Alexandria City Public Schools runs 18 schools for about 16,300 students. All are fully accredited; there is no school Nov. 2, 3 and 11.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from Alexandria City Public Schools’ Fast Facts, 2026-27 traditional calendar (PDF), school boundaries and School Board pages, and the Virginia Department of Education’s School Quality Profile for the division.
Every public school in Alexandria, with its zone and report card: Alexandria public schools.
Public schools in Alexandria are run by Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), a single school division for the whole city. Virginia calls its districts “school divisions,” and because Alexandria is an independent city, ACPS is separate from Fairfax and Arlington schools. ACPS had 16,302 students in fall 2025 under the state’s count and 18 schools. Students come from 118 countries and speak 127 languages. The central office is at 1340 Braddock Place; call 703-619-8000.
Who to call
- ACPS central office: 703-619-8000, 1340 Braddock Place
- Questions about boundaries and enrollment: ASK ACPS, ask@acps.k12.va.us
- Registering a student: your zoned school’s registrar, listed on the school registrars page
The schools
ACPS has one pre-K school, 12 elementary schools, two K-8 schools, two middle schools (Francis C. Hammond and George Washington) and Alexandria City High School, which runs on four campuses, including the King Street campus and the Minnie Howard campus.
Find your zoned school with the ACPS Attendance Zone Locator, which also says whether your street gets bus service. New elementary and middle school boundaries, approved by the School Board on June 12, 2025, took effect this school year. About 1,400 students were reassigned; some were allowed to stay at their old school for one or two more years.
Our neighborhoods guide shows which elementary and middle school zones cover each part of the city.
The 2026-27 calendar
The first day of school was Aug. 24. Dates below are from the traditional calendar; Samuel W. Tucker Elementary runs a modified calendar with some different days.
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Friday, Oct. 30 | End of first quarter |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Teacher work day, no school (Tucker students attend) |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day, no school |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day, no school |
| Nov. 25-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Winter break |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school |
| Monday, Jan. 25 | Teacher work day, no school |
| Monday, Feb. 15 | Presidents Day, no school |
| Feb. 25-26 | Conferences: early dismissal, then no school |
| Wednesday, March 10 | Eid al-Fitr, no school |
| March 22-26 | Spring break |
| Monday, May 17 | Eid al-Adha, no school |
| Monday, May 31 | Memorial Day, no school |
| Thursday, June 17 | Last day of school |
On Oct. 8 the School Board moved the staff professional learning day from Nov. 3 to Nov. 2; days off for students did not change. Calendars in other languages are on the ACPS calendar page.
State ratings
All 17 rated ACPS schools are fully accredited. Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework also gives each school a score and a performance level. In the state’s latest ratings on the School Quality Profile:
- Distinguished: Lyles-Crouch Elementary (95.76)
- Meets Expectations: Naomi L. Brooks Elementary (94.39) and Jefferson-Houston PK-8 (80.27)
- Approaching Expectations: 11 schools, including Alexandria City High (81.16) and George Washington Middle (85.92)
- Needs Intensive Support: Francis C. Hammond Middle (79.27) and William Ramsay Elementary (78.36)
The profile also has test pass rates, attendance, graduation and teacher data for each school.
Enrollment and graduation
| Fall count | Students |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 16,439 |
| 2024 | 16,613 |
| 2025 | 16,302 |
Of the students in the class that finished in 2026, 412 earned an advanced studies diploma and 552 a standard diploma, according to the state profile. ACPS says 45% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, 38% receive English learner services and 12% receive special education services.
The School Board
The Alexandria City School Board has nine members, three elected from each of the city’s three voting districts. It meets during the school year at 6 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room at 1340 Braddock Place, unless noted; meetings can be watched online. The board holds a “Let’s Talk ACPS” community conversation from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. Dr. Grace Taylor has served as acting superintendent since the board appointed her on Aug. 12 while it searches for a permanent superintendent.
What this means for you
- Plan for a four-day weekend Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 and another day off Nov. 11.
- Moving within the city? Check the zone locator; boundaries changed this year.
- Compare schools on the state profile, not on a single score.
Related guides: voting in Alexandria, moving to Alexandria and Friday night football.
Frequently asked questions
What school division serves Alexandria, Virginia?
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), which runs 18 schools: a pre-K center, 12 elementary schools, two K-8 schools, two middle schools and Alexandria City High School. Call 703-619-8000.
How do I find which school my child is zoned for in Alexandria?
Enter your address in the ACPS Attendance Zone Locator. New elementary and middle school boundaries took effect with the 2026-27 school year.
When is there no school in Alexandria in November 2026?
Monday, Nov. 2 (teacher work day), Tuesday, Nov. 3 (Election Day), Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) and Nov. 25-27 for Thanksgiving. Tucker Elementary has class on Nov. 2.
When is the last day of school for ACPS in 2027?
Thursday, June 17, 2027, on the traditional calendar. Winter break is Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 and spring break is March 22-26.
How are Alexandria schools rated by Virginia?
Every ACPS school is fully accredited. In the state’s latest framework ratings, Lyles-Crouch Elementary is Distinguished, three schools Meet Expectations, 11 are Approaching Expectations and two Need Intensive Support.
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