A late start to the school year and other logistical challenges could result in Arlington elementary schoolers getting fewer than 180 days of instruction this year.

School Board members are reviewing a proposal to alter the 2026-27 elementary school calendar to provide more opportunity for meetings between teachers and parents in October and March. This would result in just 178 instructional days for elementary-school students.


Local students got in the back-to-school spirit last week with some help from the Washington Wizards.

Featuring appearances by Wizards mascot G-Wiz, the Wizards Dancers and DJ Chalant, the “Back-to-School Tip-Off” celebration provided students with backpacks filled with school supplies and free haircuts on Friday at Claremont Immersion Elementary School.


Arlington school leaders are getting creative about recruiting and retaining special education teachers.

Arlington Public Schools has embarked on a partnership with George Mason University’s Project Patriots initiative, giving current staff the ability to earn required degrees and obtain special-education certification while still working full-time for the school system.


An Arlington educator was honored by county school leaders this week after being selected to participate in a prestigious federal fellowship program.

Daniel Bernhardt, who teaches science at Swanson Middle School, has been selected as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and appointed teacher in residence at the Library of Congress for the 2026-27 school year.


A state investigation alleged repeated antisemitic incidents at Yorktown High School with limited response from the administration, according to a national outlet.

The Free Press reported on a 39-page summary of evidence that it says former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) issued last October, alleging antisemitic conduct among students at Yorktown.


The print catalog for the fall Arlington Community Learning program lists the wrong price for several classes, school officials have confirmed.

The errors impact prices for county seniors and non-residents, which in some cases were flipped in the 20-page catalog:


The Glebe Elementary School parent-teacher association has received national recognition for its efforts to combat food insecurity and improve multilingual communication.

The school was named a National PTA School of Excellence earlier this month, joining 320 other associations around the country in being recognized for “leadership in creating welcoming, inclusive school communities and lasting change.”


An online Summer Skills Boost Program attracted almost 2,000 Arlington students between second and eighth grade this year.

Seeking to prevent learning loss and prepare for the 2026-27 school year, the self-paced initiative ran from July 6 to 31.


A late Labor Day is giving Arlington Public Schools students until Aug. 31 to enjoy summer break, but changes are coming when the year begins.

A new pilot program to curb iPad use is kicking off at some schools, with different options being tested at different grade levels. Additionally, the new home for the Arlington Career Center will open at the beginning of the school year, while Arlington Community High School is moving into Amazon’s HQ2 campus.


Yorktown High School is getting a new principal after six and a half years.

Bridget Loft, formerly the Swanson Middle School principal, will be taking the helm at Yorktown from Principal Kevin Clark. She is returning to a position that she previously held from 2017 to January 2020, when Clark took over.


For the first time, Arlington Public Schools has hosted a summer graduation ceremony honoring the achievements of 39 high school seniors.

The students, representing all the county’s public schools, completed final diploma requirements during the school system’s four-week summer school program.


An Arlington Mill concert featuring student musicians and other local bands raised funds for Aspire! Afterschool Learning last weekend.

The Jackson Nine, a group of youth in Aspire’s no-cost summer program, rounded out an afternoon of performances at Arlington Mill Community Center plaza, which also included the adult bands APM (Always Preparing Mentally), The Stacks and Angel Roads.


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