PWCS staff recommend Scenario 6: Potomac View students to move to new Woodbridge Area elementary; public hearing set Jan. 21
Summary
Staff presented a redistricting plan that would relocate Potomac View Elementary students to a new Woodbridge Area school in 2026–27 under Scenario 6. Parents raised concerns about staff reassignments, walkability and safety; the board scheduled a public hearing Jan. 21 and a vote Feb. 4.
Prince William County School staff recommended adoption of Scenario 6 in a redistricting plan that would move students from Potomac View Elementary to the new Woodbridge Area Elementary beginning in the 2026–27 school year, with additional boundary adjustments to take effect when Potomac Shores #2 opens in 2027–28.
Dr. Matthew Cartlidge, supervisor of planning, told the board the county is adding two new elementary schools and that Potomac View’s site is constrained and among the poorest-rated facilities in division assessments. He said the estimated cost to tear down and rebuild Potomac View would be approximately $55,000,000 and could take up to four years, and that relocating students avoids extended disruption: "The estimated cost to tear down and rebuild Potomac View is approximately 55,000,000," Cartlidge said, and "there's an opportunity here to avoid that and promote student safety and avoid instructional disruption."
Scenario 6, which staff described as incorporating the most public feedback, would reassign about 2,660 students (roughly 31% of students in the region) and keep school utilization within the division’s guardrails (no school exceeding 105% capacity in the first three years and avoiding dips below 80%). Cartlidge said the division ran multiple community engagement steps — two town halls (Nov. 17 and Dec. 11) and a focus group (Dec. 15) — that yielded hundreds of registrants and speakers.
During citizen comment many parents and staff urged the board to preserve Potomac View staff continuity as students move. Tamika Hendon told the board PVES has strong student outcomes (she cited a 97% SOL pass rate for the final promoting class) and said, "The staff are not moving to the new school despite the fact that the entire student population is." Multiple speakers asked the board to transfer the principal and existing staff to the new school to preserve relationships and ease students’ transitions.
Other public commenters raised safety and walkability concerns for the Woodbridge Area site and flagged data and communication shortcomings in the outreach materials; several speakers called Scenario 6 preferable to earlier options because it preserved neighborhood walkability in many areas. In response board members asked staff for clearer maps, additional community meetings and implementation specifics such as grandfathering rising fifth graders. Cartlidge said rising fifth graders should be offered the option to remain at their current school to finish elementary school.
The board did not vote on the plan at the Jan. 7 meeting. Staff said a public hearing is set for Jan. 21 in the board chambers, and the board is scheduled to consider adoption on Feb. 4. Board policy was cited regarding when additional town halls are required if the board adopts a significantly different proposal affecting neighborhoods not included in the original scenarios.
