Virginia’s Largest High School Suspends Classes for Two Days Due to Fights

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The largest high school in Northern Virginia has decided to cancel classes for the final two days of the 2024 academic year due to recent altercations that resulted in injuries to both students and staff.

Melanie Kay-Wyatt, the Superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, informed families in a letter on Wednesday that in-person classes would be suspended on Thursday and Friday at Alexandria City High School, which was previously known as T.C. Williams.

Kay-Wyatt stated that the cancellations were made because of concerns regarding the possibility of further fights occurring on those days.

With an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students, Alexandria City High School boasts the largest student population of any public high school in Virginia, according to the Virginia High School League.

During the closure, students will transition to what the school district refers to as “asynchronous instruction,” requiring them to log in online to access assignments and instructional materials.

The superintendent did not detail the specific injuries sustained by students and staff in her communication. A spokesperson for the school district did not provide additional comments beyond the statement issued by Kay-Wyatt.

According to Alexandria police, two students faced charges of assault and battery following several disputes that school resource officers addressed around noon on Wednesday in the school hallways and cafeteria.

The police reported that one student was taken from the school by a parent to seek medical attention at a clinic. Additionally, a woman who appeared in a social media video and was seen on the floor refused treatment at the scene and opted not to file a police report.

Chief of Police Tarrick McGuire stated in a written statement that “inciting violence and disorder within a school is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Kay-Wyatt described the events as “disheartening,” asserting, “Our school community deserves better and relies on us to ensure a safe environment for teaching and learning.”

The high school has been at the center of discussions in recent years regarding the presence of police school resource officers. In 2021, the city council decided to cut funding for these positions but later reconsidered after a series of violent incidents and a situation where a student brought a firearm to school.

By Matthew Barakat