Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria City Council receives update on proposal to use DASH buses for high school student transportation

Published June 24, 2025 at 10:00PM | Updated June 25, 2025 at 8:10PM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City Council received a comprehensive update on Tuesday night (June 24) regarding a proposal to transition Alexandria City High School students from traditional school buses to the city’s DASH public transit system. City Manager James Parajon recommended a three-phase implementation, beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

The initiative, which has been under study for five months through a joint City Council and School Board subcommittee, aims to provide student transportation that is safe, reliable, effective, and efficient while supporting environmental goals and potentially reducing costs.

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City staff want Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026

By James Cullum

Published June 20, 2025 at 11:15AM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

City staff are recommending a phased transition to replace school buses for Alexandria City High School students with DASH buses.

The City Council asked staff in January to consider the transition for ACHS, Virginia’s largest high school with multiple campuses and over 4,500 students. Staff have returned with the recommendation for a three-phase approach that would kick off in the fall of the 2026-2027 school year.

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Alexandria Police request to access ACPS student records taken off the table

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) has removed from consideration a controversial request that would have granted school resource officers direct access to student records, according to Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

Following the grilling of Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire by the City Council, the School Board unanimously voted last Thursday to extend the soon-to-expire two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ACPS and the police. The six-month extension means that Alexandria City High School and the city’s middle schools will continue with their assigned school resource officers as is, while the details of the draft MOU are ironed out.

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Alexandria School Board makes elementary and middle school redistricting changes

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated June 13, 2025 at 2:26PM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It took months of community meetings and work sessions, and on Thursday (June 12), the Alexandria School Board approved redistricting maps for its elementary and middle schools.

The Board whittled down its choices to the Triangle 3 map for elementary schools and Option E for middle schools. Here’s what that means:

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Alexandria City High School Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III leaving to run Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated June 13, 2025 at 4:04PM

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

After serving as the executive principal of Alexandria City High School for two years, on Thursday, Alexander Duncan III announced his departure, effective June 30.

Duncan said that he has accepted another role, and thanked staff in an email. Duncan was the ACHS Minnie Howard Campus administrator, and replaced ACHS Executive Principal Peter Balas after his departure in 2023. Duncan will start his new role as principal of Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.

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SUMMER: Last day for Alexandria City Public Schools is this Thursday

By James Cullum

Published June 9, 2025 at 7:01PM

James K. Polk Elementary School kids cheer as 3rd grade teacher Sharon Phox was named the Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year, March 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

School’s out for summer in Alexandria starting this week.

Thursday (June 12) is the last official day of the 2024-2025 school year for Alexandria City Public Schools, not counting Alexandria City High School’s senior graduation last month.

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Air conditioning issue prompts early dismissal at Patrick Henry K-8 School

By James Cullum

Published June 5, 2025 at 12:06PM

Students learning at Patrick Henry K-8 School (via ACPS/Facebook)

Patrick Henry K-8 School (4643 Taney Avenue) is dismissing students and staff early Thursday (June 5) due to issues with its air conditioning system.

Due to temperatures exceeding 80 degrees inside the building, students will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m. All school-related events at Patrick Henry Recreation Center are also canceled.

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Francis C. Hammond Middle School gets 500 full backpacks from United Way National Capital Area

By James Cullum

Published June 5, 2025 at 11:45AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at a backpack giveaway event at Francis C. Hammond Middle School, June 5, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With summer vacation just days away, Alexandria leaders were on hand at Francis C. Hammond Middle School on Thursday (June 5) to receive 500 free backpacks filled with school supplies.

The backpacks, most of which are being stored for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, were donated to the Title I school as part of a collaboration between United Way National Capital Area, Enterprise Mobility, and American Water. United Way NCA’s partnership with Alexandria City Public Schools has provided more than 3,500 backpacks to the West End school since 2017.

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Final public hearing on ACPS redistricting is this Thursday

By James Cullum

Published June 4, 2025 at 3:40PM

ACPS redistricting update poster (via ACPS)

As options are whittled down, the public has its last chance on Thursday night (June 5) to weigh in on proposed redistricting changes for Alexandria City Public Schools.

Months of discussion have led to this point, and the School Board is conducting its second public hearing on the proposed maps. The School Board will make its final decision on redistricting at its meeting on June 12. The new boundaries will go into effect in August 2026.

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More than 130 parents sign letter protesting ACPS redistricting plans

By James Cullum

Published May 23, 2025 at 2:30PM

Triangle elementary school map (via ACPS)

More than 130 families from the MacArthur Elementary School community delivered a letter to the School Board this week opposing redistricting changes heading to the School Board for a final decision next month.

Keep Students Together, a new group dedicated to the issue, said that the proposals to “split the elementary school community” are speculative and rushed, and will disrupt kids who started their elementary school experiences during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Alexandria Police to be designated ‘school officials’ with access to student records under proposed MOU

By James Cullum

Published May 22, 2025 at 12:15PM | Updated June 17, 2025 at 11:27AM

Police at Alexandria City High School investigating a bomb threat (staff photo by James Cullum)

According to a draft memorandum of understanding between the school system and police, the Alexandria Police Department officers are considered “school officials” with access to the records of Alexandria City Public Schools students.

The School Board is conducting a public hearing on the draft MOU on Tuesday night, May 27. The 40-page document is an update to the two-year agreement between police and ACPS. Once approved, the updated agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. APD provides school resource officers at Alexandria City High School and the city’s two middle schools.