Alexandria City Public Schools
A rendering of the new design for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.
The City of Alexandria is poised to vote on a proposal that would allow for more density, this time in school buildings.
Alexandria City Public Schools are undergoing a modernization process that has seen in recent years the opening of Ferdinand T. Day school, a new Patrick Henry K-8 school and now the rebuilding of Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.
Alexandria's population is continuing to grow — and the vast majority of new developments are multi-family residences that will bring even more students into the Alexandria City Public Schools system.
As the City Council gets set to approve the demolition and rebuilding of MacArthur, council members may simultaneously allow schools to be built to accommodate more students.
According to a staff report attached to the Sept. 1 City Council docket, "ACPS is limited as to where new schools can be built due to the cost to purchase additional property and limited inventory of properties that are large enough to accommodate a new school. For these reasons ACPS is focusing on the redeveloping the properties they own and, in some cases, increasing capacity by replacing older schools with larger new ones."
Most school buildings are one-story buildings at this time and located in residential areas, but future plans may call for newly modernized buildings up to three stories tall, which still fits into the maximum allowed height of 60 feet.
"Much of the density is expected to go into increasing one story schools up to three stories which would be well within the 60-foot height limit. Adding floor as opposed to expanding schools at one or two levels will also allow for maximum retention of open space for outdoor play and recreational activities and facilities," according to the report.
The school system currently serves more than 16,000 students. A small percentage of parents are reportedly unenrolling students to opt for private schools or homeschooling outside of ACPS during the pandemic, but it is unlikely that will be a long-term trend. There are 18 schools in the system.
ACPS projects enrollment will be above 17,000 students by 2024 and above 18,000 by 2029.
