Alexandria City Public Schools

Superintendent Kay-Wyatt discusses challenges and solutions for youth well-being at regional conference

Published March 26, 2025 at 8:00PM

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaking at the 2025 Shape of the Region Conference (via 2025 Shape of the Region Conference)

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt emphasized the critical importance of addressing mental health needs across diverse student populations during a panel discussion at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Shape of the Region conference on Wednesday, March 26.

“In Alexandria, I have the largest high school in the state of Virginia. It’s almost 5,000 students in four campuses. We are very diverse. One hundred eighteen different countries, 120 plus languages,” Dr. Kay-Wyatt told attendees at the conference focused on creating safe and supportive futures for Northern Virginia’s youth.

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Operation Warm and FedEx Cares provide new shoes to all 320 Cora Kelly students

By James Cullum

Published March 26, 2025 at 11:30AM

Jhanelle Hollins with FedEx helps a student at Cora Kelly School try on a new pair of shoes, March 26, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

All 320 students at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology stepped into spring in brand new shoes on Wednesday (March 26).

For the second time this month, Operation Warm visited an Alexandria school to outfit hundreds of students with new shoes.

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ACPS presents draft school boundary redistricting options to the public

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 18, 2025 at 8:24PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 12:41PM

School Board member Christopher Harris (via ACPS)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) held its first community meeting on school boundary redistricting Tuesday evening. Three draft boundary maps were presented to address school capacity and utilization issues across the district.

More than 300 individuals participated online, with dozens more attending in person at Alexandria City High School, as district officials and consultants explained the redistricting process that began in July 2023.

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ACPS and city leaders cut ribbon at new synthetic turf field at Patrick Henry K-8 School

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2025 at 3:15PM

City and ACPS leaders cut the ribbon at the new athletic field at Patrick Henry K-8 School, March 18, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After years under development, the ribbon was cut today on the new synthetic turf sports field at Patrick Henry K-8 School.

It took six years to construct the field in front of the renovated West End school at 4643 Taney Avenue, which reopened next to the old school in early 2019.

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Polk Elementary students step into joy with 770 pairs of free sneakers

By James Cullum

Published March 14, 2025 at 3:30PM

Operation Warm and Beazer Homes gave 770 pairs of shoes to all the students at Shoes at James K. Polk Elementary School, March 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s nothing like a new pair of shoes. This afternoon, all James K. Polk Elementary School students in Alexandria’s West End received free sneakers.

That’s 770 pairs of shoes, all donated to the students by Pennsylvania-based nonprofit Operation Warm and Georgia-based builder Beazer Homes. The event was just one in a handful today across the country that the companies are offering to school systems.

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Annual MV Big Flea market returns to Del Ray on April 26

By James Cullum

Published March 13, 2025 at 5:30AM

MV Big Flea is returning to Mount Vernon Community School in Del Ray on April 26, 2025 (via FDcebook)

In the market for a pristine Fender guitar? There are two for sale at rock-bottom prices at the upcoming MV Big Flea, an annual fundraiser and community yard sale for the Mount Vernon Community School in Del Ray.

The annual flea market is back on April 26 (Saturday) in the gym of Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue). Organizers have been gathering donated treasures at the Del Ray Farmers’ Market and have several nearby storage units filled to capacity.

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JUST IN: Polk Elementary 3rd grade teacher Sharon Phox named Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year

By James Cullum

Published March 12, 2025 at 3:58PM

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

A rapturous applause followed after a James K. Polk Elementary School teacher was officially named the Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year.

In front of an assembly of third graders, teacher Sharon Phox was presented the honor by Lisa Coons, Virginia’s superintendent for public instruction, as well as Alexandria City Public Schools leadership and her family.

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ACPS Redistricting Steering Committee to review boundary scenarios

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 11, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 12:41PM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Alexandria City Public Schools is advancing its school boundary redistricting process with three proposed plans aimed at balancing student enrollment and improving school capacity utilization across the district.

The Redistricting Steering Committee will review the "Green," "Blue," and "Purple" plans during its March 12 meeting, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room.

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Alexandria budget pushes back against controversial Jefferson-Houston conversion

By Vernon Miles

Published February 25, 2025 at 10:30PM

City Manager James Parajon presenting the FY 2026 budget (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria City Manager James Parajon presented the FY 2026 budget to City Council tonight (Tuesday) but one of the major items was something not included in the budget: the conversion of Jefferson-Houston K-8 School to a middle school.

The budget included $21 million to Alexandria City Public Schools in capital funding — funding devoted to major development projects in a capital budget. In a release, the City of Alexandria said the funding was in line with the funding level requested for FY 2026 in the School Board capital funding request.

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ACPS safety report shows increase in fights but overall decrease in incidents

By Vernon Miles

Published February 24, 2025 at 1:15PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) data showed a decline in school safety incidents, but a notable uptick in fights/assaults.

The ACPS School Safety Data Review covers the first and second quarter of this 2024-2025 school year. Compared to the third and fourth quarters of last year incidents declined from 73 to 62, though that total still wasn’t as low as the first and second quarters from last school year at 57 incidents.

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City Council discussion revives possibility of new Alexandria middle school

By Vernon Miles

Published February 19, 2025 at 11:50AM

Students return to George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

In the middle of an uproar over the planned elimination of Alexandria’s K-8 schools, a discussion at Alexandria’s City Council meeting last night (Tuesday) may have gotten the ball rolling for a new local middle school.

City Council member John Chapman asked, during a discussion of the Long-Range Planning Interdepartmental Work Program, whether the City could revisit Long Range Educational Facilities Plan — which spells out plans to improve facilities planning and accommodate the growing student population.