Arlington Community High School, 1450 S. Eads St.: day and evening diploma classes for residents 16 and older, 148 students in fall 2026. Office: 703-228-5350.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Sources: Arlington Community High School, Arlington Public Schools’ schools and programs page, the Virginia Department of Education’s School Quality Profile, the APS membership summary and the federal NCES school directory.

Arlington Community High School is the Arlington Public Schools (APS) alternative high school for students 16 and older. It offers the courses required for a high school diploma, by semester in day classes and by year in evening classes, to any county resident aged 16 or older, according to the school’s About page. There is no upper age limit; the school says students over school age pay tuition.

Who to call

  • Main office: 703-228-5350
  • Referral: a current school counselor, or the school’s online referral form
  • New to APS (registration): APS Welcome Center, 703-228-8000, option 1; 2110 Washington Blvd., first floor
  • General questions: APS main line, 703-228-8000
Address 1450 S. Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202
Grades 9 to 12, ages 16 and older
Day program 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Monday to Friday (early release 12:15 p.m.)
Evening program 5 to 9:10 p.m. Monday to Thursday
Website achs.apsva.us
Division Arlington Public Schools

APS’s school facility map lists the address as Suite 55. The federal directory still shows the school’s former address at 800 S. Walter Reed Drive.

Principal

Principal Jeannette Allen, according to the school’s website.

Enrollment and teachers

  • APS count: 148 students on Sept. 30, 2026: 13 ninth graders, 22 in 10th grade, 53 in 11th and 60 in 12th, in APS’s official membership summary (PDF). APS also lists 40 adult students who are not included in that count.
  • State count: 143 students in fall 2025, down from 156 in 2024 and 149 in 2023, in the School Quality Profile.
  • Federal count: 149 students in the 2023-24 school year, with nine full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That works out to about 17 students per teacher.

How the program works

The school’s About page lists:

  • flexible schedules built around each student’s needs;
  • semester block classes in the day, up to four a semester, and yearlong evening classes, so a student can earn eight or more credits a year to speed up or recover credits;
  • college credit for some courses through dual enrollment with Northern Virginia Community College;
  • smaller, personalized classes.

Students who want to enroll should contact the school directly or ask their current school counselor for a referral.

State report card

Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework scores each school on mastery on state tests, growth, readiness and graduation, according to APS’s framework page. Schools scoring 90 or more are Distinguished, 80 to 89 Meets Expectations, 65 to 79 Approaching Expectations and below 65 Needs Intensive Support.

  • 2026-27 framework score: 49.1, rated Needs Intensive Support, in the division summary (PDF). It is the one APS school identified for federal Comprehensive Support and Improvement.
  • Accreditation: Fully Accredited
  • On-time graduation: 51%. Of 63 students in the 2025-26 cohort, 32 graduated on time: one with an advanced studies diploma and 31 with a standard diploma. The completion rate was 52%, and 23 students (37%) dropped out.

Standards of Learning pass rates (share of tested students who passed), from the School Quality Profile:

Subject 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
English reading 69% 46% 54%
Math 57% 63% 85%
Science 43% 33% 36%

Attendance zone

Arlington Community High School has no neighborhood zone; it is a countywide school that students choose to attend. Every Arlington address is still assigned a neighborhood high school; check yours in the APS boundary locator.

Calendar

From the APS 2026-27 calendar:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 28: early release, all schools
  • Monday, Nov. 2: end of first quarter
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3: no school for students (Election Day)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day, no school
  • Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving break
  • Dec. 23 to Jan. 1: winter break
  • March 22-26, 2027: spring break
  • Thursday, June 17, 2027: last day of school

The evening program has no early release, according to APS. The school posts its own calendar.

More on Arlington schools

Frequently asked questions

Who can attend Arlington Community High School?

Any Arlington County resident 16 or older. There is no upper age limit, though students over school age pay tuition, according to the school. It offers day classes by semester and evening classes by year.

How is Arlington Community High School rated by the state?

It is fully accredited. In Virginia’s 2026-27 School Performance and Support Framework it scored 49.1, rated Needs Intensive Support, and it is identified for federal Comprehensive Support and Improvement.

What is Arlington Community High School’s graduation rate?

51% on time. Of 63 students in the 2025-26 cohort, 32 graduated on time and 23 dropped out, according to the state’s School Quality Profile.

What are Arlington Community High School’s hours?

The morning program runs 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the evening program 5 to 9:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, according to APS.