First Day of School Recap

It was a day filled with new beginnings as Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) students returned to class on Aug. 24, 2026. As the sun rose, the school division's newly appointed Acting Superintendent Dr. Grace Taylor greeted ACPS transportation staff. Later that morning, Dr. Taylor delivered a welcome back message at Alexandria City High School (ACHS), proudly declaring herself a Titan and encouraging students to set goals for the year ahead while reminding them that "everything is possible."

Dr. Taylor’s opening-day message to the school community expressed her gratitude to the many volunteers and partners who made the backpack drive a success, helping ensure ACPS students received school supplies. She also thanked ACPS staff members who spent weeks preparing for and implementing the redistricting process. Dr. Taylor reached out to school division families, saying they are partners on this academic journey. “Keep in mind that students can only reap the benefits of the high-quality instructional programs ACPS offers when they are in school each day,” Dr. Taylor shared.

Alexandria City School Board Chair Christopher Harris, ACHS Principal Michael Burch, Alexandria City Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Alexandria Police Department Chief of Police Tarrick McGuire joined the first day of school celebration. They emphasized the importance of advancing student achievement, strengthening school culture and focusing on the most impactful initiatives to support positive educational outcomes. 

Several community partners also joined ACPS in welcoming back students at the ACHS King Street Campus, including Cornerstone Craftsman, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, Alexandria Youth Development Team and Community in Schools. The Alexandria Fire Department and Alexandria Sheriff's Office, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, Move2Learn and Departmental Progressive Club turned out to welcome students at several other schools throughout the school division.