Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is ACPS Academic Access?
  2. Who can use ACPS Academic Access?
  3. Who can see my student's information?
  4. Which schools use ACPS Academic Access?
  5. How do I use ACPS Academic Access?
  6. I do not have a computer at home; can I use ACPS Academic Access?
  7. How do I get a user name and password?
  8. What should I do if I lose my password?
  9. When are grades available?
  10. What is the difference between "Student Gradebook" and "Student Grades"?
  11. How are grades determined?
  12. Can I change my student's picture?
  13. How can my student access the Internet with his/her student laptop?
  14. Can my student print at home with his/her student laptop?
  15. Where can I go for help?

1. What is ACPS Academic Access?

ACPS Academic Access is a web-based service that connects parents and families to the tools they need to help their students succeed. It is secure, convenient and easy to use. You can use ACPS Academic Access to:

  • Access course content, assignments and teacher information on Blackboard
  • View student grades, schedule and attendance information
  • Find helpful tips for ACPS technology services

2. Who can use ACPS Academic Access?

Parents will be able to use ACPS Academic Access to view information about their student. The student will also be able to access the system to see their academic information. Students and parents will have separate usernames and passwords to access the system.

3. Who can see my student's information?

Only parent and the student can see the information for an individual student.

4. Which schools use ACPS Academic Access?

ACPS Academic Access is available for parents with students in grades 6-12, including:

5. How do I use ACPS Academic Access?

To use ACPS Academic Access you will need a computer with Internet access, and a valid user name and password. To access the system, follow these steps:

  1. Login to Blackboard (http://acps.blackboard.com/)
  2. Select the link for "ACPS Academic Access"
  3. Enter your user name and password and select the "login"

Review step-by-step instructions on how to login.

6. I do not have a computer at home; can I still use ACPS Academic Access?

Yes. ACPS Academic Access can be used on any computer with Internet access, including those in public libraries or community centers. ACPS teachers will continue to use existing methods to communicate with families, including printed report cards.

7. How do I get a user name and password?

ACPS Academic Access user names and passwords are issued to parents through the mail. Students receive usernames and passwords during school.

Letters for parents with students in grades 6-12 will be sent home in October.

Note: If you have multiple students in grades 9-12 and 6-8, you will use the same account to view information for all your students.

8. What should I do if I lose or did not receive my password?

Contact ACPS IT Support for assistance with usernames or passwords. You can contact ACPS IT Support by phone at 703-824-6710 from 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also complete our online form to request help.

9. When are grades available?

Teachers will be updating the "Student Gradebook" approximately every two weeks. You can access individual grades by selecting the "Student Gradebook" option from the drop-down menu in the Student Profile. Final course grades will be available at the end of the semester. You can access cumulative course averages by selecting the "Student Grades" option from the drop-down menu in the Student Profile.

10. What is the difference between "Student Gradebook" and "Student Grades"?

The "Student Gradebook" option allows you to view your student's individual assignment grades, including homework, tests and quizzes. The "Student Grades" option allows you to view final marking period grades.

11. How are grades determined?

View the grading scale for details on how final quarter grades are calculated.

Contact your student's teacher with questions about grades. To find teacher contact information, login to Blackboard and choose the "My ACPS" tab. Teacher contact information may be found on the class homepage.

12. Can I change my student's picture?

All student profile pictures available in ACPS Academic Access are taken through the school's yearbook vendor. If your student did not have a photo taken last year on picture day your child will not have a photo in the system.

13. How can my student access the Internet with his/her student laptop?

All ACPS students in grades 9-12 are provided with ACPS student laptops to use for class work, assignments and research.

To protect students and ACPS resources, security configurations limit Internet access outside of school. Students can get online from any of the following locations:

ACPS Wireless "Hot Spots" - Students can use their student laptops to access the Internet from any of the following locations with no additional configurations:

  • T.C. Williams: 3330 King St. 703-824-6800
  • T.C. Williams - Minnie Howard: 3801 W Braddock Rd. 703-824-6750
  • Durant Center: 1605 Cameron St. 703-746-5560
  • Charles Houston Recreation Center: 901 Wythe St. 703-746-5552
  • Mount Vernon Recreation Center: 2701 Commonwealth Ave. 703-746-5556
  • William Ramsay Recreation Center: 5650 Sanger Ave. 703-746-5558
  • Charles Barrett Recreation Center: 1115 Martha Custis Dr. 703-838-4818
  • Patrick Henry Recreation Center: 4643 Taney Ave. 703-746-5557
  • Community Lodgings: 3912 Elbert Ave. 703-549-4407

Home or Public Wireless Networks - Students who want to connect their laptop to a home or publically available wireless Internet connection (such as a library or coffee shop), should use the WirelessWiz application. The WirelessWiz will enable you to connect your ACPS laptop to a non-ACPS wireless network. Review the WirelessWiz instructions.

In order to connect to a wireless network outside of the ACPS you MUST have your wireless network's name and password. Not all public locations may make the required information available to customers.

NOTE: ACPS Student laptops cannot be "plugged in" to non-wireless Local Area Network (LAN) connections to access the Internet from home or public locations. ACPS security configurations will not allow student laptops to access LAN connections outside of ACPS.

14. Can my student print at home with his/her student laptop?

ACPS student laptops CANNOT print from non-ACPS printers (including home printers). ACPS security configurations will not allow additional printer drivers to be added on student laptops.

Students can ONLY print from ACPS student laptops using printers at T.C. Williams and T.C. Williams-Minnie Howard Campuses. Students can print their documents and retrieve them at a central printing station on each campus. Each student is provided an allotment of 125 pages per semester. However, all student requests for additional printing services are granted.

15. Where can I get help?

For questions about your student's grades, please contact his or her teacher. To find teacher contact information, login to Blackboard and choose the "My ACPS" tab. Teacher contact information may be found on the class homepage.

For questions about schedules or attendance information, contact your student's guidance counselor.

For technical questions, including passwords or login issues, contact the ACPS IT Support at 703-824-6710 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. You can also complete the online form to request help.