Prince William County Public Schools

Prince William

Osbourn Park High School Wins Virginia School Breakfast Award

By Uriah Kiser

Osbourn Park High School has received the Virginia School Breakfast Award from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for its success in expanding breakfast access, maintaining nutritional integrity, and serving more scratch-cooked meals. The school is one of three recipients this year.

Cafeteria manager Nidia Bruno expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the team’s dedication to feeding students. Andrea Early, director of Food and Nutrition, noted that breakfast participation at Osbourn Park has increased by 30% and praised the cafeteria team for efficiently managing the expanded program. The school benefits from the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.

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Originals

Prince William County Schools to Unveil FY 2026 Budget, Including $1B Capital Plan

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County Schools Superintendent LaTanya McDade. [Courtesy of PWCS on X]

A significant component of this year’s budget is a $1.098 billion Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), aiming to address overcrowding, modernize aging facilities, and support long-term student enrollment shifts.

Major Investments in New Schools and Renovations

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News

Prince William County Schools’ $1 Billion Capital Improvement Plan

By Uriah Kiser
The Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center is the headquarters for the Prince William County Public School System. [Photo via Prince William County Public Schools]

Prince William County Schools (PWCS) are embarking on an ambitious $1.098 billion Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) aimed at alleviating overcrowding, modernizing aging school facilities, and preparing for future shifts in student enrollment. The plan, presented at the January 15, 2025, school board work session, includes new school constructions, significant renovations, and sustainability-focused upgrades.

To address overcrowding in high-growth areas, PWCS will build multiple new schools, including:

Occoquan Replacement School – Scheduled to open in December 2025, this school will add 226 seats and include specialized programs for students with special education and autism support needs.
Woodbridge Area Elementary School – Opening in the 2026-2027 school year, this school will provide a capacity of approximately 632 students and will serve the Cardinal and Neabsco Mills Districts, areas currently experiencing significant overcrowding.

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News

Declining Enrollment in Prince William Prompts Redistricting, New High School Plans

By Uriah Kiser
Woodbridge Senior High School, at 3001 Old Bridge Road in Lake Ridge.

As Prince William County grapples with shifting enrollment patterns, declining birth rates, and increasing school capacity concerns, school leaders are moving forward with plans to open the county’s 14th high school in the 2029-30 school year. The new school, which may feature specialized programs such as robotics and drone labs, is intended to relieve overcrowding in central and eastern Prince William County high schools, including Colgan, Freedom, and Woodbridge. However, with fewer students entering the school system than graduating, the long-term necessity of the new school and countywide redistricting remains a topic of debate. During a school board work session on January 15, officials discussed the declining birth rates and shifting population dynamics shaping school planning. According to data from the Virginia Department of Health, Prince William County recorded 5,761 births last year, a significant drop compared to previous years. The current enrollment pyramid shows a stark difference, with 1,600 fewer students entering kindergarten than those graduating from 12th grade.

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News

Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School Senior Named Finalist in Regeneron Science Talent Search

By Uriah Kiser

Rania Lateef, a senior at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School and the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park, daughter of Prince William School Board Chairman Babur Lateef,  has been named one of 40 finalists in the prestigious 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS). Selected from nearly 2,500 applicants nationwide, Rania is recognized for her groundbreaking research on the effects of artificial light and circadian disruption on biobehavioral systems in Drosophila melanogaster. Her work highlights the impact of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances on physical and mental health.

Rania credited her success to the supportive academic community of Prince William County Public Schools, her teachers Stephanie Brown and Dr. Alexis Patanarut, and her unique opportunities at GS@IP. As a finalist, she has already won $27,000 and will compete for additional awards totaling over $1.8 million during a week-long event in Washington, D.C., in March 2025. Rania’s journey emphasizes the power of passion and commitment in achieving meaningful scientific discoveries.

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News

Don’t Watch Trump Inauguration, Prince William School Board Member Urges

By Uriah Kiser
Richard M. and Lillie Jessie (center)

Prince William County School Board member Richard Jessie and his wife, former school board member Lillie Jessie, are urging the community to boycott the upcoming presidential inauguration by turning off their televisions at noon on January 20. They believe that lower viewership will send a strong message to the new administration.

In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump secured a historic return to the White House, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump won 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226, marking a significant political comeback.

Comparatively, during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, approximately 30.6 million people tuned in to watch the ceremony on television. This was the second-highest viewership for an inauguration in 36 years, surpassed only by Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, which drew 37.8 million viewers.

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Breaking News

Winter Storm Closes Prince William County Public Schools on January 6

By Uriah Kiser

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), the second-largest school division in Virginia, announced the closure of all schools and offices for Monday, January 6, 2025, due to a Winter Storm Warning. The announcement, posted on the division’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, stated, “Due to Winter Storm Warning, all Prince William County Public Schools and Offices will be closed Code Red on Monday, January 6, 2025 (exception: Inclement Weather Employees). Weather conditions will be monitored throughout Monday, and an update will be provided as needed.”

The closure affects over 90,000 students enrolled across the division’s 100 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools and specialty programs. PWCS serves a diverse and growing population, providing academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities for students in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

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