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Planning Commission endorses new private elementary school on North Washington Street

Published April 12, 2022 at 3:45PM

424 North Washington Street, image via City of Alexandria

A private elementary school has gotten the Planning Commission’s endorsement on its plans to move into 424 North Washington Street in spite of concerns at a public hearing that the busy street traffic could make it dangerous for students.

The Potomac Crescent Waldorf School is planning to move into the former daycare facility at the corner of Oronoco Street and North Washington Street this September after getting moved around across a couple locations in Old Town. Paul Nary, Director of Administration, Marketing and Communications at the school, said the school has a current enrollment of 55 students but hopes to grow to 155 over the next few years.

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Suspect breaks into Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy through roof

By James Cullum

Published March 21, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated March 22, 2022 at 11:38AM

Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy at 530 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town. (via Facebook)

(Updated at 11:30 a.m. on March 22) Not much was taken in an overnight break-in at Lyle’s Crouch Traditional Academy earlier this month, although the suspect gained entry through the roof and no alarms went off.

On Wednesday morning, March 9, staff at the elementary school at 530 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town called police after finding classrooms vandalized. Parents were not notified of the incident since there is no threat to school safety.

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Old Town Waldorf school lays out plans for new location

By Vernon Miles

Published February 15, 2022 at 9:45AM

If all goes well, this September the Potomac Crescent Waldorf School in Old Town will have a new home.

The private school is seeking a special use permit (SUP) to operate as a grades 1-5 school at 424 N. Washington Street.

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Amid declining enrollment, ACPS proposes employee raises in new budget proposal

By James Cullum

Published January 10, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated January 12, 2022 at 12:49PM

(Updated at noon, Jan. 12) In the midst of declining enrollment, Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. wants to give all ACPS employees a raise.

That’s the gist of Hutchings’ $346 million fiscal year 2022 Combined Funds Budget, which he presented to the School Board last Thursday night (Jan. 6). The proposal is a nearly 4% increase over last year’s budget, and asks for approximately $248.7 million from the city. The City Council ultimately provides ACPS with 80% of its operating fund.

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BREAKING: Alexandria Police investigate drug distribution and possession at Episcopal High School

By James Cullum

Published December 28, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated December 30, 2021 at 6:03PM

(Updated 8 p.m.) Alexandria Police are investigating alleged drug possession and distribution at Episcopal High School, one of the most exclusive private boarding schools in the country.

On Dec. 8, police responded to a narcotics complaint at Episcopal and met with the school’s attorney, according to a search warrant affidavit. The officer was told that a week prior, on Dec. 1, two students were found to be allegedly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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Police and ACPS noncommittal on bringing back school resource officers to Alexandria City High School

By James Cullum

Published December 22, 2021 at 2:15PM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

Days after both school resource officers at Alexandria City High School were put on administrative leave, the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria City Public Schools system are still unclear as to if or when those officers will be replaced.

The officers were placed on leave last Thursday after a “serious complaint” from a former student alleging “sexually inappropriate conversations” while she attended ACHS, according to the Washington Post.

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Recently approved ACPS Capital Improvement Plan budget lays out a complex decade ahead

By James Cullum

Published December 20, 2021 at 2:30PM

A $12.5 million aquatics facility, three school replacements and swing space that will be turned into a new elementary school are all part of the nearly $500 million 10-year Capital Improvement Program budget that the Alexandria School Board approved last Thursday night.

After a series of work sessions and public meetings this fall, the Board approved the $497,804,800 proposal, with $204,685,100 to be used next year, without discussion. In a press release, Board Chair Meagan Alderton said she appreciated the work of Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. and his team to develop the document, and said that it takes rising enrollment, infrastructure and critical capital planning needs into account.

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Alexandria sees ‘exponential’ increase of COVID-19 infections, ACPS asks students and staff to get tested before returning from winter break

By James Cullum

Published December 17, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated December 18, 2021 at 1:15AM

Alexandria’s COVID-19 infections jumped after Thanksgiving, and the numbers continue to rise going into the winter holidays.

There were 116 new cases reported in the city today (Friday), which is the most single-day cases reported since January 2021. There have been 301 new cases reported in the City in the last three days alone, and this “exponential” jump in COVID-19 cases, as described by the Health Department Thursday night, has stretched to Alexandria City Public Schools, as it waves farewell to 15,000 students for the two week winter break starting Monday.

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New incredibly small private school coming to Cameron Station

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2021 at 2:30PM

Bright Start Learning Program in Cameron Run, image via City of Alexandria

With only 15 total students in the entire school in a single room, it’s unlikely students at the proposed Bright Start Learning Center will get lost in the crowd.

Bright Start currently has a child care program at 4920 Brenman Park Drive but is looking to convert the administrative space at 4917 Brenman Park Drive into a school for elementary-age children.

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New Montessori program headed to Landmark neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2021 at 2:45PM

Location of future Montessori School on S. Pickett Street (photo via Google Maps)

A Montessori program has filed a permit to open a new school in the city’s Landmark neighborhood.

National franchise Montessori Kids Universe is planning to open a “Montessori Kids Universe of Cameron Square”, currently under administrative review to open at 410 S. Pickett Street.

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Last year’s Alexandria City High School class had the highest graduation rate and the lowest student dropout rate ever

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2021 at 10:06AM | Updated October 1, 2021 at 10:45AM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 10:40 a.m. Alexandria City High School’s rates increased to their highest levels ever, not the highest in Virginia) Alexandria City High School has a lot more than just a new name to be proud of. This week, the school system announced that its recent graduating class saw the highest on-time graduation rate and the lowest student dropout rate in the school’s history.

“ACPS saw a nine-percentage point increase in the on-time graduation rate, from 82% in 2020 to 91% in 2021, and a nine-percentage point decrease in the overall student dropout rate, from 14% in 2020 to 5% in 2021,” ACPS reported. “The previous highest on-time graduation rate for ACPS was 86% in 2013 and the previous lowest dropout rate was 8% in 2019.”