News

TONIGHT: ACPS to conduct public hearing on redistricting proposals

By James Cullum
Redistricting Update: What We’ve Heard, What’s Changing, and What Comes Next

After months of conversations, the Alexandria School Board will hold its first public hearing on proposed redistricting changes tonight (Monday, May 12).

Alexandria City Public Schools is proposing three different plans to handle increased capacity. The second and final public hearing on the matter will be held on June 5, and the Board is expected to make its final decision on June 12. The redistricting process is set to be fully implemented by August 2026.

According to ACPS, each of the proposed maps (Square, Circle, and Triangle) takes a slightly different approach:

  • Square emphasizes balancing utilization, especially in highly overutilized schools like Patrick Henry, Tucker, and Polk
  • Circle tries to reduce transportation needs while still addressing enrollment imbalances across the city
  • Triangle focuses on keeping students as close to home as possible, adjusting boundaries only where nearby capacity exists
The Triangle Plan (via ACPS)
The Square Plan (via ACPS)
The Circle Plan (via ACPS)

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.