Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Alexandria City High School (ACHS) – Minnie Howard campus on March 29, 2022, to kick off its construction. Video of the event was shared with the community via Facebook Live.
A host of dignitaries and school officials attended the groundbreaking, with remarks on this exciting project provided by School Board Chair Meagan L. Alderton, City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, School Board Student Representatives Emily Milton and Sylvia Rahim, ACPS School and Community Relations Chief Julia Burgos on behalf of Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., Acting Chief of Facilities and Operations Dr. Alicia Hart and ACHS Executive Principal Peter M. Balas. Afterward, ACPS leadership, School Board members, Alexandria City Council members and City Manager James F. Parajon joined in breaking ground at the site of the new school campus.
Construction on the project will begin in earnest in the coming weeks. Students will remain in the existing Minnie Howard building while the new school goes up on the adjacent fields. The building is projected to be ready for the 2024-25 school year.
This new structure is part of The High School Project. In 2019, the School Board voted to expand ACHS into a Connected High School Network and build the Minnie Howard campus. This network will address the challenges of growing student enrollment and meet the region’s future business needs.