Schools

Arlington school leaders have announced their timeline for negotiating new health-insurance agreements next year, hoping to avoid catching employees by surprise this time.

This time, school leaders are committed to “make sure everybody’s crystal clear” on the process, School Board member Mary Kadera said.


Schools

A decline in year-over-year student enrollment at Arlington Public Schools has resulted in staffing adjustments at some schools.

The official APS 2025-26 student count of 27,589 is down 311 students — or 1.1% — from a year before, Superintendent Francisco Durán reported to School Board on Thursday.


Schools

Arlington Public Schools leaders hope that a new “adopt-a-school” partnership model will increase schools’ formal partnerships with business and civic groups.

Noting that 30% of Arlington’s public schools have no such partnerships, APS staff outlined plans to increase opportunities for volunteerism at a School Board meeting yesterday (Thursday). They focused primarily on relationships with the business community.


Schools

School Board candidates are at odds on numerous current practices at Arlington Public Schools, including how stringent the school system’s rules on grading and homework should be.

Candidates Monique “Moe” Bryant and James “Vell” Rives IV squared off at a debate hosted online Monday night by Arlington Parents for Education, an advocacy group.


Sports

After 26 years as Arlington Public Schools’ supervisor for health, physical/driver education and athletics, Debbie DeFranco has retired.

DeFranco — whose last day was Tuesday, following 34 years at APS — is being succeeded by former Wakefield High School principal Chris Willmore.


Schools

Even given the possibility of declining enrollment at Arlington Public Schools over the next decade, school leaders say they’re disinclined to dispose of any facilities.

Jeffrey Chambers, the school system’s director of design and construction, said the school system learned from a decision to do that several decades ago.


Schools

A community celebration marking the centennial of Washington-Liberty High School brought students past, present and future to the school on Saturday.

In attendance were alumni who attended W-L as long ago as the early 1950s. Those who came said they retained fond memories.


Schools

Arlington Public Schools was near the top of the pack in both the state and in Northern Virginia in its test scores for the 2024-25 school year.

APS trailed the Loudoun school system in the five broad Standards of Learning categories last school year, but outperformed Fairfax and Prince William counties and the city of Alexandria. It topped the averages statewide in each category.


Schools

Arlington’s oldest elementary school is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Friday with student-centered activities and a community picnic.

Festivities at Barcroft Elementary School will include a human chain beginning at the site of the original Barcroft School and a mini “field day” where students participate in games and activities that kids might have played 100 years ago.


News

A ceremony this morning (Friday) celebrated the planned relocation of Arlington Community High School to Amazon’s campus next school year.

Officials from Arlington Public Schools, Arlington County and Amazon attended the event at HQ2, which marks the first time in the 96-year history of ACHS that the alternative high school expects to have a permanent home.


Schools

An Arlington School Board member is cautioning Democrats against arguing with voters about the school system’s policies on transgender students this election season.

“Please don’t engage — you don’t need to get into a debate,” School Board member Zuraya Tapia-Hadley told attendees at an Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting on Wednesday.


View More Stories