Alexandria City Public Schools officials are touting improvements in standardized testing results from the Virginia Department of Education.
VDOE’s annual SOL standardized test results showed ACPS improved across all content areas divisionwide in the 2025-26 school year, increasing 9% in history (to 71%), 5% in mathematics (to 59%), 3% in science (to 56%) and 1% in reading (to 63%).
School Board Chair Christopher Harris said that the results reflect positive results from efforts to improve outcomes.
“On behalf of the School Board, I want to applaud our staff for the intentional work happening every day in classrooms and schools across ACPS,” Harris said in a statement. “While we know there is more work ahead, this progress gives us a strong foundation to build upon as we continue advancing the ACPS 2030 Strategic Plan and ensuring every student has access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive.”
Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor said that the scores are a major accomplishment.
“Improving pass rates in every content area demonstrates that the focused work taking place throughout our schools is making a meaningful difference,” Taylor said. “To be identified as one of only 10 exemplar school divisions for large gains in mathematics, by the Virginia Department of Education, is a testament to the dedicated work of our amazing staff, students and families.”
Alexandria City High School saw its biggest gain in mathematics, going from a 50.9% pass rate to 62.3%.
The school system also saw higher fail divisionwide fail rate among some student subgroups:
- Reading fail rates were highest among children with disabilities (69%), homeless children (60%), and Hispanic children (54%)
- Mathematics fail rates were highest among homeless children (73%), children with disabilities (72%) and English learners (63%)
- Geography fail rates were highest among English learners (100%), students with disabilities (50%) and Hispanic students (48%)
- Science fail rates were highest among English learners (75%), students with disabilities (72%) and homeless students (63%)
- History fail rates were highest among students with disabilities (69%), homeless students (67%) and English learners (53%)
Middle and K-8 school results
Francis C. Hammond Middle School (4646 Seminary Road) saw gains in all subject areas.
George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue) saw pass rates dip in seventh and eighth grade mathematics, but climbed in all other subject areas.
Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School (1501 Cameron Street) saw a pass rate decline in third, sixth, and seventh grade reading, as well as eighth grade science, and civics and economics.
Patrick Henry K-8 School (4643 Taney Avenue) saw a decline in fourth, fifth and sixth grade reading, as well as in fourth, fifth and seventh grade mathematics, science and civics and economics.
Elementary and pre-K schools
Charles Barrett Elementary School (1115 Martha Custis Drive) saw declines in third and fourth grade reading, mathematics, history, social studies and Virginia studies.
Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology (3600 Commonwealth Avenue) saw declines in reading, third grade mathematics and science.
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (1101 Janneys Lane) saw declines in third grade reading and fourth grade math.
Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School (1701 N. Beauregard Street) saw declines in third grade reading, and significant improvements in nearly all other subject areas.
George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road) saw declines in all subjects except third grade math.
James K. Polk Elementary School (5000 Polk Avenue) saw declines in science, but increased pass rates in all other subjects.
John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue) saw a decline in reading pass rates in third and fourth grade and third grade mathematics, but increases in all other subjects.
Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (530 S. St. Asaph Street) saw increases in all areas except third grade math.
Mount Vernon Community School (2601 Commonwealth Avenue) saw declining pass rates in third and fifth grade reading, third and fifth grade math, and increases in all other subjects.
Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School (600 Russell Road) saw declining pass rates in fourth grade reading, fourth grade math, and improved pass rates in all other areas.
Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (435 Ferdinand Day Drive) saw declines in science, as well as fourth and fifth grade reading and fourth grade math.
William Ramsay Elementary School (5700 Sanger Avenue) saw declines in third grade reading and third grade math.
