Enrollment

Children are assigned to a neighborhood school based on their home address. To determine your child's neighborhood school, please enter the child's home address into our Attendance Zone Locator.

If you have a specific question about what schools are assigned to an address, please call 703-619-8000 for assistance.

Find Your Neighborhood School

Please note that residents of Alexandria within Fairfax County attend Fairfax County Public Schools. See the Fairfax County Public Schools Boundary Information System for more information.

According to Virginia law, your child must be five years old on or before September 30 to register for kindergarten. There is no deadline for registration, but ACPS urges parents to register early. To be admitted, a child must meet all documentation and health requirements. See the registration packet for details.

Children who will be six years old on or before September 30, must, by law, attend school. Parents of students who are starting school as first-graders should follow kindergarten registration procedures. If you decide not to register your child for kindergarten, you must contact the school system in writing.

Parents of students transferring to ACPS from other school districts should enroll their children as soon as possible upon moving to Alexandria. Registration dates for transfer students are ongoing.

According to Virginia law, your child must be five years old on or before Sept. 30 to register for kindergarten. There is no deadline for registration, but ACPS urges parents to register early. To be admitted, a child must meet all documentation and health requirements. 

1. Child’s original or certified birth certificate
2. Parent/legal guardian’s photo identification
3. Custody documents, if applicable
4. Official school records from another school system or country, if applicable and available.
5. Medical information that includes immunization records as well as a physical examination and a tuberculosis screening done within the 12 months prior to starting school.
6. Proof of City of Alexandria residency

Proof of Residency (3 total required documents)

All documents must note the registering parent/legal guardian or adult student’s full name and Alexandria City address. Only originals of documents will be accepted (no copies). Supporting documents must be current and where indicated, dated within the past 60 days.

You must submit ONE of the following: 

• Lease or Rental Agreement: The original lease must be current (not expired) indicating the dates, names and property address for the parent/legal guardian who is enrolling the student. If the lease is a private generated agreement with the landlord the lease must be notarized.
• Deed: The property deed must be accompanied by a copy of the owner’s personal property tax. This may be obtained (free of charge) on the City of Alexandria website. The deed must be in the parent/legal guardian name.
• Mortgage: The resident may present a mortgage bill prepared by the lender (including date, Alexandria address and lender name) within 60 days of registration or the initial mortgage contract with current copy of the owner’s property tax. This may be obtained for free on the City of Alexandria website.

AND TWO supporting documents:

• Utility bill (water, gas, electric, cable and/or landline phone bill). The bill must be dated within the past 30 days. If all utilities are covered in your leasing contract and you do not have any other bills, please provide a letter from your property manager on company letterhead that notes water, gas, sewer, electric are all included in the monthly rent.
• Current Alexandria City Personal Property Tax (vehicle, RV, boat). Please note: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles requires all personal property must be registered to the current address within 60 days of relocation.
• Mailed letter from a government agency (TANIF, HUD, ARHA, IRS, etc.). The letter must be addressed to the parent/legal guardian or adult student.
• Current pay stub (with Alexandria City address and noting Virginia tax withholding)
• Latest federal/state income tax return noting the Alexandria City address
• Two (2) consecutive bank statements mailed to the Alexandria City address
• Current homeowner or renter’s insurance policy noting an Alexandria City address

Shared Housing:

If residing with someone else, the parent/legal guardian must complete a notarized Shared Housing Form A/B (PDF) and provide an original copy of the mortgage, deed (with a tax bill) or an original copy of the lease for the person with whom the parent/legal guardian and child(ren) are living. Additionally, the parent/legal guardian is required to provide two supporting documents (in the parent/legal guardian’s name) as listed above.

NOTE: A driver’s license or state-issued ID does NOT serve as valid proof of residency. 

Children who will be six years old on or before September 30, must, by law, attend school. Parents of students who are starting school as first-graders should follow kindergarten registration procedures. If you decide not to register your child for kindergarten, you must contact the school system in writing.

Parents of students transferring to ACPS from other school districts should enroll their children as soon as possible upon moving to Alexandria. Registration dates for transfer students are ongoing.

