After more than two years of construction, Alexandria City High School’s new Minnie Howard Campus was officially unveiled on May 29 in a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Alexandria City Public Schools alumni and school, district and city officials.
“I am incredibly ecstatic that the Minnie Howard Campus is nearly complete and will be ready to welcome students, staff and families for the 2024-25 school year,” said ACHS Executive Principal Alexander Duncan. “This is an innovative educational space that will foster a welcoming environment for our students to learn and grow in.”
The new campus is five stories tall and contains almost 350,000 square feet, allowing it to hold up to 1,600 students—almost double the capacity of the old Minnie Howard campus. Some notable features include an aquatic facility with a regulation-length pool, rooms for paramedic, nurse and firefighter training and gender-neutral bathrooms. The building is underlined by its views of Alexandria, especially on upper levels, and its use of natural lighting.
“New opportunities and resources will be present for students to use in order to aid them in their journey to discover their calling and passions,” said junior Zeinab Yassin, a student representative to the school board. “These new opportunities will help students achieve their goals and even set new goals for themselves.”
The campus also contains a childhood education program, student and family resource centers and a teen wellness facility. Each of those spaces, in addition to the swimming pool, will be operated by the City of Alexandria and open to the public as soon as this summer.
“I am beyond grateful to the city … for their collaboration,” said Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Ed.D. “This facility will not only serve our students, but all Alexandria residents.”
“[The] Minnie Howard Campus is a landmark facility for all Alexandrians,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “It will provide a much-needed community space where students, families, and residents can gather together and create new memories … It represents a crown jewel in an era of investment in our school facilities.”
The building will additionally support the launch of the Academies at Alexandria City, a new learning model gaining traction across the country that will allow students “to engage in small learning communities and foster life, college and career readiness,” according to a statement from ACPS.
The new Minnie Howard campus, along with all other ACHS campuses, will officially open to students on August 19, the first day of the 2024-25 school year.
Staff Writers Nadja Duss and Julia Gwin contributed to the reporting of this article.