Prince William County will soon join the growing list of public school districts offering some form of in-person learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Virginia’s second-largest school district will offer 50% in-person classes for all grade levels beginning Nov. 10. Parents and guardians also have the option to keep their students at home and learning virtually, if they prefer.

Like a less fun version of Hogwarts, students will be assigned to a “House” to determine which days they will attend school in-person: Tuesday/Thursday House, Wednesday/Friday House and Virtual-Only House. Mondays will be virtual for all students, no matter their house.

The school system is counting on students to check themselves daily for COVID-19 symptoms and to stay at home if they feel unwell in any way.

Please Note: the in-person 50 percent model is based on a minimum three feet of physical distancing. A face covering policy will be in place, as coverings will be required for students & staff when less than six feet of distance is possible.

🎥 Watch: https://t.co/5jKuA937tL pic.twitter.com/skjTKuA5iu

— PWCS (@PWCSNews) September 27, 2020

“We recognize the complexity of this school year,” said superintendent Steve Walts in a message to parents and guardians, “and we value your collaboration as we work together to ensure that a high-quality education continues safely amidst this ongoing pandemic.”

Prince William County has shared mock-ups of its classrooms with social distancing measures and capacity limits in place. Based on the diagrams, some classrooms could have as many as 20 students inside together at a time.

Wondering what classrooms could look like under the 50 Percent Model? ⬇️ Check out this thread of sample Elementary, Middle, and High School models.

50 Percent High School Model – based off 2020-21 maximum class size at Forest Park HS, a typical footprint in the Division. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/zD29bWL4OE

— PWCS (@PWCSNews) September 29, 2020

The return to in-person learning has created a rift between some parents and teachers. On Sunday night, the Prince William Education Association issued a statement supporting a return to all-virtual instruction. “There is no significant data indicating that returning to school in November will be equitable, let alone safe,” the statement said.

Groups of parents, organizing on Facebook under the hashtag #teachmeinperson, planned to rally outside three schools on Monday in support of the back-to-school plan.

The parent group also plans to gather on Wednesday evening outside the Kelly Leadership Center, where the school board will meet to discuss the new learning plan.

Prince William’s 50% in-person model is one of the more ambitious back-to-school plans in Northern Virginia.

Loudoun County plans to bring back younger students (Kindergarten through second grade) for 50% in-person learning beginning Oct. 27. Fairfax County’s superintendent has presented a plan to the school board that would bring back small groups of students for in-person instruction, with a focus on students in special education programs and English learners. Arlington plans to bring back some students with disabilities this month, followed by English learners, PreK to third grade students and other specialty groups in November.