classroom disruptions. School board candidate Javanese Hailey, a former teacher at Metz Middle School, shared her experience with a lack of accountability in the school.
"When I worked at Metz in 2019, there was just an absolute lack of accountability. The kids were allowed to do whatever they wanted, and there were no consequences," Hailey said. "I had seventh graders who were on third-grade level academically, and that, coupled with behavioral issues, created chaos. It felt like something was going to break down at any moment."
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Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 28 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
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Robinson made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning production of "Hairspray" as Seaweed. Since then, he's been in various Broadway productions, including "Disney’s The Little Mermaid," "Hair," "Ragtime," "The Lion King," "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," "The Book of Mormon" and "Les Misérables."
During his three days with the choir, Robinson taught a three-hour masterclass, discussed his journey to Broadway, provided students with industry insights and took questions from students. A ninth-grade student, Maliya Trammell, performed "Rise Up," and Robinson provided acting tips through song.
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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.
All school board candidates and sitting school board members were invited to participate.
Key Discussion Points and Timestamp Highlights:
1. SOL Scores and Decline in School Performance – [6:20-8:45]
Caitlyn Meisner discusses how Standards of Learning (SOL) scores have continued to fall behind state averages and what this means for the school division’s future.
2. School Infrastructure and Jennie Dean Elementary Project – [9:00-10:30]
A deep dive into the new Jennie Dean Elementary construction and discussions on infrastructure improvements vs. academic performance focus.
3. Challenges in the Classroom – [14:00-17:00]
Candidates and educators discuss post-COVID classroom challenges, such as teacher accountability, behavioral issues, and language barriers in the Manassas school system.
4. Grading Policy Controversy – [26:00-28:30]
Insight into the grading policy debate over giving students multiple retake opportunities and allowing them extended time for assignments. What’s the impact on student preparedness for college and the workforce?
5. CTE Program as a Bright Spot – [50:30-53:45]
Learn how the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is helping students gain real-world skills and why expanding this program could be key to the city’s future success.
We encourage everyone to listen in and jump to the segments that interest you the most. Whether you’re concerned about school accreditation, academic decline, or exciting new initiatives like the CTE program, this podcast is for you.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Listen and share this insightful discussion with friends, family, and neighbors.
- Send us your feedback: What issues would you like us to cover in future forums?
- Get informed before Election Day on November 5 to ensure your vote supports the future of our schools.
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.
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In a report released last month by the Virginia Department of Education, the average pass rates have declined in history, math and reading; improved in science and stayed the same in writing. The most significant decrease was in history, which decreased from 62% in the 2022-2023 school year to 58% in 2023-24. The most significant increase was in science, which increased to 48% in 2023-24.
And, MCPS significantly lags behind Virginia state averages. In almost every subject, MCPS is behind more than 20% in comparison to state averages.
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At the Aug. 27 regular meeting, the Manassas City School Board unanimously adopted a draft budget schedule for fiscal year 2026, which would start on July 1, 2025.
The first budget work session will take place on Oct. 1 in the Manassas City Public School's central office and they will discuss MCPS' capital improvement plan. The expected adoption date is to be determined, but the Board will present the budget to City Council in a joint meeting on April 2, 2025, at the Public Safety Facility (9608 Grant Ave.).