To complete your child's enrollment, parents/guardians and their health care provider (Doctor) should complete the Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form, providing documentation of the following enrollment requirements:

• Physical examination report:
  • State law (Ref. Code of Virginia § 22.1-270) requires that your child receives a comprehensive physical examination and is immunized in the United States before entering public kindergarten or elementary school. The physical examination must be dated within one year prior to the date of entry into kindergarten.
  • Based on the above, students currently participating in an ACPS pre-kindergarten program must provide proof of immunizations and a NEW physical examination prior to entering kindergarten, even if these documents were provided prior to entrance into pre-kindergarten.
  • For the purposes of clarification, “elementary school” above refers to grades one through five.
• Immunization records (Documenting month, day and year each was administered) - The following are required:
  • Negative Tuberculosis Risk Assessment, PPD Tuberculin Skin Test, IGRA blood test or negative Chest X-Ray, completed in the United States: Administered within 12 months prior to child’s first day of school.
  • Hepatitis B: A complete series of three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine.
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, or Tdap): A minimum of four doses, with one dose administered on or after the fourth birthday. A booster dose of the Tdap vaccine is required for all children entering the 7th grade.
  • Polio (OPV or IPV): A minimum of four doses, with one dose administered on or after the fourth birthday.
  • Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR): All children must have at least two doses of Measles, two doses of Mumps, and one dose of Rubella prior to kindergarten. The first dose must be administered at 12 months of age or older.
  • Varicella (Chicken Pox): All children must have two doses of varicella or medical documentation of having the chickenpox disease.
  • Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib): Required for pre-K students.
  • Pneumococcal (PCV): Required for pre-K students.
  • Effective July 1, 2021 - Hepatitis A (HAV): A minimum of 2 doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine is required for incoming kindergarten students only. Rising first-graders and newly enrolled students in grades 1-12 will be considered “grandfathered” and will not be required to have the Hep A vaccine for school enrollment (however, it is recommended).
  • Effective July 1, 2021 - Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): A complete series of 2 doses of HPV vaccine is required for students entering the 7th grade. The first dose shall be administered before the child enters the 7th grade.
  • Effective July 1, 2021 - Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY): A minimum of 2 doses of MenACWY vaccine. The first dose should be administered prior to entering 7th grade. The final dose should be administered prior to entering 12th grade.

See detailed Virginia immunization requirements for school entry.

Evidence of Immunization

Evidence acceptable for proof of required immunizations must include the month, day, and year each dosage was administered on forms developed by, or approved by, the State Department of Health. All students for whom dates cannot be provided (month, day, and year) must be referred to the local health department or their private healthcare provider to update their records before entering school.

Conditional Enrollment

A student may be enrolled for a period of 90 school days contingent upon the student's having received at least one dose of each of the required vaccines and the student's possessing a plan, from a physician or local health department, for completing his or her immunization requirements within the ensuing 90 school days.

Exemptions

1. When the parent or guardian has an objection on the grounds that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with his or her religious tenets or practices and provides the principal with a written statement of such objection unless an emergency or a disease epidemic has been declared by the State Board of Health (the parent must provide the school with a notarized copy of the Virginia Certificate of Religious Exemption (PDF).
2. When the parent or guardian presents a statement from a physician that states that the physical condition of the child is such that the administration of one or more of the required immunizing agents would be detrimental to the health of the child.

Homeless Students

If a student is a homeless child or youth as defined in VA. Code §22.1-3 and

1. does not have documentary proof of necessary immunizations or has incomplete immunizations
2. is not exempted from immunization

ACPS will immediately admit the student and will immediately refer the student to the ACPS homeless liaison, who will assist in obtaining the documentary proof of, or completion of, immunization.

Immunization and PPD tests are available in Alexandria through:

• Teen Wellness Center
• Alexandria Health Department Immunization Clinic (All Ages)

If you wish to inquire about religious exemptions to the medical requirements or for more information, contact the school nurse at your assigned school.

Children of Active Duty Military

In accordance with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (VA Code § 22.1-360), the children of military families shall have 30 days from the date of enrollment to obtain any required immunization(s). For a series of immunizations, initial vaccinations must be obtained within 30 days.

ACPS Central Office (4th Floor) at 1340 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314

This site is for new students (K-12) who have a primary language other than, or in addition to, English in the home.

2020-21 EL Office Hours

Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Registration and student EL assessment will be completed on-site.

1. Like all ACPS registrations, families are asked to complete the ACPS online enrollment form in English or Español
2. See the list of required documents.

Parking: The underground parking garage at Braddock Place is open for parking. Parking validation is available after meeting with an EL registrar. If using underground parking, put "1330 Braddock Place" in GPS to arrive at front of the building.

Safety and Security: A security guard will be checking temperatures prior to allowing entry into the building. Adults and children need to wear a mask to enter the building. Families are asked to be aware of symptoms of COVID-19 and stay home if they are ill.

Schedule an appointment by calling 703-619-8022 or by emailing eloffice@acps.k12.va.us.