Schools

Arlington Public Schools officials are urging school families to take extra care in the wake of a series of cyberattacks against a key online resource used by the school system.

The school system uses Canvas, a learning-management system for teachers and students that parents can access on a limited, opt-in basis.


Schools

A Wakefield High School senior is among a small group of Arlington students who have spent the past four months gathering feedback from fellow youth about the current state of the school system.

In an April 30 presentation to the School Board, Zach Dawson said there were areas where Arlington Public Schools was meeting students’ needs, but other areas where it was falling short.


Schools

Two LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are calling on Arlington Public Schools to address the disproportionate mental health and safety outcomes negatively affecting its LGBTQ+ student population.

In a new joint letter to APS leaders, the groups, Equality Arlington and the Arlington Gender Identity Alliance (AGIA), are asking the school system to implement a more targeted response to the mental health challenges, violence, discrimination and bullying that its LGBTQ+ students experience at elevated rates when compared to fellow students.


Schools

With its 2025-26 fifth-grade student exchange complete, the Arlington Sister City Association is looking for those who would like to take part in the coming school year.

Fifty Arlington families recently returned from a spring break journey to Aachen, Germany, where they were hosted by families that had visited Arlington last fall.


Schools

A plan to use artificial intelligence to read off the names of graduates at Washington-Liberty High School received pushback at last week’s School Board meeting.

June Prakash used the Board’s public-comment period to decry a partnership with a company that uses AI to correctly pronounce students’ names and read them off at a consistent rhythm during graduation ceremonies.


Schools

A local advocacy group is pressing Arlington Public Schools’ leaders to have students in class five days per week on a more frequent basis.

“APS’ own attendance policy highlights that ‘missing just two days a month can negatively impact learning,’ yet the district’s calendars routinely miss multiple days of instruction per month,” Arlington Parents for Education (APE) said in a recent newsletter.


Around Town

As its 60th birthday approaches, Encore Stage & Studio is expanding its reach while remaining true to its core beliefs.

“We’ve worked hard to advance Encore’s mission,” the organization’s board chair, Lisa Sullivan, said at an April 22 benefit breakfast at Washington Golf & Country Club.


Schools

School leaders are projecting a gradual decline in student enrollment over the next decade — but they don’t believe it will translate to lower costs.

In total, Arlington Public Schools now projects a 3.7% decrease in enrollment by 2035, even as the number of students in high-risk categories is showing signs of increasing.


Schools

A panel discussion on AI in the classroom and beyond is coming to Arlington Public Schools, supporting efforts to keep pace with the developing technology.

Superintendent Francisco Durán will moderate the community conversation next Tuesday, April 7. Educators, students and leaders in higher education and the workplace will “talk candidly about what AI means for teaching and learning right now,” Chief Academic Officer Gerald Mann said in an email to teachers.


Schools

Advocates for permanent local funding for after-school programs received support, but not necessarily promises, from county leaders at a March 27 rally.

Hundreds turned out for the evening program at Kenmore Middle School, urging county leaders to see the value in safety-net programs for students.


Schools

A rally in support of after-school programming in Arlington will take place later this week at Kenmore Middle School.

Organizers plan to ask leaders to “work with us over the next year to ensure that what has been called a pilot program will become permanent, with ongoing funding and a path toward expansion to meet the needs of children in our community,” said Marjorie Green of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE).


Schools

New data suggests that Arlington Public Schools is making progress on lowering the rate of students being chronically absent from class.

Through Jan. 30, 10% of APS students this school year were absent from class more than 10% of the time, according to data reported at the Feb. 19 School Board meeting. That’s down from rates of 12.4% for the 2024-25 school year and 13.2% from 2023-24.


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