George Mason Elementary

Alexandria officials mark major milestone in George Mason Elementary reconstruction

Published September 3, 2026 at 9:15AM

Topping out at George Mason Elementary School (via ACPS/Facebook)

Alexandria officials gathered yesterday (Sept. 2) to mark the topping out of the reconstructed George Mason Elementary School, the latest of Alexandria City Public Schools’ modernization projects.

Monday’s topping out ceremony represented the installation of the final structural steel beam on the school. The school at 2601 Cameron Mills Road in the North Ridge neighborhood is being rebuilt to address capacity needs and replace an aging facility, according to ACPS. Built in 1939, the school was renovated before in 1949 and 1977.

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Here’s when the 2026-27 school year starts in Alexandria, and more key dates

By James Cullum

Published August 3, 2026 at 2:45PM

George Mason Elementary School Principal Christopher Finan with students on the first day of school, August 21, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The start of the 2026-27 school year is just around the corner in Alexandria.

The first day back for most Alexandria City Public Schools students is Monday, Aug. 24. That’s not the case for students and staff at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary, which started on July 27. Still, below are some important dates to be aware of, as the school system gets back into the swing of things.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated June 13, 2025 at 4:29PM

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo (via Facebook)

What a week it’s been in Alexandria. Here’s our recap of top stories.

ALXnow had its highest single-day visitor count ever on Thursday (June 12), with more than 53,000 views, following a report that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four major cities across the country.

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ACPS moving out of George Mason Elementary School and into swing space for 2 years

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2025 at 2:30PM

Swing space at 1703 N. Beauregard Street, via Google Maps

With a years-long renovation breaking ground this summer, the move-out dates have been set for staff at George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road).

Staff began packing up in early May, according to ACPS, and the main move, a 3.5-mile relocation to the building at 1703 N. Beauregard Street, is scheduled for June 16-20. The newly renovated George Mason Elementary is planned to reopen for students in August 2027.

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More than 130 parents sign letter protesting ACPS redistricting plans

By James Cullum

Published May 23, 2025 at 2:30PM

Triangle elementary school map (via ACPS)

More than 130 families from the MacArthur Elementary School community delivered a letter to the School Board this week opposing redistricting changes heading to the School Board for a final decision next month.

Keep Students Together, a new group dedicated to the issue, said that the proposals to “split the elementary school community” are speculative and rushed, and will disrupt kids who started their elementary school experiences during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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George Mason Elementary School modernization plans heading to City Council

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2025 at 2:30PM

George Mason Elementary School modernization rendering (via City of Alexandria)

After coasting through the Planning Commission, plans to modernize George Mason Elementary School are heading to City Council for this Saturday (May 17).

Alexandria City Public Schools is hoping to cut the ribbon on the new two-story building in the summer of 2027. The project will keep the original 1939 building, although ACPS plans to demolish a majority of the existing school and replace it with a two-story structure for a capacity of 670 students and 80 teachers and staff.

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Check out the sweeping George Mason Elementary School modernization plans heading to the Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published March 26, 2025 at 12:30PM

George Mason Elementary School modernization rendering (via City of Alexandria)

Sweeping plans to modernize George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road) will soon head to the Alexandria Planning Commission.

Alexandria City Public Schools anticipates relocating staff and students three-and-a-half miles away at the end of this school year to swing space 1703 N. Beauregard Street. If the project timeline stays on track, ACPS will cut the ribbon on the new two-story building in the summer of 2027.

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School Board chooses ‘Open Heart’ design for new George Mason Elementary School

By James Cullum

Published October 11, 2024 at 3:15PM | Updated October 11, 2024 at 7:44PM

A rendering of the George Mason Elementary School Open Heart concept (via ACPS)

The Alexandria School Board approved the “Option A – Open Heart” concept for the modernization of George Mason Elementary School.

While the Board voted 7-2 for Option A, it was a contentious vote that saw two abstentions from Members Jacinta Greene and Abdel Elnoubi, who both said that the Board and ACPS staff did not do their “due diligence” in finding the best options to replace the 85-year-old school. They are also both running for City Council in November.

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ACPS outlines path ahead for George Mason Elementary School modernization

By Vernon Miles

Published October 2, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated October 2, 2024 at 11:23PM

'Site Opportunities' outlined in ACPS plans for George Masons modernization (image via ACPS)

At a meeting last night (Tuesday), Alexandria City Public Schools outlined the road ahead for modernizing the 85-year-old George Mason Elementary School.

The presentation said the School Board will be selecting a concept design for the school. This concept will determine site placement, building mass and more.

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Alexandria’s credit reaffirmed by AAA bond rating

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2024 at 1:15PM

Security guard Destin Davis waves at City Hall at 301 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s credit is still good.

On Tuesday, the city announced that S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed its ‘AAA’ bond rating. The move means that Alexandria can get low-interest rates from bond investors to provide funding for expensive capital improvement projects.

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School Board to evaluate ‘grade reconfigurations’ at Alexandria’s two K-8 schools

By James Cullum

Published September 17, 2024 at 2:45PM | Updated September 18, 2024 at 2:51PM

Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School at 1501 Cameron Street (via Jefferson-Houston/Facebook)

Both of Alexandria’s middle schools and its two K-8 schools are overcrowded or approaching capacity, and facing an uptick in enrollment the School Board will soon consider seven models to ease the strain.

On Thursday night, the board will receive a comparative analysis assessing “grade-level reconfigurations” at Patrick Henry K-8 School (4643 Taney Avenue) and Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School (1501 Cameron Street).