children | ALXnow

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

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

Alexandria police recover firearm in child’s backpack, prompting investigation

By Katie Taranto

Published March 4, 2026 at 4:01PM

4850 Mark Center Drive (via Google Maps)

A student “may have brought a loaded firearm” to Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School yesterday (Tuesday), according to an Alexandria City Public Schools message sent to the school’s community today.

The Alexandria Police Department recovered a firearm inside an 8-year-old child’s backpack yesterday in a Child Protective Services office at 4850 Mark Center Drive, the department told ALXnow. No injuries were reported, and officers are investigating the cause of the incident.

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

Two Alexandria students honored for winning George Washington essay contest

By James Cullum

Published February 20, 2026 at 2:45PM

Garrett Wagman of George Washington Middle School (on left), a George Washington re-enactor and David De Costa of Bishop Ireton High School won the 2026 George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest, and were presented with $500 checks at the annual Friendship Firehouse breakfast in Old Town, Feb. 16, 2026 (courtesy photo)

Two Alexandria students were recently awarded $500 prizes for their submissions to the 2026 George Washington Legacy Foundation Essay Contest.

Garrett Wagman of George Washington Middle School and David De Costa of Bishop Ireton High School won the middle school and high school contests, which were open to all students in the city. This year’s 700-to-1,000-word essay contest focused on America’s 250th anniversary and Washington’s role in uniting the colonies.

News

JUST IN: Hundreds of ACHS students stage walkout against ICE

By James Cullum

Published February 6, 2026 at 4:20PM

Students participating in a walkout Feb. 6, 2026 (courtesy Rosemary Pereira-Kyle)

Around 250 to 300 students walked out of both campuses of Alexandria City High School today (Friday) to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The student-led walkout lasted from around 2:15 to 2:45 p.m., according to ACPS. The event happened less than a month after hundreds of people gathered at Four Mile Run Park Plaza to protest ICE, after an officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

Around Town

Alexandria author releases book with stories she made for Charles Barrett Elementary students

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2026 at 11:45AM

Seven Days of Sophie, a new book by Southerlyn Marino (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new children’s book from an Alexandria author is rekindling the stories she told local students during virtual storytimes amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Seven Days of Sophie” by Southerlyn Marino captures a week in the life of Sophie, a lovable black-and-white French bulldog. Though Marino released the book at the Made In ALX store just last month, the stories are from five years ago, when she was asked to be a virtual mystery reader for her nephews’ class at Charles Barrett Elementary School.

Around Town

Girl Scout cookie sales begin in Alexandria next week with new ‘rocky road’-inspired treat

By Katie Taranto

Published January 27, 2026 at 2:45PM

Girl Scouts of Nation's Capital members hold boxes of cookies at a booth in 2024 (courtesy of Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital)

Girl Scout cookie season is back, and it’s coming soon to Alexandria.

In-person cookie booth sales with Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital return next week on Friday, Feb. 6. Shoppers will be able to snag the classics like Thin Mints and Trefoils, as well as a new rocky road ice cream-flavored cookie, Exploremores.

Around Town

Continues Arcade to host ‘Titans 4 Scholars Music Festival’ fundraiser this week for new scholarship

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2026 at 11:45AM

Continues Arcade at 1050 N. Fayette Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

A night of live music is coming to Continues Arcade this week as a group of Alexandria high schoolers seek to raise funds for a new scholarship.

A group of juniors at Alexandria City High School is aiming to raise $12,000 over the next two months to create a new award through the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. One fundraising event, the “Titans 4 Scholars Music Festival,” is happening from 6-8 p.m. this Thursday at Continues (1050 N. Fayette Street).

News

‘Near miss’ incidents involving kids in Alexandria raise concerns about Hickory Street intersection

By Katie Taranto

Published January 8, 2026 at 10:30AM

The roundabout at Hickory and Kennedy Streets in Alexandria's Potomac West neighborhood, Nov. 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new report on traffic safety in Northern Virginia is raising concerns about the number of “near miss” incidents in Alexandria, especially those involving children.

A total of 155 near miss incidents involving children were reported in Alexandria from January 2024 to December 2025 — more than in any other Northern Virginia locality, according to the report from Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS). Of those incidents, 53 of them occurred at a single intersection in Potomac West.

News

After tense exchange, Alexandria City School Board approves capital improvement budget

By James Cullum

Published December 19, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated December 19, 2025 at 4:36PM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After a contentious discussion, the Alexandria City School Board last night (Thursday) approved its $282.3 million Capital Improvement Program budget for fiscal years 2027-36.

The 5-4 approval of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed budget comes in at $3.5 million below the recommended amount from City Manager Jim Parajon’s office. The CIP includes $23 million in funding for non-capacity projects next year, including $1.8 million in school bus/vehicle replacements, $1.8 million for emergency repairs and $1.3 million in curriculum and instruction materials. It also accounts for the $2 million development of the Alexandria City High School’s Chance for Change Academy.

News

New names for ACPS sports facilities, library and courtyard receive final approval

By James Cullum

Published December 19, 2025 at 11:30AM

The home crowd at an ACHS Titans varsity football game, Sept. 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Four facilities at Alexandria City Public Schools are getting new names to reflect beloved figures in the city, including a former mayor and a longtime teacher.

The Alexandria City School Board voted last night (Thursday) to rename the athletic field complex at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, ACHS’ Parker-Gray Stadium field, the Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School and the courtyard at the Early Childhood Center. These are the newly approved facility names and their community namesakes.