PreK-8 Reconfiguration Options To Be Presented To Alexandria School Board

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Tuesday, the Alexandria School Board is receiving a final report on options for grade-level reconfigurations for PreK-8 schools.

The analysis focuses on grade-level reconfigurations at Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston schools, which are the only K-8 schools at Alexandria City Public Schools. ACPS is projecting 2027 enrollment will increase for grades 6 to 8 from 3,247 to 3,520, while PreK enrollment could drop from 8,295 to 8,148. Alexandria City Public Schools recruited Learner-Centered Collaborative to work on the analysis with partners to determine whether the PreK-8 configurations should change.

The analysis compares seven possible models for the K-8 grade configuration, from keeping schools structured as they currently are, to constructing new facilities. According to a School Board presentation, ACPS has not yet identified specific families that would be affected by school reassignments, and uncertainty remains about factors like staffing needs.

Here are the seven models included in the analysis:

• Model 1: Both Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston remain PreK/K-8 schools, with improvements made to the current structures and programs.
• Model 2: Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston become K-5 schools, with 6-8 students moved to George Washington or Francis C. Hammond middle schools.
• Model 3: Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston become K-5 schools, with a new middle school opened at 1703 Beauregard St.
• Model 4: Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston transition to middle schools, and their K-5 students are reassigned to other existing K-5 schools.
• Model 5: One school becomes a 6-8 middle school, and the other becomes a K-5 elementary school.
• Model 6: Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston remain PreK/K-8s, an additional school is identified to become a K-8 school, 1703 Beauregard St. becomes a new middle school.
• Model 7: Patrick Henry and Jefferson-Houston remain PreK/K-8s, an additional school is identified to become a K-8 school, a new middle school is proposed/constructed, and 1703 Beauregard St. becomes available to expand K-5 capacity.

According to the analysis on the models, all but models 6 and 7 would provide enough student seats. However, those last two options would require new construction.

The School Board is not making a decision on the PreK-8 configurations on Thursday. The full Thursday School Board agenda is available to view. Other notable items will be an update on the redistricting process, a presentation on design options for the George Mason Elementary modernization project, and an update on schools with accreditation and accreditation with conditions.