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The Alexandria City School Board has approved the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Combined Funds (CF) Budget at Thursday's Alexandria City School Board meeting according to a press release from ACPS. Here's more from the release:
Aligning with the budget priorities approved by the School Board at the Oct. 9, 2025, meeting, the FY27 Budget includes funding to support ACPS’ first collectively bargained agreements with employee union groups, continued improvements in recruitment and retention, operations and safety enhancements, technology integration and security reinforcements and reductions in vacant positions to minimize future personnel expenditures.
The Proposed FY27 CF Budget, includes the Operating Budget, School Nutrition Funds as well as Grants and Special Projects Fund, totaling $406.5 million. The ACPS Operating Budget of $374.5 million for the 2026-27 school year is an increase of 3.7% from the FY26 Operating Budget. The approved Budget also includes funding for required health benefit increases and recruitment and retention bonuses.
“Developing this year’s CF Budget required staff to face complex and compressed decisions,” said Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt. “Throughout this process, staff continued to prioritize protecting the student experience, supporting our staff and ensuring the long-term stability of the division. The approved budget reflects a balanced and strategic approach that positions us to continue delivering high-quality educational opportunities for our community.”
Additionally, the approved budget maintains school-based staffing positions to account for and accommodate redistricting. The budget also increases funding for public carrier services and the repair and maintenance of ACPS facilities.
“The School Board recognizes that developing a budget in the current fiscal environment comes with challenges,” said Alexandria City School Board Chair Dr. Michelle Rief. “Although some decisions were difficult, they were guided by data, community input and our unified commitment to students. I want to thank ACPS staff for collaborating with the Board to ensure a continued investment in educational excellence for all students, while reflecting our financial climate.”
The School Board hosted a work session on the CF Budget–including the Operating Budget as well as a Public hearing on Jan. 27, 2026. ACPS, alongside the Alexandria Parent Teacher Association Council (PTAC) hosted a Budget Forum on Feb. 9, 2026. The School Board will vote to approve the Final Adopted Combined Funds Budget on June 11, 2026.
The full budget timeline and a summary of this year’s budget process can be found on the ACPS FY27 Budget Web Page.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 15,900 students who hail from more than 118 countries and speak 127 languages. ACPS has 18 schools, including two middle schools, two K-8 schools, one pre-K school and the internationally recognized Alexandria City High School. ACPS is committed to nurturing, educating and inspiring each student so they are prepared to thrive in college, career and community. Visit www.acps.k12.va.us.
