Alexandria City Public Schools is ramping up efforts to make sure its more than 15,000 students getting free education actually live in the city.
The School Board and City Council, on Monday (Nov. 25), received a report from ACPS staff on the plan.
The school system is working on rolling out the Home Address Verification (HAV) effort to elementary schools this school year, and to middle schools and Alexandria City High School during the 2025-2026 school year.
According to ACPS:
In conducting residency verification across the division, families can expect communication and more information regarding the documents needed to verify residency and the timeframe with which they have to submit those documents for review. We will also work diligently to support families with complex living situations or who may be unhoused. This residency review is expected to begin this year and continue into future school years.
Students who can’t provide residency information will be removed from the school system, according to ACPS.
The school system’s “proactive approach” includes a data audit of student registration information.
ACPS currently asks parents to submit three proofs of their child’s residency. That includes a lease bearing the name of a legal guardian, a deed or a mortgage, as well as two supporting documents, like a utility bill, tax bill, bank statements, vehicle registration, a tax return or postmarked letter from the federal government.
Those efforts have so far resulted in 86 students withdrawn between 2022 and this year, according to ACPS.
The school system noted in a report that “at an average cost of approximately $21,000 per pupil based on trends in the 2025 approved budget” approximately $1.8 million was saved.
“This reduces class sizes and in some instances, impacts the chronic absenteeism rate as students who live outside of the school division can have attendance concerns,” ACPS said in the report.
