Alexandria City Public Schools Make Schedule Decision For Feb. 3

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Public Schools have updated its operating status for students and employees on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

All schools in the system and all offices will open with a two-hour delay on Tuesday due to the freezing temperatures forecast for the morning. All students should report to school, including high school students as WIDA testing has been rescheduled to Feb. 10 and 11, officials said.

Alexandria City High School will send a separate email with instructions for those days.

Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt, school superintendent, thanked staff and families for their patience, flexibility and continued partnership as we work to keep everyone safe during winter weather conditions.

Related: 2 Rounds Of Snow Forecast For VA This Week: See Details

Frigid conditions mean that it will be important for everyone to dress warmly to stay comfortable and safe. Please ensure that students are dressed appropriately for the cold, including wearing layers, coats, hats, gloves and warm footwear. Staff members are also encouraged to bundle up for the chilly temperatures, Kay-Wyatt's message said.

The note also said:

"We are also mindful of student safety during school arrival and dismissal, particularly for those who walk to school or wait at bus stops. Despite ongoing clearing efforts, sidewalks in some areas may remain slippery, and snowbanks may still be present. These snowbanks can limit visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, creating additional hazards near crossings and intersections. Our decisions continue to prioritize ensuring students can travel to and from school safely while conditions continue to improve across the community."

Two-Hour Delay Information

Students in grades PreK-12 should report to school two hours later than regular opening time. Students who ride the bus to school should report to their bus stop in the morning two hours later than their regularly scheduled pickup time.

The Virginia Preschool Initiative will operate on the same delayed opening schedule for all ACPS schools. Morning Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) programs are canceled for tomorrow, February 3, 2026. Afternoon ECSE will report at the regular opening time and will be dismissed at the regular time.

All essential personnel, including building engineers, custodians, maintenance shop employees and security staff must still report to their work location at their normal time if safe to do so based on weather conditions. Please contact your direct supervisor for reporting instructions.
All non-essential personnel should report two hours later than their regularly scheduled time.

School Reopening Update

We have worked diligently to clear snow and ice from school buildings and grounds since last week to allow students to safely return to in-person instruction.

During the past week, students have participated in virtual learning. While we would have preferred to welcome students back in person sooner, the ongoing weather-related challenges made virtual instruction the safest option, allowing students to remain connected to their teachers and classmates while conditions improved.

"I want to extend sincere thanks to our instructional staff, who quickly pivoted to virtual learning to support students during this time. Their flexibility and dedication ensured continuity of learning despite the circumstances," the superintendent said.

"We are also deeply grateful to the many teams who have worked behind the scenes to prepare for reopening—our Facilities and Operations staff for clearing buildings and walkways, our School Nutrition Services team for continuing to provide meals to students while schools were closed, and our Transportation team for preparing buses and running routes to safely return to service.

"Finally, we extend our appreciation to the City of Alexandria for their continued partnership and support as we worked together to ensure schools could safely reopen for in-person instruction.
There is snow in the forecast for Tuesday evening, so we will keep everyone informed in case evening activities need to be cancelled on Tuesday and the status of school on Wednesday."

Visit the ACPS website for the most up-to-date information.