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Prince William County Schools touts gains and presses Richmond for teacher pipeline, testing, mental-health funding
Summary
School leaders reported a 94.8% graduation rate, improvements in AP/CTE participation and reductions in chronic absenteeism, and urged the General Assembly to support teacher incentives, extend SOL testing windows and fund mental-health services.
Prince William County Schools leaders told a joint session of the Board of County Supervisors and the county’s Richmond delegation on Dec. 3 that academic outcomes and college-readiness indicators have improved while the division faces funding and workforce pressures.
Chair Jefferson and Superintendent Dr. Latanya McDade recapped district metrics: roughly 90,000 students and nearly 20,000 employees, a graduation rate that reached 94.8 percent between 2021 and 2025, decreased chronic absenteeism and dropout rates, and gains in AP participation and exam pass rates. The division said it secured about $492 million in scholarship dollars for seniors over the past four years.
The school board laid out its 2026 legislative priorities: strengthen the teacher pipeline through recruiting and retention incentives (including housing-related tax breaks and other financial incentives); extend the SOL testing window from two to four weeks and pause the requirement that SOL scores count as 10 percent of a student’s final grade; improve options for elementary-education endorsements; and seek additional state funding for mental-health services including contracted telehealth.
School leaders also warned against unfunded mandates, urging the General Assembly to consider the county’s fiscal constraints when proposing new requirements. Board members asked delegates to pursue both statute changes (where appropriate) and state funding or budget amendments for items that carry recurring costs.
Why it matters: The district frames these requests as tied to student outcomes and to retaining and supporting educators amid rising housing costs and reduced federal funding. Delegates said some priorities could be advanced without county costs via code changes, while others will require appropriations.
Next step: Delegates and county staff agreed to continue coordinating on exact budget figures, potential bill patrons and timing before the legislature convenes Jan. 14.
