18 Prince William County Schools Earn Military-Friendly Designation

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Eighteen schools in the Prince William County school system have earned Purple Star status for being military friendly.

The Virginia Department of Education annually recognizes Virginia Purple Star schools that have demonstrated commitment to students and their miliary families. Students in military families may frequently relocate, requiring them to adapt to new academic and social settings. The Purple Star program in multiple states aims to evaluate how schools are addressing the academic and social-emotional challenges students in military families face.

In Prince William County Schools, four schools received the Purple Star designation for the first time, and 14 received renewed designations. Schools must apply to renew their Purple Star designation every three years.

Newly named schools are Buckland Mills Elementary School, Leesylvania Elementary School, Rippon Middle School and Victory Elementary School.

Schools that have received Purple Star designation multiple times are Battlefield High School, Bennett Elementary School, Benton Middle School, Bull Run Middle School, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, Forest Park High School, Henderson Elementary School, Marshall Elementary School, Piney Branch Elementary School, Potomac Shores Middle School, Springwoods Elementary School, T. Clay Wood Elementary School, Westridge Elementary School and Woodbridge High School.

There are 33 other PWCS locations with the Purple Star, bringing the new total to 51. An estimated 5,000 military-connected students attend PWCS.