Choosing a Community

Holes in the Ground, Cranes in the Sky

PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

In the next decade, a dead mall will turn into a vibrant new hospital, some office buildings may become apartments, and all sorts of old spaces will find new uses.

Alexandria Living Magazine has been tracking dozens of new developments across the City of Alexandria and Southeast Fairfax County. To help you keep track of what’s going on, we’ve created an interactive online map tracking more than 50 construction projects. The map is updated monthly and is accessible at alexandrialivingmagazine.com/ development.

Here are just a few of the projects on the map now:

In Old Town, Alexandria Renew Enterprises has taken down the old steel warehouse to make room for water treatment facilities to make the Potomac River cleaner.

Nearby, Hilco Redevelopment Partners has purchased the site of the decommissioned GenOn Power Plant and has big plans for housing, office space, dining, retail, and public open space along the Potomac River.

A new Wegmans, thousands of apartments, retail shops and more are coming to Eisenhower East.

Southeast Fairfax County is welcoming multiple residential developments, several parks and a whole new vision for the “gateway” area between the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County.

More than a dozen new apartment complexes, affordable housing developments, condos and townhomes are coming to Alexandria’s West End, welcoming thousands of new residents.

Visit alexandrialivingmagazine.com/ development for dozens of other projects in the works.

About Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria is a pioneer in education. One of the first experiments in public education in the nation started in Alexandria. The Alexandria Academy’s Washington Free School was founded in 1785 to educate orphans and children from low-income families.

Today, Alexandria continues to be a pioneer in education. Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is embarking on a new era in high school education, creating a “connected network” of school buildings and programs to prepare students for the future.

The school system’s mission statement is ‘Every student succeeds: Educating lifelong learners and inspiring civic responsibility.’

In addition, ACPS has:

• 12 elementary schools (including one for Math, Science and Technology and another on a year-round schedule) • 2 K-8 schools

• 2 middle schools

• 1 high school

• 2 alternative school programs

• plus, early childhood education and adult education programs

Alexandria City Public Schools is a diverse community of more than 15,700 students who hail from more than 114 countries and speak 119 total languages. Children are typically assigned to a neighborhood school based on their home address, and all schools are fully accredited.

The Superintendent, Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School here in Alexandria (class of 1995). The high school and one elementary school are being renamed in 2021.

The central office for ACPS is located at 1340 Braddock Pl. The school district’s main phone number is 703-619-8000. Learn more at acps.k12.va.us.

PHOTO BY BETH LAWTON

About Fairfax County Public Schools

EDUCATION

Fairfax County Public Schools serve students all across Fairfax County, and it is one of the largest school districts in the United States.

With more than 189,000 students, FCPS is the 10th largest school division in the nation. Students are diverse, speaking more than 200 languages.

Most students attend their neighborhood school, and all FCPS schools are accredited. More than 90 percent of graduating students plan to pursue further education.

FCPS has a long history: The first 41 schools opened in 1870, and were mostly one-room frame schoolhouses with one teacher for multiple grades. There are now 198 schools and educational centers in Fairfax County. The schools are divided into 9 districts, each with a school board representative. There are also three at-large school board members. The Superintendent of Schools is Scott S. Brabrand.

The school system’s mission is: Fairfax County Public Schools inspires and empowers students to meet high academic standards, lead healthy, ethical lives, and be responsible and innovative global citizens.

More information is available at fcps.edu. The central office is located at 8115 Gatehouse Rd. in Falls Church, and the main phone number is 571-423-3000. Learn more at fcps.edu.

Choosing a Private School

Public Schools in the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County are good — but different students thrive in different environments.

There are dozens of private and parochial schools in the Alexandria area serving different grades and needs of students and their families.

Organizations like the Virginia Association for Independent Schools (VAIS) and the Private School Review say there are largely five questions that you can use to help evaluate nearby schools and help you narrow down the list of options:

• What type of student is your child, and do they have specific practical or specialized needs? • How does your child learn best?

• Is a religious school important to your family? Boarding or day school?

Single-sex or co-ed?

• How far are you willing (and able) to travel to get your child to school every day?

• How much can you afford to pay in tuition and other costs?

“No two children are the same. Finding the right fit for your child means aligning the school’s mission and values with your own, as well as taking into account the temperament, interests, intellectual ambition and personality of your child as they relate to the school you’re considering,” the Virginia Association for Independent Schools recommends.

You can learn more about your options and find a list of private and parochial schools in the Alexandria area at alexandrialivingmagazine.com/news/ is-private-school-a-good-fit-for-your-child.