Alexandria City Public Schools

Va. education secretary, elected officials to make listening tour stop at ACHS

Published April 7, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated April 9, 2026 at 11:54AM

Inside the new Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Secretary of Education Jeffery O. Smith will stop at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus (3775 W. Braddock Road) on Wednesday night (April 8) as part of a statewide listening tour organized by the Virginia Department of Education.

Smith will be joined by Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway, House of Delegates Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring (D-4), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), and Alexandria City School Board members. The event at 6 p.m. is a stop on the statewide Commonwealth Listening Tour: Speak Up for Virginia’s Future. Registration is available for families seeking to attend.

News

ACPS wants next principal to make ACHS ‘premier high school in the region’

By James Cullum

Published April 1, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Alexandria City High School logo at the Earl Lloyd Court (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools wants the new principal of the city’s only high school to make it “the premier high school in the region,” according to a leadership profile shared last Friday (March 27) following a community survey.

After nearly an entire school year with an interim principal, ACPS posted a job listing for a “dynamic, visionary leader” to lead Alexandria City High School — Virginia’s largest public high school, with more than 4,500 students and hundreds of employees across four campuses: King Street, Minnie Howard, Satellite and Chance for Change.

News

With 19,000 voters expected at school sites, April 21 student holiday approved at ACPS

By Emily Leayman

Published March 30, 2026 at 2:45PM

Voting at Douglas MacArthur School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City School Board approved April 21 as a student holiday as election officials anticipate high turnout for the special election at school-based polling sites. While students will be off, ACPS staff will have a work day.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented the School Board with the proposal last Thursday (March 26) after a discussion with Alexandria’s election officials. April 21 is the date of the special elections to decide a statewide mid-decade redistricting amendment for Virginia’s congressional districts and fill former Councilman R. Kirk McPike’s City Council seat following his election to Virginia’s 5th House District.

News

NEW: ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to resign

By Emily Leayman

Published March 27, 2026 at 8:15AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at the Alexandria City Essential Workers Appreciation ceremony at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, March 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will resign on Oct. 1, the Alexandria City School Board announced Thursday night.

The announcement was made during Thursday night’s School Board meeting. Kay-Wyatt will continue in the role into the new school year as new school attendance boundaries are implemented at Alexandria City Public Schools.

News

ACPS prepares to move 800+ students for redistricting effort

By James Cullum

Published March 25, 2026 at 9:15AM

The School Board chose Triangle Plan 3 for elementary school redistricting (via ACPS)

Alexandria City Public Schools is preparing to move hundreds of students and reassign staff as part of its redistricting process beginning in July.

The school system has been working on the transition since the Alexandria City School Board approved the plan last June. On Thursday (March 26), ACPS staff will update the board on the plan, which will shift 860 students to new schools in the coming school year.

News

ACPS seeks to hire new Alexandria City High School principal by late May

By Emily Leayman

Published March 18, 2026 at 10:30AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools has started the process of selecting a new principal for its high school in time for the next school year.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced a hiring process and timeline for the next principal of Alexandria City High School. A job posting was released on Monday, and a community survey to gather input will open today (Wednesday) through March 23.

News

City Council scrutinizes funding gap for ACPS collective bargaining agreement

By James Cullum

Published March 16, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated March 18, 2026 at 12:06PM

Alexandria City Council Member Canek Aguirre (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council members are pressing for more answers before they can fill a $5.65 million budget gap to pay for Alexandria City Public Schools’ first-ever collective bargaining agreement.

Earlier this month, the School Board approved its $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement with the Education Association of Alexandria, promising a step increase for all eligible employees (and an extra step for staff employed since 2010), a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for licensed staff, a 3.5% COLA for support staff and a $2,000 longevity bonus for support staff.

Weather

JUST IN: ACPS to release students early due to severe storm outlook

By Emily Leayman

Published March 16, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated March 16, 2026 at 12:50PM

George Washington Middle School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Public Schools will change up its schedule today (Monday) ahead of potential severe weather, including thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

ACPS will dismiss students two hours early, and all afternoon and evening classes are canceled. The change comes after several regional school systems made their early dismissal decisions on Sunday.

News

ACPS sees 40% drop in incidents requiring police response during first semester

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2026 at 1:30PM | Updated March 5, 2026 at 6:31PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools saw a 40% reduction in the number of incidents requiring a police response during the first two quarters of this school year compared to last year, according to a school safety report recently presented to the Alexandria City School Board.

During the first semester this year, ACPS reported 167 total incidents requiring a police response across the school system and 27 student referrals or arrests. The recent incident count represents a 40% drop from the first semester last school year, which saw 279 reported incidents.

News

Volunteer program with local nonprofit teaches ACPS third graders how to ride bikes

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2026 at 2:45PM

Nicole Radshaw, a pedestrian and bike support specialist, teaches bicycling to third graders at Patrick Henry K-8 School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Just before snowflakes fell on Monday afternoon, a class of third graders at Patrick Henry K-8 School were outside in the school basketball court learning how to ride bikes.

For three weeks every school year, all third graders at Alexandria City Public Schools are fitted with Trek bikes and taught bicycle safety and riding by volunteers and staff working with the Alexandria Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee‘s (BPAC) Bicycling in the Schools initiative. This school year, 1,266 students are in the program, which is currently seeking more volunteers.

News

All Alexandria streets are clear of snow as ACPS returns to classrooms today

By Katie Taranto

Published February 24, 2026 at 8:00AM

Wintry morning along Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, Feb. 23, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria crews were quick to finish clearing Sunday’s snowfall, aided in part by some warmer temperatures and a lack of “snowcrete.”

As of last night (Monday), all primary, secondary and residential streets have been cleared, as well as Alexandria City Public Schools buildings, bus stops, city facilities and adjacent sidewalks, according to a city announcement. Roads are clear as ACPS students and staff make a return to classrooms today on normal schedules, following yesterday’s synchronous learning plans.