Alexandria City Public Schools

ACPS superintendent, parent advocate, and two school PTAs recognized for outstanding advocacy and engagement

Published May 16, 2025 at 9:30AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at the recognition of James K. Polk Elementary School 3rd grade teacher Sharon Phox as Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year, March 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is celebrating recent recognition from the Virginia Parent Teacher Association (Virginia PTA). Several community members and organizations received Impact Awards for their exceptional advocacy and engagement work.

The Virginia PTA has honored ACPS Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt, parent and Alexandria Parent Teacher Association Council (PTAC) Vice President of Advocacy Maureen McNulty, and two school PTAs for their contributions to student success and family involvement.

News

ACPS staff won’t get 1% market rate adjustment due to budget shortfall

By James Cullum

Published May 15, 2025 at 4:06PM

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

Facing a $3.25 million budget shortfall, Alexandria City Public Schools is planning on saving a good chunk of it by not giving staff a 1% market rate adjustment.

According to a budget memo, the school board will review the following at a work session tonight (May 15). In the memo, ACPS staff laid out the following budget adjustments before the Board approves the final FY 2026 Combined Funds (Operating, Grants & Special Projects, and School Nutrition Services) Budget:

News

George Mason Elementary School modernization plans heading to City Council

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2025 at 2:30PM

George Mason Elementary School modernization rendering (via City of Alexandria)

After coasting through the Planning Commission, plans to modernize George Mason Elementary School are heading to City Council for this Saturday (May 17).

Alexandria City Public Schools is hoping to cut the ribbon on the new two-story building in the summer of 2027. The project will keep the original 1939 building, although ACPS plans to demolish a majority of the existing school and replace it with a two-story structure for a capacity of 670 students and 80 teachers and staff.

News

TONIGHT: ACPS to conduct public hearing on redistricting proposals

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated May 12, 2025 at 8:44PM

Redistricting Update: What We’ve Heard, What’s Changing, and What Comes Next

After months of conversations, the Alexandria School Board will hold its first public hearing on proposed redistricting changes tonight (Monday, May 12).

Alexandria City Public Schools is proposing three different plans to handle increased capacity. The second and final public hearing on the matter will be held on June 5, and the Board is expected to make its final decision on June 12. The redistricting process is set to be fully implemented by August 2026.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 9, 2025 at 3:30PM

The athletic fields at Episcopal High School (via City of Alexandria)

Welcome to Friday! Here’s a look back at our most-read stories of the week.

Our top story this week is on Episcopal High School being named a training site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To accommodate an international soccer team with a home-away-from-home atmosphere, the private school is asking the city for permission to install field lighting with 47 light poles between 40-to-100-feet-tall.

News

Facing backlash, School Board shelves editorial oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student publications

By James Cullum

Published May 9, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated May 9, 2025 at 1:21PM

ACHS students protest policy changes to restrict publication of the high school newspaper and other publications, at the Alexandria School Board meeting on May 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What started as a simple policy change has erupted into a full-blown fight over the First Amendment in Alexandria City Public Schools.

Facing backlash from city leaders, the Alexandria School Board officially went back to the drawing board Thursday night (May 8), by announcing that its intended policy changes on the oversight of Alexandria City High School’s student publications have been put on hold. The announcement was made as more than a dozen student journalists held signs and demanded their editorial independence from ACPS administrators. So far, their Voices Unbound plan has the backing of City Council members and Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

News

Here’s why Alexandria City High School’s graduation is in May, not June this year

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2025 at 6:30AM | Updated May 8, 2025 at 1:12PM

Celebrating at Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, June 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Better get the Slip ‘N Slide out of storage, because this year’s Alexandria City High School seniors are getting their diplomas a week early.

The commencement ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena, instead of on the first Saturday in June. Here’s why.

News

ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated May 5, 2025 at 2:13AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony, this morning (May 2), the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board.

From reporting on a transportation controversy to investigations into the School Board, transgender policies, or even lampooning metal detectors in cartoons, Theogony student journalists take their roles seriously. Now, with City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system, student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication.

News

Alexandria City Council passes $956.5 million FY 2026 Budget amid ‘time of great uncertainty’

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2025 at 9:05PM

Alexandria City Council approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, April 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty, Alexandria’s City Council unanimously adopted its $956.5 million operating budget.

City Manager Jim Parajon said it was challenging crafting a budget that keeps city services without increasing real estate or property taxes. The city’s budget grew 3.2% over the current fiscal year, with its largest line item being a fully-funded Alexandria City Public Schools, as well as significant stormwater management funding for the city’s $2.1 billion FY 2026 – 2035 Capital Improvement Program.

News

ACPS admits ‘internal breakdown’ kept defending debate champs from state title defense

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated April 30, 2025 at 10:48AM

Alexandria City High School's Harlow Babic and Andrew Bell, the 2024 VHSL Class 6 Policy Debate State Champions, failed to register for this year's state tournament and didn't enter (courtesy image)

Last year’s win was unbelievable. Without coaching, organization, or outside help, Alexandria’s Harlow Babic and Andrew Bell won the Virginia High School League’s debate state championship.

This year, after spending hundreds of hours building arguments, the defending state champs from Alexandria City High School were gearing up for two wins in a row. Their hopes were dashed three days before the April 26 tournament at James Madison University when told that they missed the registration deadline and couldn’t participate.

Sports

Alexandria native Robert Longerbeam drafted by Baltimore Ravens

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 28, 2025 at 4:15PM | Updated April 29, 2025 at 7:58AM

Alexandria native Robert Longerbeam was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 NFL Draft (image via Baltimore Ravens)

The Baltimore Ravens selected Robert Longerbeam, a 24-year-old cornerback from Alexandria, in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday (April 26). Picked 212th overall, Longerbeam is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School) and played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 2020 to 2024.

At 5’11” and 175 pounds, Longerbeam is currently unsigned but shows promise as a draft pick for the Ravens. His college career demonstrates steady growth and improvement. In his first two seasons, he played 18 games, racking up 30 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.