ACPS School Boundary Redistricting

In June 2023, the Alexandria City School Board took steps to initiate a division-wide redistricting process by conducting a boundary analysis in accordance with retired School Board Policy JCE. The policy stated would conduct a boundary analysis every five years or with the opening of a new school. ACPS’ last redistricting process was in 2018 and the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School opened in the Fall of 2023. The summary of findings of the boundary analysis assisted the School Board with voting to go through the redistricting process. The Board subsequently retired Policy JCE to prepare for an updated version supporting the planned redistricting. The retired policy is available on Electronic School Board.

The findings of the boundary analysis revealed the following: 

• More ACPS schools currently have live-in utilizations outside of the ideal range which will continue to exacerbate class-size discrepancies and increase capacity reassignments. 
• ACPS has to be proactive in planning for future development across the City of Alexandria in boundaries that are already over capacity.
• Modernization of new schools will create capacity and ACPS should optimize this use. 
• Demographic discrepancies exist in some schools that deviate from the division-wide demographics.  

Overview

The redistricting process aims to update school boundaries to better serve our growing and changing community. This effort will help balance student enrollment across the school division, alleviate overcrowding, and ensure all students have access to equitable resources and opportunities. Through careful analysis and community input, ACPS will work to develop a fair and transparent plan that reflects our diverse community and meets the long-term needs of students and families. This process will strengthen our school system by fostering balanced, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students.

Guiding Principles

The following guiding principles will be used to guide the development of the boundary proposals, but the order of the principles does not specify their priority of the guiding principles.:

• Equitable School Utilization: Ensure optimal utilization of school spaces to support efficient use of facilities and maintain effective learning environments.
• Neighborhood Schools: Prioritize maintaining neighborhood schools to foster community engagement and ensure students have access to educational opportunities based on proximity, school utilization, and walkability/bikeability to further strengthen connections between schools and their surrounding neighborhoods.
• Demographic Alignment: Align school demographics with division-wide goals to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring all students have access to a supportive and representative learning environment.
• Capacity & Utilization Focus: Redistricting decisions will prioritize school utilization ratios, which consider class capacity, the number and size of classrooms, and class caps. These ratios will guide the distribution of students to ensure schools operate efficiently, avoiding both excessive enrollment and underutilization.
• Minimize Bus Dependency: Strive to reduce transportation needs by minimizing bus rides and encouraging alternative methods of transportation where possible.

Nov. 22, 2024 Board Brief

School Boundary Redistricting Interactive Map

Use the interactive boundary map to explore the proposed boundary changes in detail. You can zoom in to view street-level information and use the search bar to see where your address falls within each boundary proposal. You will also be able to view specific study areas.

access the interactive map

School Boundary Redistricting Proposed Maps

As part of the School Boundary Redistricting Process, various iterations of the proposed school boundary maps will be developed and refined based on community feedback, data analysis, and planning considerations. The current versions of the draft maps are available for review below. We encourage the community to stay engaged and provide input as this process moves forward. View all meeting presentations and recordings by visiting the School Boundary Redistricting Meeting Recordings & Resources webpage. 

School Boundary Redistricting Process Meetings

Stay informed and engaged in the School Boundary Redistricting Process by accessing details for upcoming meetings and reviewing recordings and resources from past meetings.

All meeting information, including dates, times, and locations for upcoming community meetings, will be available here as they are scheduled. We encourage families and community members to participate in these meetings to stay up to date on the process and provide feedback.

To review recordings of previous meetings and access presentations, handouts, and other materials shared, please scroll to the "Past Meeting Recordings & Resources" section at the bottom of the School Boundary Redistricting Meeting Recordings & Resources webpage. These resources will help you stay informed about the school boundary redistricting process.

For additional information or questions, please email ask@acps.k12.va.us.

Contact Information

For additional information or questions, please contact ASK ACPS at ask@acps.k12.va.us.