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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Welcome to Friday’s weekly roundup of our top stories.
With ALXnow, it’s easy to catch up on the latest news in Alexandria. This week, we focused on coverage of our local, state, and federal governments. We also reported a lot of crime, including a homicide in the city’s West End.
Around 150 students from Alexandria City High School participated in a financial literacy workshop at the Minnie Howard campus on Monday (April 21). Wells Fargo and the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development, Inc. (SFEPD) organized the event as part of the Hands on Banking Initiative.
Students received personalized financial profiles and had to manage expenses within a set budget.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has released new redistricting maps for elementary and middle schools.
The plans, now called Square, Circle, and Triangle, were presented at a Redistricting Hybrid Community Meeting on Tuesday (April 22).
Alexandria resident Brooke Sydnor Curran, founder and CEO of Alexandria-based nonprofit Move2Learn, just completed her 200th marathon.
Curran crossed the finish line at the Coastal Delaware Running Festival in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Sunday (April 13), adding another impressive feat to her running resume. She’s now completed marathons in all 50 states, tackled all six World Marathon Majors, and raced on every continent.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has unveiled two new proposed boundary maps as part of its ongoing School Boundary Redistricting Process.
The Red and Indigo plans are now open for community review and input. A Green Plan, Blue Plan, and Purple Plan were also recently presented to the public.
Life at Alexandria City High School isn’t easy, not even when you’re a cartoon.
Just follow the latest adventures of best friends Nyx and Soliana in the monthly West End Girls comic in the Alexandria City High School newspaper, Theogony. The cartoon is the creation of comics editor Rozalia Finkelstein, who won two awards for her work at last year’s National High School Journalism Conference.
