Alexandria City High School

Former Alexandria City High swimmer Emil LaSida, 21, dies; held college records

Published September 18, 2025 at 4:15PM

Former ACHS swim and dive team captain Emil LaSida (via Facebook)

Emil LaSida, 21, a record-holding swimmer at Case Western Reserve University and a former captain of the Alexandria City High School swim and dive team, died Sept. 15.

Case Western Reserve University announced Sept. 17 that LaSida had died, but the cause of his death has not been released. A fourth-year student majoring in engineering, LaSida set the school record last year in the men’s 50 freestyle with a time of 19.98 seconds at the NCAA Division III Championships and earned All-American Second Team honors, according to the university.

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Alexandria high school library receives crowdfunded LEGO kits for student makerspace

By James Cullum

Published September 10, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

The library at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard campus has successfully gotten crowdsource funding for LEGO architecture kits.

The school librarian raised $755 from a dozen givers via Donors Choose for kits that include Malfoy Manor from the Harry Potter book series, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Statue of Liberty.

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Alexandria City High School students stage walkout protesting gun violence in schools

By James Cullum

Published September 5, 2025 at 12:52PM

Students staging a walkout at Alexandria City High School's King Street campus, Sept. 5, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Hundreds of Alexandria City High School students held a walkout on Friday, Sept. 5, demonstrating against gun violence in schools.

The walkout at ACHS’s King Street and Minnie Howard campuses started at 11:30 a.m., and lasted for less than a half hour. The demonstrations are part of a national walkout, were organized by Titans Demand Action and held on school grounds. Media was not permitted to observe, except from the public sidewalk. Students held signs, threw water bottles and chanted, “End the violence!”

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Titans ready for battle: Alexandria City High School football looks to rebound in 2025

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 20, 2025 at 6:00AM | Updated September 21, 2025 at 3:52AM

Alexandria City High School's homecoming football game against West Potomac on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School’s football program continues its 2025 season Thursday when the varsity Titans host Meridian High School at 6:15 p.m. for their home opener, following last week’s season-opening road game at Langley High School.

Head coach Rodney Hughey and his staff are working to improve on last season’s 3-7 overall record and 3-4 Division 6A regional mark. The Titans finished 39th in the state division rankings, providing motivation for the program’s rebound efforts this fall.

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Alexandria City High School to host 25th anniversary celebration of ‘Remember the Titans’

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 12, 2025 at 4:30PM

Remember The Titans: 25 Years Later (via ACPS)

Alexandria City Public Schools will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the beloved football film “Remember the Titans” with a special celebration at Alexandria City High School on Sept. 19.

The ticketed evening event promises “special guests, fun surprises, and a whole lot of Titan pride,” according to a school district announcement. Activities will include a student pep rally, Titan tailgate, and a tribute to the 1971 Titans team that inspired the Disney film.

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Alexandria seeks resident input on Housing 2040 plan at Monday open house

By James Cullum

Published August 12, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated August 12, 2025 at 4:50PM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is seeking feedback on its 15-year plan to address affordable housing issues. Once approved, the Housing 2040 Master Plan will provide City Council and staff with clear goals, strategies, and direction on the city’s housing plans. The city is hosting an open house this Monday (Sept. 8) to get feedback on Housing 2040 draft recommendations for landlord-tenant rights and resources, and homeownership programs in the city. The event will be held at the Minnie Howard Campus of Alexandria City High School (3775 W. Braddock Road) from 6 to 7 p.m., and registration is encouraged.

The current master plan is set to expire in 2025. The new plan will require a 2024 housing needs assessment from the city, and input from residents to “establish new housing affordability goals and examine housing policies, programs, and tools to support all Alexandria residents and workers,” according to the city.

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Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility celebrating one-year anniversary on August 29

By James Cullum

Published August 4, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated August 4, 2025 at 7:49PM

The swimming pool at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Sometimes getting all wet can be exactly what you need.

On Friday (Aug. 29), Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility. The family friendly event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes free activities, live music and giveaways.

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Notes: Alexandria City High School student wins statewide essay contest

By ALXnow.com

Published July 31, 2025 at 8:00AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Thursday, July 31, the 212th day of 2025. There are 153 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Increasing clouds, with a high near 93 degrees. Heat index values as high as 106 degrees. Calm wind becoming south around six mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

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Notes: Alexandria High School Senior wins National Merit Scholarship

By ALXnow.com

Published July 30, 2025 at 8:00AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Wednesday, July 30, the 211th day of 2025. There are 154 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98 degrees. Heat index values as high as 107 degrees. Calm wind becoming south around six mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 77 degrees. South wind around five mph, becoming calm in the evening.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 25, 2025 at 3:30PM

Tiffany Barner, Alexandria City High School's dean of students has died (via ACHS)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s our compilation of the most-read stories of the week.

Our top story this week is on the sad news of the death of Tiffany Barner, a longtime Alexandria educator and a Dean of Students at Alexandria City High School. The ACHS community was notified of Barner’s death in a note July 21 (Monday) from ACHS Interim Executive Principal Lance Harrell.

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Alexandria City High School Dean of Students Tiffany Barner dies

By James Cullum

Published July 21, 2025 at 2:30PM

Tiffany Barner, Alexandria City High School's dean of students has died (via ACHS)

Tiffany Barner, a Dean of Students at Alexandria City High School, has died.

The ACHS community was notified of Barner’s death in a note today from ACHS Interim Executive Principal Lance Harrell. No cause of death has been released, and Harrell said that counselors and mental health professionals are available to help anyone in this “heartbreaking moment.”