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Facing backlash, School Board shelves editorial oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student publications

Published May 9, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated May 9, 2025 at 1:21PM

ACHS students protest policy changes to restrict publication of the high school newspaper and other publications, at the Alexandria School Board meeting on May 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What started as a simple policy change has erupted into a full-blown fight over the First Amendment in Alexandria City Public Schools.

Facing backlash from city leaders, the Alexandria School Board officially went back to the drawing board Thursday night (May 8), by announcing that its intended policy changes on the oversight of Alexandria City High School’s student publications have been put on hold. The announcement was made as more than a dozen student journalists held signs and demanded their editorial independence from ACPS administrators. So far, their Voices Unbound plan has the backing of City Council members and Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

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Here’s why Alexandria City High School’s graduation is in May, not June this year

By James Cullum

Published May 8, 2025 at 6:30AM | Updated May 8, 2025 at 1:12PM

Celebrating at Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, June 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.

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ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated May 5, 2025 at 2:13AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

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.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:50PM

This man was among three men shot in the 3800 block of Old Dominion Boulevard in Arlandria on Sunday, April 27, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been an intense week in Alexandria.

Here’s a look back on this week’s top stories. Our most-read post was on the shooting of three men in Arlandria on Sunday night (April 27). Police found the victims with gunshot wounds shortly after being called at around 9 p.m. They were transported to area hospitals, and no arrests have been announced. Witnesses heard a barrage of gunfire, and the Alexandria Police Department is asking for help in the investigation.

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ACPS admits ‘internal breakdown’ kept defending debate champs from state title defense

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated April 30, 2025 at 10:48AM

Alexandria City High School's Harlow Babic and Andrew Bell, the 2024 VHSL Class 6 Policy Debate State Champions, failed to register for this year's state tournament and didn't enter (courtesy image)

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.

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PHOTOS: Going down a dual language rabbit hole in the Alexandria Children’s Theatre production of Alice In Wonderland

By James Cullum

Published April 8, 2025 at 5:45PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 8:08AM

Alice and the Cheshire Cat in Down The Rabbit Hole at Mount Vernon Community School, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Spoiler warning: Alice doesn’t make it back from her trip down the rabbit hole in the Alexandria Children’s Theatre’s (ACT) dual language production at Mount Vernon Community School (2601 Mount Vernon Avenue).

“Que curioso,” Alice says, bewildered. “Everything seems so much different since I fell into that rabbit hole.”

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April marks the first-ever ‘Month of the Young Child’ in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 7, 2025 at 12:00PM

Students from the Minnie Howard Early Childhood Programs, April 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Early childhood education and development is taking the spotlight this month in Alexandria.

This morning (April 7), Alexandria City Public Schools and city leaders recognized the first-ever Month of the Young Child at the Early Childhood Center at Minnie Howard. The school system is building on the annual National Association for the Education of Young Children‘s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child (April 5-11) with a month of planned activities.

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Here’s why Alexandria City High School students are posting anti-tobacco stickers around the city

By James Cullum

Published April 1, 2025 at 6:30PM

Take Down Tobacco stickers at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Scores of Alexandria City High School students are descending on local businesses that sell tobacco today (April 1) with big red stickers.

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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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Anonymous call put Alexandria City High School on ‘secure the building’ status earlier today; police investigating

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2025 at 4:16PM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Alexandria City High School was placed on “secure the building” status earlier today when police received an anonymous phone call of a person with a firearm in the parking lot of the King Street campus (3330 King Street).

Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III sent the following note to parents:

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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.