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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Alexandria City High School celebrated the graduation of 962 students Saturday at Eagle Bank Arena, according to Alexandria City Public Schools, which honored a class it billed as "The Class that Changes Tomorrow."
Families, friends, school staff and city officials gathered for the ceremony, the district said. The event featured remarks from Interim Executive Principal Lance Harrell, Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt and several student leaders, and the Titan Choir seniors sang the national anthem.
"Referring to the graduating class as 'The Class that Changes Tomorrow' reflects the true nature of who these students are," Harrell said in a statement. "They are leaders, creators and advocates with a plan to impact and share the future with courage, compassion and purpose."
The class earned at least $2.5 million in merit scholarships and collected 2,180 acceptance offers from 700 colleges, according to ACPS. Of the graduates, 509 reported plans to pursue a bachelor's degree and 102 plan to pursue an associate's degree.
A record 414 seniors, or 44% of the class, earned an Advanced Studies Diploma, the highest percentage in school history, the district said.
The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria awarded 215 students a combined $722,000 for their first year of college, renewable across four years for a total value of $2.9 million.
Beyond college, 36 students will attend trade schools in fields such as HVAC, dentistry, electrical work, cosmetology and automotive mechanics, ACPS said. Another 43 seniors have planned employment, and 15 students have committed to enlist in the U.S. military. Twelve student-athletes signed letters of intent to compete in collegiate athletics across six sports.
"The 2026 graduating class serves as a reminder that tomorrow is not something we simply wait for — but something we have the ability to shape," Kay-Wyatt said in a statement. "As they leave Alexandria City High School and pursue their dreams, they carry with them the knowledge, experiences and strength to be the change agents their communities and our world need."
ACPS serves more than 15,900 students from over 118 countries who speak 127 languages across 18 schools.
