Alexandria City High School

Alexandria City High School debuts renovated TV and media production studio

Published December 15, 2025 at 11:45AM

As seen at the opening of the new Alexandria City High School TV production studio, Dec. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s something different, a little more polished, about the morning announcements at Alexandria City High School these days.

Students and Alexandria City Public Schools leadership were on-hand last Friday for the opening of the newly renovated television studio for ACHS’ TV and Media Production class. With top notch equipment to boot, the new studio looks like something out of CNN, offering students real-world experience in television production, including directing, operating cameras and creating educational content.

News

Speakers call for renaming ACHS fields at Minnie Howard after late Mayor Kerry Donley

By Katie Taranto

Published December 12, 2025 at 1:45PM

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran speaks at an ACPS facilities renaming public hearing on Dec. 11, 2025 (via ACPS)

Several community members braved the cold yesterday evening (Thursday) to voice their support for a petition to rename The Fields at Alexandria City High School after former Mayor Kerry Donley.

Eight out of thirteen speakers yesterday spoke in support of the measure during a public hearing on Alexandria City Public Schools’ considerations to rename four facilities across the district. Among them were Gayle Reuter, former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran and Kaitlin Donley, one of Donley’s daughters.

News

ACPS student performance holds steady behind state levels, new data shows

By Katie Taranto

Published December 10, 2025 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Student achievement across Alexandria City Public Schools appears to be hovering steady compared to last year, according to new state data, but the district’s numbers still linger behind the commonwealth.

In the 2024-2025 school year, 62% percent of ACPS students passed state reading tests, up one percentage point from the year prior, according to Virginia Department of Education’s accountability system, the School Performance and Support Framework.

News

ACHS student journalists earn statewide awards as school board to review publication policy

By Katie Taranto

Published November 10, 2025 at 2:45PM

Theogony's 2024-2025 editorial board. Back row from left: Rozalia Finkelstein, James Libresco, Maxwell Jones-LaChance. Front row: Nadja Duss, Casey Donahue, Pablo Cruz Rivera, Julia Gwin and Max Carpenter (courtesy of Chloe Yokitis/Theogony)

It’s been a lively year for the student journalists of Alexandria City High School newspaper Theogony, who were recently named some of the best in the state.

Just months after Theogony staff made national headlines for their enterprising Voices Unbound campaign, the student newspaper was one of five in Virginia to win top-ranking “Trophy Class” honors from the Virginia High School League. Former co-editor James Libresco, who spearheaded the anti-censorship campaign, was also named Virginia’s Student Journalist of the Year.

Around Town

Alexandria children’s nonprofit to honor former principal, sheriff at winter gala

By James Cullum

Published October 27, 2025 at 5:30PM

Retired Alexandria City High School principal John Porter (on left) and Sheriff Dana Lawhorne in Del Ray (courtesy photo)

Alexandria’s former sheriff and a retired principal from Alexandria City High School will be honored during a gala hosted by the Center for Alexandria’s Children this winter.

Retired sheriff Dana Lawhorne will receive CAC’s Champion for Children Award, while longtime educator John Porter will receive the Outstanding Dedication to Children Award at the nonprofit’s benefit concert in February.

News

Alexandria City High School offering free STI screening this week

By James Cullum

Published October 27, 2025 at 11:20AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School students can get free and confidential sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing at school this week.

The free “Hallo-Screen” event, which is open to all Alexandria teens, will be conducted over the course of two days at the Teen Wellness Center clinics on both ACHS campuses. The testing schedule is below.

News

PHOTOS: Thousands turn out for Del Ray’s 29th annual Halloween parade

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2025 at 5:28PM | Updated October 26, 2025 at 8:19PM

The Del Ray Halloween Parade, Oct. 26, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Thousands of superheroes, witches, princesses, and other costumed revelers attended the 29th annual Del Ray Halloween Parade along Mount Vernon Avenue Sunday afternoon.

The grand marshal of the parade was Mount Vernon Community School 5th grader Linci Campos Cifuentes, who rode with her principal along the parade route. The event is one of the best Halloween parades in the country, according to USA Today.

News

Alexandria City High School faces Robinson at Friday’s homecoming game

By James Cullum

Published October 20, 2025 at 1:30PM

The home crowd at an ACHS Titans varsity football game, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

One of the biggest games of the Alexandria City High School varsity football season is around the corner.

The 5-2 Titans will host the 2-5 James W. Robinson Secondary School Rams this Friday (Oct. 24) at the ACHS homecoming game. General admission tickets cost $8 and $6 for ACHS students.

News

Police find no explosives after bomb threat at Alexandria City High School

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 20, 2025 at 10:21AM | Updated October 20, 2025 at 3:07PM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria police found no explosive devices after conducting a thorough search of Alexandria City High School following a bomb threat Monday morning, according to the department.

The threat was reported while the school was already closed to students in observance of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Staff members who were present at the building were sent home as a precautionary measure, police said.

News

Fundraiser at Old Town bar to benefit Scholarship Fund of Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 16, 2025 at 3:30PM

Chadwicks at 203 Strand Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

An annual Alexandria City High School alumni fundraiser at Chadwicks (203 Strand Street) on Oct. 22 (Wednesday) will benefit the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, and will feature some special guests.

Starting at 6 p.m., former ACHS Executive Principal Pete Balas will act as bartender, along with current teachers Andrew Orzel and Matt Zahn. The event, which includes raffles, is a great way to reconnect with former classmates, according to the online event announcement.

News

Alexandria’s Minnie Howard campus featured in national design publication

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 15, 2025 at 9:45AM

Inside the new Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard campus has been featured in i+s (interiors+sources), a national commercial interior design publication, highlighting the facility’s approach to sustainable and inclusive educational environments.

The article, published Tuesday by Chief Content Director Robert Nieminen, showcases the campus redesign by architecture firm Perkins Eastman.