Schools

“We now have 45.7% of all graduates earning post graduate credentials and 65% of career and technical education (CTE) graduates earning one or more college or career credentials,” Dr. McDade reported. “To date, PWCS has the highest entry-level teacher salary in Northern Virginia.”

During the Nov. 18 School Board meeting, Dr. McDade outlined gains including a 94.8% graduation rate, reductions in absenteeism and dropout rates, improved SOL pass rates, expanded CTE opportunities, and major compensation increases to strengthen teacher recruitment and retention. She also introduced PWCS Elevate 2030, the next strategic plan focusing on global competency, personalized learning, and teacher empowerment.

The magazine states that it based its Top 25 rankings on data from the Virginia Department of Education, evaluating advanced diploma rates, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, SOL advanced pass rates, and AP/IB enrollment across 10 Northern Virginia school divisions.

No high schools from Prince William or Stafford County cracked the top 20 list of Northern Virginia Magazine’s best high schools. Battlefield High School near Haymarket and Gainesville High School, both in Prince William County, ranked 21st and 24th, respectively.