Alexandria City Public Schools will present quarterly safety data to the School Board Thursday showing a dramatic decline in student arrests and court referrals, with 28 total cases during the 2024-25 school year compared to 69 the previous year.
The latest quarterly report covers 262 safety incidents between January and June, with 8 student court referrals and 6 arrests during the third and fourth quarters. This represents a 59% decrease from the 2023-24 school year.
The semester comparison data reveals the scope of the decline across all school levels. Middle schools, which recorded 23-25 arrests and referrals per semester in previous years, had just 4 total cases this year. High schools dropped from varying levels in previous semesters to 10-11 total, while elementary and K-8 schools maintained minimal numbers.
Safety incidents during the third and fourth quarters totaled 262, representing a decrease from the 279 incidents recorded in the first two quarters. Incidents peaked in March with 61 reports and declined sharply to 19 in June as the academic year ended.
Fights and assaults led all incident categories with 83 cases during the winter and spring quarters, followed by 66 instances requiring emergency medical assistance. The district confiscated 8 weapons during the period, including 6 knives, 1 stun gun and 1 can of pepper spray.
The incident type comparison shows notable shifts from previous quarters. Threats involving verbal, cyber or social media declined significantly by 13 cases, while emergency medical assistance calls increased by 15. Missing student reports decreased by 6 cases compared to the previous quarter.
The incident type comparison shows notable shifts from the previous quarter. Threats involving verbal, cyber or social media declined by 13 cases, while emergency medical assistance calls increased by 15. Missing student reports decreased by 6 cases compared to the previous quarter.
High schools accounted for 11 of the 14 arrests and court referrals during the third and fourth quarters, while middle schools had 3. No elementary or K-8 students were arrested or referred to court during this period.
The arrest and referral categories included assault, controlled substances, illegal weapon possession, obstruction of justice, police information/swatting, probation violation, warrant service, hit-and-run, and alcohol possession by a minor.
Alexandria Police responded to 124 calls for service during the quarter, though officials note these calls are not solely for criminal incidents and include assistance with missing student investigations, suspicious activity, and welfare checks.
Elementary schools recorded the highest number of total incidents during the third and fourth quarters, with 101, followed by high schools with 82, middle schools with 61, and K-8 schools with 18.
The arrest and referral data show demographic patterns, with high school cases involving 4 White males (non-Hispanic), 4 White males (Hispanic), 1 Black female (non-Hispanic), and 1 Black male (non-Hispanic). Middle school referrals involved 3 Black females (non-Hispanic) and 1 White male (Hispanic).
This marks the eighth quarterly safety report compiled by the Office of Safety and Security Services, which manages emergency procedures, school security officers, and the law enforcement partnership with the Alexandria Police Department.
The School Board will receive the safety presentation Thursday at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place as part of their school board meeting.
