Definition of Curriculum:

PWCS offers a comprehensive menu of course options to help all students prepare for life after high school. Options are available with the potential to earn college credits through increased Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, and dual enrollment (DE) offerings. Students have access to coursework that may earn them industry certifications that can lead to gainful employment opportunities.

Specialty Program Information:

AP Capstone: a challenging course focused on the research process.
AP Scholars: a program focused on honing critical thinking, analytical skills plus written, oral, and presentation abilities. Students may earn college credit for qualifying scores on AP exam.
Building Trades: a course of project-based instruction that prepares students for a career in the building trades industry.
Culinary Arts: a comprehensive program preparing students for careers or future education in the culinary field.
Early Childhood Education: a program providing education, field experiences and practical learning experiences working in the preschool at Patriot and in various age classrooms at T. Clay Wood Elementary.
Project Lead the Way: a program designed to expose students to university engineering courses at the high school level.
Teachers for Tomorrow: a curriculum featuring hands-on experience in education. It is designed for students who are interested in a career in education or a child-related field.
Additional opportunities: Gifted Education and Governor’s School.

PWCS Grading Scale

Profile of Class of 2025 Graduates

2024-25 SAT Mean Scores

* Scores for 2024-25 are pending.*

All students have the opportunity to select the SAT scores reported to colleges. The PWCS transcript lists only the highest combined scores from all test administrations.

Grade Distribution 2024-25

A B C D F
49% 26% 15% 8% 2%
Advanced Placement Program
Advanced Placement courses are taught in all PWCS high
schools. These courses adhere to the stringent requirements
prescribed by the College Entrance Examination Board
(CEEB) and are awarded grade point values based upon a 5.0
scale. Courses designated advanced/accelerated are indicated
by a plus (+) beside the course title on the student transcript.

Advanced Placement Courses

AP Biology AP English 10
AP Calculus AB AP Human Geography
AP Calculus BC AP Physics
AP Capstone AP Physics C
AP Chemistry AP Psychology
AP Comparative Government AP Research
AP Computer Science A AP Seminar
AP Computer Science Prin. AP Spanish Language
AP Economics AP Statistics
AP Environmental Science AP Studio Art 2-D
AP French Language AP US Government
AP Language & Composition AP US History
AP Literature & Composition AP World History
AP Music Theory AP PreCalculus

Dual Enrollment

Patriot High School partners with Northern Virginia Community
College (NVCC) to offer dual enrollment opportunities for
students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.
These courses, indicated by “DE’ in the course title, are taught
within the high school day by Patriot High School faculty who
are credentialed NOVA adjunct faculty.

Dual Enrollment Courses

English College Comp 11 VA Teachers for Tomorrow
Early Child Education Precalculus w/Trig for AB
Calculus US/VA Government
Chemistry US/VA History

Class Percentile

All courses with Carnegie units of credit are used to compute
GPA and percentile, shown on student transcripts. Starting with
the class of 2022, PWCS reports class percentile instead of class
rank. Courses are not evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Transcripts
from other districts with pass/fail grades won't affect GPA and
percentile unless a corresponding letter grade is provided. All
students earning an Advanced Studies or Standard diploma are
included in the senior class percentile.

Seven Period A/B Schedule

PWCS follows a 7-period schedule wherein each student takes
seven 92-minute classes. Under this schedule, students have the
opportunity to earn seven credits per year.

Graduation Requirements

Students entering 9th grade in 2018-2019 and beyond.

• Verified Credits** 5
• CTE Credentialing Exam or One Advanced Course
• Virtual Course for Credit or Non-Credit
• CPR/First Aid/AED Training
• Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives.
• Students earn a verified credit when they pass the
• Standards of Learning End-Of-Course test administered in certain courses, in addition to passing the course. Students can take 11 tests during their high school tenure.

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) does not discriminate in employment nor in the provision of educational programs, services, and activities, nor tolerate bullying or harassment, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin (including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, marital or parental status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.