Alexandria City Public Schools

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

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

ACPS announces new partnership with NOVA for Health Sciences Academy

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 19, 2025 at 3:00PM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is teaming up with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to launch a Governor’s Health Sciences Academy (GHSA) in the 2025-26 school year.

This partnership will give students access to dual enrollment programs, industry certifications, and paths to associate degrees in high-demand healthcare fields.

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

By Ryan Belmore

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.

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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.