ACPS Heralds a New Era, Working with Students and Community to Replace School Names From a Racist Past

The Alexandria City School Board voted, on April 8, 2021, to replace the names of two schools that were intrinsically linked to Alexandria’s racist past, selecting Alexandria City High School and Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School to replace T.C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School. The nine School Board members were unanimous in adopting these names, following a recommendation from Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. and a robust student and community engagement process known as The Identity Project which launched in July 2020. The new names will take effect on July 1, 2021.

Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School

Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School is named after Alexandria native Naomi Lewis Brooks (April 14, 1934 – May 21, 2020), a member of the Quander and Lewis families of Alexandria. Mrs. Brooks’ roots are woven into the educational, spiritual and social fabric of Alexandria’s rich history. Learn more about Mrs. Brooks through the Identity Project.

• Board Memo on the Renaming of Matthew Maury Elementary School--Sept 17, 2020 (PDF)