Soak Up the Summer and Gear Up for a Great 2025-26 School Year

It is time to reflect on the school year that is drawing to a close with fond memories of the many things we have accomplished together as one team on one journey. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) would like to thank our families, staff and the community for all of your support. It is through family engagement that we thrive and can nurture, educate and inspire each student for success. Let us continue on this journey! In the meantime, we also want to wish you an enjoyable Summer Break! 

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 school year, please take a moment to review some important reminders to ensure all students are prepared to take their next academic steps. Be sure to check out our first Express newsletter issue of the 2025-26 school year, our Back-to-School edition, on Aug.15, 2025, which will include additional helpful information.

Summer Learning Schedule

ACPS Summer Learning 2025 consists of four weeks of in-person learning from Mon., June 23 to Thu., July 17, 2025. Learning will take place every Monday through Thursday. There is no school on Fridays.

Juneteenth Holiday

In keeping with all City of Alexandria government offices being closed on June 19, 2025, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, ACPS will also close all school division offices and buildings on Thu., June 19, 2025. ACPS will honor this federal holiday by giving our contracted staff a paid day off for this federal holiday.

Summer Work Schedule

Beginning the week of June 23, 2025, ACPS will offer staff the opportunity to work a four-day work week during the summer of 2025. This means that staff will adjust their schedules to work a 40-hour, four-day week and be out of the office each Friday starting June 27, 2025. This schedule will be in effect through Fri., July 25, 2025 and may be limited in some locations based on programming needs.

There continue to be several ways that families can communicate with ACPS, which include sending questions and comments on division-wide issues to ask@acps.k12.va.us. We ask for your patience with communications that are sent to ACPS on a Friday, while this summer work schedule is in effect.

Complete the 2025-26 Back-to-School Forms

As we look ahead to the 2025-26 school year, completing your student’s Back-to-School Forms ensures that teachers and staff have accurate contact information to engage with families. The required Back-to-School Forms can be completed online through PowerSchool. For Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School families, these forms will be available beginning July 21, 2025. For all other ACPS families, these forms will be available beginning Aug.18, 2025. It is important that you complete all Back-to-School Forms by Sept. 30, 2025.

Families who speak English or Spanish and have access to a mobile device should complete their forms via PowerSchool. All other families can request printed forms from their school. The printed forms will also be available on the ACPS website.

Included in the Back-to-School packet is a form for families who believe their children may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FARM) and attend one of the following schools to complete:

• Charles Barrett Elementary School
• Douglas MacArthur Elementary School
• George Mason Elementary School
• George Washington Middle School
• Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy
• Mount Vernon Community School
• Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School

An annual application must be completed and submitted to determine student eligibility for FARM each year. Only one application per household needs to be submitted.

Download the ParentSquare App for Two-Way Communication

Make sure you are ready to communicate with ACPS during the 2025-26 school year by downloading the ParentSquare app. It is easy to download the app and activate an account to access all ParentSquare features from the convenience of your phone.

Important 2025-26 School Year Kick-Off Dates

Step Up to Kindergarten

Families that registered kindergarten students for the 2025-26 school year should save the date for Step Up to Kindergarten. This introduction to the school experience helps incoming kindergarten students become familiar with their schools, classrooms and teachers in advance of the beginning of the academic year, so they can feel more comfortable on the first day of school. This half-day orientation session is scheduled for the Friday before the first day of school. At Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, Step Up to Kindergarten is set for July 18, 2025, and Aug. 15, 2025, for all other ACPS schools.

First Day of School

The first day of school for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School students is Mon., July 21, 2025. The first day of school for all other ACPS schools is Mon., Aug. 18, 2025.

The traditional academic calendar, which applies to all ACPS schools, except Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (Tucker Elementary). Tucker Elementary follows 

the modified calendar.

Back-to-School Nights

As of publication, the following Back-to-School Nights have been confirmed:

Aug 12, 2025

• Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (Grades 1–3)

Aug 12, 2025

• Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School (Grades K, 4, 5)

Aug 26, 2025

• Early Childhood Center.
• George Mason Elementary School
• Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
• John Adams Elementary School
• Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy.

Aug.27, 2025

• Charles Barrett Elementary School
• Douglas MacArthur Elementary School
• Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School
• James K. Polk Elementary School
• William Ramsay Elementary School

Sep 4, 2025

• Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology.
• Mount Vernon Community School.
• Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School

Sep 8, 2025

• Patrick Henry K-8 School (Grades K–4)

Sep 9, 2025

• Patrick Henry K-8 School (Grades 5–8

Sep 10, 2025

• Alexandria City High School (ACHS) King Street Campus.
• ACHS Satellite Campus.

Sep 11, 2025

• ACHS Minnie Howard Campus, including early childhood programs.
• ACHS Chance for Change Campus.

Sep 18, 2025

• Francis C. Hammond Middle School.
• George Washington Middle School.