Minnie Howard | ALXnow

Three ACPS naming ceremonies scheduled for September and October

Published August 20, 2026 at 2:45PM

The Parker-Gray Stadium Field at Alexandria City High School King Street Campus (via ACPS)

Three Alexandria City Public Schools facilities that the School Board voted to rename will be dedicated in the next two months.

The Alexandria City School Board voted in December 2025 to name Keith Burns Field at Alexandria City High School’s Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium after a 1990 T.C. Williams High School graduate who had an NFL career. The athletic field complex at the high school’s Minnie Howard Campus will be named after the late Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley, and a media center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School will be named after Jean Reid, who taught at various ACPS schools.

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Police and fire presence at ACHS Minnie Howard Campus planned for emergency drill

By Emily Leayman

Published August 10, 2026 at 2:45PM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

Residents shouldn’t be alarmed when they see an increased police and fire presence at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus later this week.

The Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria City Public Schools and other emergency partners will hold an incident response drill at the campus (3775 W. Braddock Road) Thursday (Aug. 13). Expect police, fire and EMS vehicles and personnel to be in the area between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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‘Agenda: Alexandria’ to host panel on housing and affordability this month

By Katie Taranto

Published February 13, 2026 at 12:30PM | Updated February 23, 2026 at 4:10PM

Agenda: Alexandria hosts a panel on aging in November 2025 (via Agenda: Alexandria/Facebook)

Update: Agenda Alexandria has rescheduled this event to 7 p.m. March 23, due to inclement weather.

Housing development and affordability will be the subject of Agenda: Alexandria’s next program, now expected to take place in March.

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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.

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Speakers call for renaming ACHS fields at Minnie Howard after late Mayor Kerry Donley

By Katie Taranto

Published December 12, 2025 at 1:45PM

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran speaks at an ACPS facilities renaming public hearing on Dec. 11, 2025 (via ACPS)

Several community members braved the cold yesterday evening (Thursday) to voice their support for a petition to rename The Fields at Alexandria City High School after former Mayor Kerry Donley.

Eight out of thirteen speakers yesterday spoke in support of the measure during a public hearing on Alexandria City Public Schools’ considerations to rename four facilities across the district. Among them were Gayle Reuter, former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran and Kaitlin Donley, one of Donley’s daughters.

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Pool at Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility reopens after mechanical repairs

By Katie Taranto

Published November 17, 2025 at 2:00PM

Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility (photo via Justin Wilson)

The competition pool at the Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility has reopened following repairs to its filtration system.

The pool at 3795 W. Braddock Road unexpectedly closed last Monday after staff members noticed an issue in the pump room and coordinated a repair, according to a city announcement this afternoon (Monday).

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ACPS to hold public forum on fiscal 2027 budget Oct. 15

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 11:30AM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Where should Alexandria City Public Schools prioritize funding in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 budget? The school system is soliciting feedback from the public at an upcoming meeting at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus.

While the School Board will unveil its fiscal forecast and budget priorities at its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9, the public forum will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s budget is Nurture, Educate, Inspire. Respondents who can’t attend can submit questions and comments to [email protected].

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Swatting call puts Alexandria City High School’s campuses on ‘secure the building’ and ‘hold’ status

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 1:16PM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School’s King Street campus was placed on “secure the building” status and the ACHS Minnie Howard Campus was placed on “hold” status briefly this afternoon after an anonymous report was issued that someone was outside of the school with a gun, according to a letter sent to parents.

“Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Safety and Security staff and the Alexandria Police Department (APD) investigated the anonymous external threat reported to the ACPS Anonymous Reporting System that someone was outside of the school with a gun,” ACHS Interim Executive Principal Lance Harrell wrote. “It was determined by APD this was an unsubstantiated threat.”

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Student brandishes knife at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, no injuries reported

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2025 at 10:00AM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

A student brandished a pocket knife during a classroom argument Thursday at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, but no one was injured, school officials said.

Teachers quickly separated the students involved in the dispute, and school resource officers responded immediately, Harrell said. The incident occurred in a second-floor classroom shortly before noon, according to radio dispatches.

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Alexandria high school library receives crowdfunded LEGO kits for student makerspace

By James Cullum

Published September 10, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

The library at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard campus has successfully gotten crowdsource funding for LEGO architecture kits.

The school librarian raised $755 from a dozen givers via Donors Choose for kits that include Malfoy Manor from the Harry Potter book series, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Statue of Liberty.

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Alexandria seeks resident input on Housing 2040 plan at Monday open house

By James Cullum

Published August 12, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated August 12, 2025 at 4:50PM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria is seeking feedback on its 15-year plan to address affordable housing issues. Once approved, the Housing 2040 Master Plan will provide City Council and staff with clear goals, strategies, and direction on the city’s housing plans. The city is hosting an open house this Monday (Sept. 8) to get feedback on Housing 2040 draft recommendations for landlord-tenant rights and resources, and homeownership programs in the city. The event will be held at the Minnie Howard Campus of Alexandria City High School (3775 W. Braddock Road) from 6 to 7 p.m., and registration is encouraged.

The current master plan is set to expire in 2025. The new plan will require a 2024 housing needs assessment from the city, and input from residents to “establish new housing affordability goals and examine housing policies, programs, and tools to support all Alexandria residents and workers,” according to the city.