Alexandria City Public Schools

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Students voice strong opposition to DASH bus proposal in survey results

By Ryan Belmore
Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Three out of five Alexandria City High School students oppose the city’s proposal to replace school buses with DASH public transit, student representatives told the school board Thursday.

A survey of 131 high school students found 60.3% oppose the proposal — with 37.4% strongly opposed and 22.9% moderately opposed. Only 26% support the plan, while 13.7% reported being indifferent, according to data presented by student representative Madesen Lynch during the representatives’ regular update to the board.

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Warner slams federal ‘politicization’ of Alexandria schools

By Ryan Belmore
Senator Mark Warner during Virginia media availability on Sept. 18 (screenshot of video)

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner criticized the Trump administration’s targeting of Northern Virginia school districts over transgender bathroom policies during a media availability Thursday, calling the federal government’s actions against some of the state’s best school divisions “remarkable.”

Warner responded to a question from ALXnow about the timeline for potential federal funding cuts to Alexandria City Public Schools, which along with four other Northern Virginia districts faces ongoing disputes with the U.S. Department of Education over Title IX compliance.

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Alexandria schools see dramatic drop in student arrests, quarterly data shows

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

Alexandria City Public Schools will present quarterly safety data to the School Board Thursday showing a dramatic decline in student arrests and court referrals, with 28 total cases during the 2024-25 school year compared to 69 the previous year.

The latest quarterly report covers 262 safety incidents between January and June, with 8 student court referrals and 6 arrests during the third and fourth quarters. This represents a 59% decrease from the 2023-24 school year.

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Alexandria schools clarify no federal funds withheld despite ‘high-risk’ status

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools clarified to ALXnow on Wednesday that no federal funds have been withheld from the district despite being placed on “high-risk” status by the U.S. Department of Education over transgender student policies.

“While ACPS has been designated as a high-risk entity by the United States Department of Education, no federal funds have been withheld from ACPS as of today,” the district said in response to ALXnow’s inquiry about the specific funding amounts at stake.

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Washington Commanders players visit Alexandria school, distribute $5,000 in food, supplies

By James Cullum
Players with the Washington Commanders visited Mount Vernon Community School, Sept. 16, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Mount Vernon Community School students in Alexandria got a visit on Tuesday from Washington Commanders players, who gave away $5,000 worth of food, plush footballs, hats, and notebooks.

Commanders running back Christopher Rodriguez, Jr., wide receivers Jaylin Lane and Chris Moore, and mascot Major Tuddy visited the school in collaboration with the nonprofit Blessings in a Backpack. In addition to receiving signed team merchandise, students also got bags with yogurt, pretzels, fruit cups, cereal, soup, macaroni and cheese, and tuna.

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Alexandria’s childhood vaccination rate drops below critical threshold for disease prevention

By Ryan Belmore
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (Credit: Alexandria Health Department)
The entrance of the Alexandria Health Department (courtesy of the Alexandria Health Department)

Alexandria’s childhood vaccination rates have fallen to concerning levels, dropping from 95% in 2019 to just 88% last school year for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, according to new data from an NBC News investigation published Monday.

The decline affects Alexandria City Public Schools’ 16,335 students across 18 schools. It puts the city below the critical 95% vaccination threshold needed for “herd immunity” — the level required to prevent measles outbreaks and stop disease spread within a community.

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Virginia senators demand Education Department restore funding to Northern Virginia schools

By Ryan Belmore
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday demanding the immediate reversal of federal funding cuts to Alexandria City Public Schools and four other Northern Virginia school districts over transgender student policies.

The letter represents the latest escalation in a monthslong standoff between the Trump administration and Northern Virginia schools that has put more than $300 million in federal funding at risk for more than 386,000 students across the five districts.

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Alexandria school board expresses caution on DASH transit proposal

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

The Alexandria City School Board voiced significant concerns Thursday about a city proposal to transition high school students from school buses to public transit, with several members calling for scaled-back pilot programs or questioning the timing of such a significant change.

During a work session at 1340 Braddock Place, board members weighed City Manager James Parajon’s recommendation to implement a three-phase plan moving high school students to DASH buses beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

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School board to discuss DASH bus proposal for ACHS students Thursday

By Ryan Belmore
Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

The Alexandria City School Board will discuss a proposal on Thursday, Sept. 11, to transition Alexandria City High School students from school buses to the city’s DASH public transit system.

City Manager James F. Parajon recommends a phased approach starting in the 2026-27 school year, according to a June 20, 2025 memo to the City Council and School Board. The proposal comes after City Council members Abdel Elnoubi and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley directed staff in January to study using Alexandria’s public transit system for high school transportation.

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Alexandria City High School students stage walkout protesting gun violence in schools

By James Cullum
Students staging a walkout at Alexandria City High School's King Street campus, Sept. 5, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Hundreds of Alexandria City High School students held a walkout on Friday, Sept. 5, demonstrating against gun violence in schools.

The walkout at ACHS’s King Street and Minnie Howard campuses started at 11:30 a.m., and lasted for less than a half hour. The demonstrations are part of a national walkout, were organized by Titans Demand Action and held on school grounds. Media was not permitted to observe, except from the public sidewalk. Students held signs, threw water bottles and chanted, “End the violence!”

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Alexandria schools seek public input on 2027 budget

By James Cullum
George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

How should city resources be spent in Alexandria City Public Schools’ fiscal year 2027 budget?

As the school system and city prepare for budget season, the public will have the opportunity to weigh in on a series of “Funding Our Future” sessions starting this month and concluding in October. The first meeting will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the media room of George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray.

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