City · Detailed community guide

City of Alexandria, Virginia

An independent city on the Potomac known for Old Town's historic streets and waterfront, plus Del Ray, Parkfair and the West End.

Explore homes with Sam
Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the George Washington Masonic National MemorialDISCOVER THE COMMUNITY

Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Photo: Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized; display cropped. Local scene, not a property listing.

GET TO KNOW THE AREA

Homes & everyday life

Historic rowhouses in Old Town, bungalows in Del Ray and Rosemont, and condos and townhomes near Eisenhower and the West End.

What to examine when buying

For older properties, review maintenance and any historic-district requirements. Condos can have very different fee structures and parking arrangements; waterfront proximity calls for address-specific flood review.

Think through the everyday trips

Walk the routes between a home, groceries, recreation, and transit. Old Town, Del Ray, and the West End have distinct street layouts and connections.

Places to explore

  • Old Town
  • Del Ray
  • Rosemont
  • Carlyle
  • Potomac Yard
  • West End
  • Seminary Hill

SCHOOLS, WITH CONTEXT

School ratings & performance

Alexandria City Public Schools

An Alexandria mailing address may be in Fairfax County rather than the City of Alexandria. ACPS changed school boundaries for 2026–27; verify the year in the locator and check school bus eligibility separately.

63%Reading pass rate2025-2026 · All Students
59%Math pass rate2025-2026 · All Students
56%Science pass rate2025-2026 · All Students

Division-wide assessment pass rates from VDOE, not a county rating, school guarantee, or measure of an individual child’s experience. School-level results vary. Compare the same subject and year.

Three-year results and how to read them
Alexandria City Public Schools · All Students passed (%)
School yearReadingMathScience
2023-2024615553
2024-2025625553
2025-2026635956

Pass rates report performance on the assessments in the state profile. They do not summarize all teaching, programs, student support, or school climate. Accreditation and the School Performance and Support Framework are different measures; a blank performance field has not been converted into a rating here.

VDOE framework methodology ↗

Explore individual schools

Search the published school directory, open a school’s status, and use its official report for grade-level results, graduation, attendance, and other available measures. Directory and status fields are a snapshot of the source, not a live enrollment list.

17 schools found · Showing 12

ElementaryCharles Barrett ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryCora Kelly School for Math Science and TechnologyView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryDouglas MacArthur ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryFerdinand T. Day ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryGeorge Mason ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryJames K. Polk ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryJefferson-Houston PK-8 SchoolView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryJohn Adams ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryLyles-Crouch ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryMount Vernon ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryNaomi L. Brooks ElementaryView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗
ElementaryPatrick Henry K-8 SchoolView status & official report +
Accreditation
Conditionally Accredited
Performance level
Not provided in division summary
Framework score
Not provided in division summary
Full VDOE school report ↗

Source: Alexandria City Public Schools — Virginia School Quality Profiles ↗. Retrieved 2026-09-28. Latest assessment year in this snapshot: 2025-2026. Blank or suppressed values remain unreported. Confirm current status and school assignment with the division.

Before choosing a home

Confirm the assigned elementary, middle, and high school for the exact address and move-in year. Ask about boundary changes, transfers, and whether an advertised program requires a separate application.

Plan the school day

Check bell times, bus eligibility, before/after-school care, registration deadlines, and activity transport. Availability and fees should be confirmed with the provider.

Look beyond a score

Discuss learning support, advanced coursework, language services, accessibility, extracurriculars, and your child’s interests with the school. Arrange a visit or conversation when possible.

MAKE THE DAILY TRIP WORK

Metro, rail & commute planning

King Street–Old Town, Braddock Road, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street, and Potomac Yard provide Metro options. Alexandria VRE is beside the King Street area. Check station-specific line service.

Metro's Blue and Yellow lines, VRE at Alexandria (King Street) on both lines, and quick access to Reagan National Airport.

How far is the station?

These are sample driving routes from named reference points, not distances from every home in the county. Choose a specific property before comparing your actual commute.

Calculated 2026-09-28 with OSRM and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Times are model baselines, not rush-hour predictions. Add traffic, parking, walking, waiting, transfers, and the train ride. Routes may include tolls. No live traffic or fares are loaded on this page.

Compare the entire journey

Test your actual departure and return times. Include school or childcare stops, the station approach, the final trip to your workplace, and a backup route.

Check service and parking

Metro, VRE, and Amtrak are different services. Check the current timetable, fares, parking rules, accessible entrances, elevator status, and any service changes before relying on a connection.

Know the recurring costs

Budget for the applicable rail or bus fare, parking, tolls, and the driving portion. Compare a commute-day total with the housing payment when evaluating locations.

Official transportation resources

YOUR PROPERTY RESEARCH DESK

Before you fall in love with the address.

A home’s purchase price is only part of the picture. Use these questions and resources to understand the property and its ongoing costs.

Property tax & assessment

Review assessed value, tax jurisdiction, and current charges. An assessment is not a current market valuation.

Permits, zoning & future development

Check permit history, intended property use, and nearby planning proposals with the relevant local department.

HOA / condominium documents

Review dues, reserves, rules, parking, rental policies, and any pending special assessments.

Insurance, flood & utilities

Obtain address-specific insurance quotes; review flood mapping, utility providers, water/sewer or well/septic, and broadband.

Local records & services

Your move-in planning checklist

For households with children

Confirm attendance zones, enrollment documents, bus eligibility, childcare spaces, activity transport, and the school calendar before choosing a move date.

For remote and hybrid work

Verify actual internet service, mobile reception, workspace, and the full commute on days you travel. A listing’s internet claim should be confirmed with the provider.

For accessibility and daily convenience

Check entrances, stairs, bathroom layout, parking, sidewalks, transit access, and proximity to the services you personally use. Assess the individual property and route.

For a purchase, sale, or investment

Coordinate financing, inspection, insurance, settlement, utility transfers, and association paperwork. Confirm permitted rental use with the relevant local authority and association before relying on it.

Regional resources

TURN RESEARCH INTO A PLAN

Thinking about City of Alexandria?

Tell me your price range, preferred home features, commute destination, and move date. I’ll help you compare properties and the questions to investigate.

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GOOD MOVES START WITH A CONVERSATION

Your next chapter. Let’s make it happen.

A first home. A fresh start. A thoughtfully planned sale. Wherever you’re headed, let’s talk about getting you there.

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