News

ACPS capital budget proposal exceeds city’s request by $186 million

By James Cullum
Woman with glasses speaks at a wooden podium; sign reads 'SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNEE' in front of her.
Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor at the Alexandria School Board meeting on Aug. 27, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools has vastly exceeded a recommendation by the city to keep its 10-year capital improvement program budget capped at $184.4 million.

On Thursday, Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor unveiled her proposed $370.6 million Fiscal Year 2028-37 Capital Improvement Program budget, going over the city’s recommendation by $186.2 million. Taylor told the School Board that the funding is “essential to preventing further deterioration, address capacity challenges, and deliver learning environments that truly serve our students and community.”

“I want to be transparent that this exceeds the city’s guidance of $184.4 million by about $182.2 million,” Taylor told the School Board.

The school board did not comment on the draft CIP at the meeting.

Taylor said that on Oct. 16, the city asked ACPS to keep its 10-year capital funding at or below currently approved levels, absorb any new costs within existing funding and hold off on new major renovation or replacement work until FY2035 or later. She also told the School Board that the proposed budget is needed to meet the school system’s educational, safety and programming needs.

“We recognize the fiscal pressures behind that guidance and take it very seriously in our work,” Taylor told the School Board. “Ultimately, the budget ensures every student learns in a facility that supports their success, and that our capital investments match the scale of the need we see every day in our schools.”

The news comes two days before City Council is meeting with ACPS leaders and other department heads at its annual budget retreat on Saturday, Nov. 7.

ACPS takes up nearly 30% of the city’s budget and faces a $17 million budget gap. The School Board is also looking to give itself a raise, and get a collective bargaining agreement set for implementation when the next fiscal year starts on July 1, 2027.

Asked for comment from City Manager Jim Parajon or city staff on the proposed CIP budget, the city released this statement:

“As part of the budget process, we will review the ACPS request. The November 16 joint work session provides an opportunity to discuss the request in the context of the guidance previously provided by the City.”

What’s in the plan

The proposed FY2028-37 ACPS Capital Improvement Program budget summary (via ACPS)

The $370.6 million budget would be spread over the next 10 years, including $17.9 million for FY2028.

Taylor said that a majority of the school system’s buildings are more than 50 years old.

“With so many of our buildings more than 50 years old [noted below in red], we will need to renovate or replace major building systems to extend their useful life,” Taylor said. “Strategic investment today helps us avoid the far greater cost of deferred maintenance tomorrow.”

School lifespans in Alexandria (via ACPS)

Capital funding for FY2028 includes:

Proposed ACPS capacity improvements (via ACPS)

The largest gaps in the CIP fall in FY2030 and FY2031, with the conversions of Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School into a middle school and Patrick Henry K-8 School into an elementary school.

In FY2036 and FY2037, ACPS has also budgeted to replace the 71-year-old Cora Kelly School (3600 Commonwealth Avenue), as well as renovate Jefferson-Houston and Patrick Henry.

Upcoming capital budget discussions

The School Board will conduct the following meetings this fall:

  • Nov. 10 — Public Hearing on the FY 2028-2037 10-year CIP
  • Nov. 12 — School Board CIP Budget Work Session #1
  • Nov. 16 — City Council/School Board Joint Work Session on FY 2028-2037 CIP Budget
  • Dec. 1 — School Board CIP Budget Work Session #2
  • Dec. 8 — School Board CIP Add/Delete Work Session #1
  • Dec. 10 — School Board CIP Add/Delete Work Session
  • Dec. 17 — Regular School Board Meeting: Adoption of the FY 2028-2037 CIP Budget

About the Author

  • James Cullum

    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.