Two of Alexandria's schools could be named after historic figures, a Roman god, modern royalty, streets, nouns or animals — and a poll will help whittle down the list.
Alexandria City Public Schools officials are asking the public to weigh in on new names for Matthew Maury and T.C. Williams schools in Alexandria through two official polls between now and Jan. 27. Each poll has dozens of options.
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Matthew Maury Elementary School was named after a Virginia resident who was considered the founder of oceanography — who was also a Confederate Navy member. Maury tried to establish a Confederate colony in Mexico after the South lost the war.
New options for the former Matthew Maury school include Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, Black Lives Matter, Rosemont Park, Russell Road, Eureka, King Henry the 6 and about two dozen other ideas.
T.C. Williams was named for former ACPS superintendent Thomas Chambliss Williams, who opposed desegregation. The Identity Project webpage describes him as "a staunch segregationist whose views could not have been more inconsistent with the vibrant, diverse and inclusive place we know today."
New names for the former T.C. Williams include Alexandria, North Potomac, Herman Boone, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Hercules, Prince Harry, Megan Markle, One for Everyone, Titan Community and many other options.
You can find the polls here:
According to Alexandria City Public Schools officials:
Following this process, a second community-wide poll will open in February, with top-performing entries. After both polls have concluded, the community will have one more opportunity to voice their opinion at an Alexandria City School Board public hearing in March 2021.
The Board will then vote and make a final naming decision that will be announced in April 2021. The new names will become the official names of the schools on July 1, 2021.
