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PHOTOS: Nearly 1,000 Alexandria City High School seniors graduate at GMU’s EagleBank Arena

By James Cullum
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One of Alexandria City High School’s largest graduating classes walked the stage at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena to get their diplomas on Saturday (June 6).

Outgoing Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said that the 962 graduates are walking into an increasingly complex world.

“The world doesn’t need people who have all the answers,” Kay-Wyatt told the graduates. “It needs people who are brave enough to stay in the room when the questions get hard.”

Interim Executive Principal Lance Harrell called the students “The Class that Changes Tomorrow.”

“They are leaders, creators and advocates with a plan to impact and share the future with courage, compassion and purpose,” Harrell said.

More on the ACHS graduating class of 2026:

  • 509 members of this class have reported pursuing a bachelor’s degree and 102 are planning on pursuing an associate’s degree
  • They received 2,180 acceptance offers from 700 different colleges
  • 12 Titan student-athletes signed letters of intent to compete in collegiate athletics in six sports
  • They are receiving at least $2,500,000 in merit scholarships awarded
  • At this time, 15 students have indicated a commitment to enlist in the U.S. military, with a number of additional students planning to attend college while participating in ROTC or serving in the Reserve or National Guard
  • 43 seniors have planned employment after high school.
  • 36 students will attend trade schools to start careers in fields such as HVAC, dentistry, electrical, cosmetology, automotive mechanics, and more

Enjoy the photos!

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.