Alexandria City High School

ACPS pushes back on intercampus high school transportation controversy

Published October 15, 2024 at 3:55PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

After an editorial from Alexandria City High School student newspaper Theogony said students walk between classes because buses are not available, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) leadership has responded that bus availability isn’t an issue and it could be cracking down soon on students walking between campuses.

Theogony reported that roughly 1,600 students travel between the King Street and Minnie Howard campuses of Alexandria City High School every day and hundreds of students say they’re unable to rely on bus transportation for that trip. Those students walk the 0.6 mile distance between campuses across the busy and dangerous Quaker-King-Braddock intersection.

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Alexandria’s ‘Girl Leading Change’ Zahra Rahimi returns to the White House

By James Cullum

Published October 15, 2024 at 1:20PM

Alexandria's Zahra Rahimi returns to the White House, Oct. 2024 (courtesy photo)

A year after being distinguished as one of 15 Girls Leading Change by First Lady Jill Biden, Alexandria’s Zahra Rahimi just returned to the White House.

The 18-year-old Rahimi says that being named to the group motivates her, and that she briefly spoke with the First Lady after the announcement of this year’s cohort.

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Notes: ACHS student newspaper slams botched rollout of new Minnie Howard campus

By ALXnow.com

Published October 11, 2024 at 10:15AM

Students get on school buses at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny skies and a high of approximately 68 degrees, accompanied by a west wind ranging from 5 to 7 mph. As the night rolls in, the sky will remain clear, with the temperature dropping to an estimated low of 49 degrees while a southwest wind blows at about 6 mph.

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Alexandria middle schoolers once again outpace high schoolers in alleged criminal activity

By James Cullum

Published October 10, 2024 at 9:00AM | Updated October 10, 2024 at 10:36AM

George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Thirty-eight Alexandria students were referred to court for alleged criminal activity in the second semester of the last school year, and there was also a significant uptick in the number of incidents requiring a police response.

That’s according to a new system-wide safety report that the School Board will receive on Thursday night.

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Lockdown lifted at Alexandria City High School after threats ruled ‘unfounded’

By Vernon Miles

Published September 23, 2024 at 11:15AM | Updated September 23, 2024 at 11:42AM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Movement was restricted inside Alexandria City High School (ACHS) earlier this morning as police investigated an alleged threat related to the school building.

Around 11:30 a.m., Principal Alexander Duncan said ACHS administration and the Alexandria Police Department (APD) completed a threat assessment and determined the building is safe and the threats were unfounded.

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Olympic champ Noah Lyles welcomed back home in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 22, 2024 at 7:11PM

Olympic champ Noah Lyles returns home to Alexandria City High School, Sept. 22, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Olympic champion Noah Lyles received a hero’s welcome back home in Alexandria today.

The 27-year-old was greeted by city and school leaders, as well as hundreds of cheering fans at his alma mater, Alexandria City High School.

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Agenda Alexandria caps off season by addressing state of city’s school system

By James Cullum

Published September 19, 2024 at 9:00AM

George Mason Elementary School Principal Christopher Finan with students on the first day of school, August 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The last few years have been rough for Alexandria City Public Schools.

The school system and all involved with it have been impacted by the pandemic, learning loss, leadership changes, a staffing crisis, surging enrollment and more.

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Noah Lyles returning to Alexandria after winning gold and bronze at Paris Olympics

By James Cullum

Published September 13, 2024 at 10:45AM

Alexandria's Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles returns to Alexandria on Sept. 22 (via Justin Wilson/Facebook)

The world’s fastest man is coming home to Alexandria next Sunday (Sept. 22).

Alexandria native Noah Lyles will return to Alexandria after winning the gold medal in the 100 meters in a photo-finish and bronze in the 200m at the Paris Olympics. There will be a rally celebration in his honor at Chinquapin Park and in Alexandria City High School’s gymnasium starting at 3 p.m.

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Early voting starts next week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 11, 2024 at 3:34PM

Voting in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Early voting starts next week in Alexandria.

There are a number of voting options for those who can’t wait or make it to vote in-person at their home precinct on election day Nov. 5.

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Alexandria City High School staggering student dismissal because of bus driver shortage

By Vernon Miles

Published September 5, 2024 at 3:45PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Not long after warning families that the bus driver shortage will impact schools, Alexandria City Public Schools said it’s staggering student dismissal because of the driver shortage and schedule changes at the high school.

According to a letter from Alicia Hart, chief operating officer for Facilities and Operations at Alexandria City Public Schools, the school division will start having staggered student dismissal times for mid-day shuttle transportation at Alexandria City High School.

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Alexandria City High School briefly evacuated due to fire alarm

By Vernon Miles and James Cullum

Published August 22, 2024 at 2:40PM

ACHS (staff photo by James Cullum)

In what’s become an annual tradition at this point, the first week of school at Alexandria City High School was disrupted with a fire alarm.

Students were evacuated from the school a little after 2 p.m. today (Thursday). Students returned to the school less than 30 minutes later as the Alexandria Fire Department confirmed there was no danger.