Celebrating Extraordinary Achievements: Honoring the Alexandria City High School Class of 2023 at Commencement Ceremony

Contact: Issmar Ventura, issmar.ventura@acps.k12.va.us or 703-795-6533

ALEXANDRIA, Va.— Excitement filled George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena on June 5, 2023, as 898 Alexandria City High School (ACHS) graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Interim Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt and ACHS Executive Principal Peter M. Balas. Also in attendance to wish the new graduates well were Alexandria City School Board Chair Meagan L. Alderton, School Board members, ACPS leadership, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and City Council members.

The commencement ceremony for the Titan Class of 2023 celebrated the achievement of the graduating seniors, the support of their families and Alexandria City community members, and the unique stories about the students’ leadership and creative contributions to the community and beyond. A blacksmith, a bagel company founder, an international dancer, an advanced mathematician, a Futsal World Cup goalkeeper and the creators of ACHS’s first Women of the Future Club were among the students who graduated on June 3. Four graduates were on the ACHS state champion volleyball team in 2022, with two of them also winning the state championship in 2020.

“It fills me with joy to see the Titan Class of 2023 receive their diplomas and celebrate their achievements. We admired their resiliency and creativity as they learned, explored life and contributed to our community. I am so proud of them. As they enter a world overflowing with challenges and infinite opportunities, I encourage them to remember our Titan community and embrace their potential and their courage to make their mark on this world,” said Balas.

The new ACHS graduates plan to attend more than 145 universities, serve in the military, work at a job, take gap years or learn a technical vocation. More than 600 graduates reported applying to a college or university (either a two-year or four-year program) and 16 graduates will serve in the U.S. military. The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria awarded scholarships to 208 students totaling $627,000, many of which are renewable throughout four years of study. Ten students have been awarded an Akerson Scholarship of $10,000 per year, renewable for four years. Four students won a Project Discovery Scholarship, each receiving $5,000. Twenty Titan athletes have signed letters of intent to compete in collegiate athletics in 10 sports. 

“Our Titan Class of 2023 is an impressive group with many accomplishments to celebrate, and I want to extend my congratulations to our new graduates. Their hard work and dedication helped them reach this exciting milestone, and they each have the ability to fulfill their personal dreams. My wish for them is to return to ACPS in the future and share with us the impact they have made on their lives, their community and the world. As we celebrate them, we are also grateful to all the wonderful teachers, staff, families and community members who support our students. It is a proud moment for us all,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt.

Additional Facts for the Alexandria City High School Class of 2023:

• 419 seniors (43% of the class) graduated with an Advanced Studies Diploma

• 28 seniors have planned a gap year immediately following graduation

• 29 students will pursue other post-secondary education in fields such as real estate, skilled trades, cosmetology and public safety

• The estimated demographic data for the 898 graduates is as follows:

  • Mixed: 2.52%

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.7%

  • Asian: 4.63%

  • Black/African American: 26.26%

  • White: 33.2%

  • Hispanic: 32.19%

  • Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Island: 0.5%

About Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 15,700 students who hail from more than 119 countries and speak 124 languages. ACPS has 18 schools, including two middle schools, two K-8 schools, one pre-K school and the internationally recognized Alexandria City High School. ACPS is committed to putting racial equity at the heart of all decisions and ensuring that each and every student succeeds.

 

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