It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Old Town Alexandria Waterfront gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Alexandria, VA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“We started with Always Best Care mid July 2021. They worked with us and her”
“I have been with Always Best Care for over a year. I have a neurological”
“Always Best Care truly took the stress out of my grandfather’s post-surgery recovery. I was”
“Pleasant experience with the care professionals who provided support and care. Lankgo was very helpful”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers!”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia.”
“Hi, Please know my Five Stars rating is very real & very honest! I reached out”
“My family has used Always Best Care for about five months now. We are grateful”
“Scott and his staff were excellent to work with. We quickly needed all night”
“My mother required some post-surgical assistance as she was healing from a knee replacement procedure.”
“Scott Maquire, owner is helpful and will work with you to develop a plan that”
“I had caregivers for my elderly mother from Always Best Care for close to three”
“Finding Always Best Care was a game changer for me and my mom (after trying”
“Our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services of Herndon was positive. Excellent communication and”
“Our family was delighted to have found Always Best Care Senior Services, having been recommended”
“With my wife bed bound and I the only caretaker, I was soon exhausted. Scott”
“I am a past client of this provider My mother was in hospice care and needed”
“Scott and his team provided excellent companion care for Mom as her dementia progressed. They”
“I had the good fortune to work for Scott Maguire at ABC following my move”
“Anyone reading this is likely where my family was. Completely exhausted and desperate. My husband”
“Wow--my family has worked with a number of companies to assist us through the years”
“Over the last year Scott Maguire, at Always Best Care Senior Services, has been a”
“I worked at the agency for a year as a caregiver and then as a”
“I worked at the agency for a year as a caregiver and then as a”
“We started with Always Best Care mid July 2021. They worked with us and her insurance to provide me time to do things I needed to do. We have had the same caregivers for the past 3 years and we love them!! Brenda C. is absolutely terrific!! Jeanine is fabulous!! From the start, they have worked with and around our schedules, especially when we have had changes. Working with Scott M. the original manager/owner, and now with Rashid F., the new manager/owner has been really easy and enjoyable. Everyone as been easy-going and helpful.”
“I have been with Always Best Care for over a year. I have a neurological condition that affects my movement and balance. My caregiver has helped me make doctor appointments and attend weekly yoga. My caregiver is always punctual. I highly recommend the company.”
“Always Best Care truly took the stress out of my grandfather’s post-surgery recovery. I was so worried about how he would manage, especially since I couldn’t always be there due to work, but he was in amazing hands. The caregivers were compassionate, attentive, and made his recovery process so much easier. Knowing he was well cared for gave me peace of mind. I highly recommend their services!”
“Pleasant experience with the care professionals who provided support and care. Lankgo was very helpful with taking me to doctor's appointments, to the pharmacy, and entertaining my free time by playing cards. Rashid, the owner, has been so helpful, so understanding, and so kind and has helped me tremendously in my caring. I would recommend Always Best Care of Fairfax!”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses Medicaid, but they were very kind and helpful in connecting us with another agency who accepts Medicaid, and followed up with us to make sure we had reached the other agency.”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers! From the first day the emphasis was always on our father and how they could meet his needs and keep him comfortable. They took care of our dad as if he was a member of their family. The caring starts at the top with Rashid, who is amazing. He knew my father well and visited him often, always keeping us informed. He would be at the house to orient new care team members and introduce them to our father including weekends and shift change at 8 pm. When we could not be with our father, we knew he was in great hands. We were so fortunate to have found Rashid and his wonderful team of caring and empathetic caregivers, they were a blessing to us during a very difficult time.”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia. She has received in-home services from Always Best Care for several years. Her home care aide, Brenda, helped my friend with things like organizing her files, paying bills, finding and keeping track of her things, canceling subscription items bought online and then not remembered, medication management, etc. She was kind, patient, and highly flexible. The company owner has also been wonderful to work with; kind, patient, flexible and responsive. I highly recommend ABC Senior Services!”
“Hi, Please know my Five Stars rating is very real & very honest! I reached out to Always Best Care S.S. (Fairfax County VA) & received the best customer service from Rashid after 11 exhausting calls. What I actually needed at that time they did not offer, but Rashid still proceeded to assist me. Rashid showed caring concerns and patience. Rashid even reached out on my behalf to others in his field of work as well provided me with further resources outside of his own practice! Not only did Rashid provide other resources, Rashid followed up with me the next day!! Mind you I missed the call/phone tag & Rashid still returned my call until we connected! That’s above beyond…. I was relieved of a lot of burden & false hope. The resources ended up being a huge success. So I want to highly recommend Contacting Always Best Care S.S. And have the pleasure I experienced with Rashid an awesome person, very professional top notch customer service for your needs. Rashid Farrell thank you for being you???? Octavia”
“My family has used Always Best Care for about five months now. We are grateful for the help and advice we have received. The home health aide sent to us has been outstanding and Scott Maguire has always been available for advice. We recommend ABC to anyone who needs its services.”
“Scott and his staff were excellent to work with. We quickly needed all night companions at the hospital and home for more than two months. Scott responded to our needs and provided some wonderful people. Highly recommend.”
“My mother required some post-surgical assistance as she was healing from a knee replacement procedure. Scott was very helpful in arranging a dependable and compassionate caregiver for the time which we needed the assistance. I could confidently attend to my work schedule knowing that my mother was receiving the help she needed for medication reminders, meal preparation, exercise prompts and having a supportive ear during the convalescence from Sue. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services very highly.”
“Scott Maquire, owner is helpful and will work with you to develop a plan that works best for your situation. My mom loves here caregiver and I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for peace of mind,”
“I had caregivers for my elderly mother from Always Best Care for close to three years, and I would unreservedly do so again. It took a little bit to find providers who were right for my mother’s particular needs (besides becoming increasingly frail, she had severe anxiety), and for my schedule (my mother was living with me), but owner Scott Maguire was extremely accessible and responsive, and ultimately we established an arrangement that worked well. The caregivers were honest, reliable, caring, and responsive to my feedback, and communication via daily logs and in-person reporting ensured I was aware of anything I needed to know. I found the advantage of working with a small company whose owner I never had trouble reaching or getting to understand my needs a huge factor in what made this agency work for me.”
“Finding Always Best Care was a game changer for me and my mom (after trying several other companies). Scott was professional and responsive. He found the perfect companion for my mom (Kendall). She was reliable, flexible, thoughtful, kind and an excellent communicator. Within a short time, my mom began asking when that "nice Kendall" was coming again. I cannot recommend ABC Senior Services highly enough. I will always be grateful for their services.”
“Our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services of Herndon was positive. Excellent communication and billing was easy.”
“Our family was delighted to have found Always Best Care Senior Services, having been recommended by another senior care agency. They quickly responded with excellent experienced care givers who were terrific in caring for my father, giving him the attention he needed. The personal attention given by the owner was terrific. The nursing consultation was also appreciated. I highly recommend this agency.”
“With my wife bed bound and I the only caretaker, I was soon exhausted. Scott and Always Best Care came to my rescue by providing me with the help I needed to get through this ordeal. The young lady that came 7 hours a day was a Godsend to me. She was attentive and caring and made my wife's life so much better, no to mention my own. I would not have made it through without her. Scott dealt directly with the insurance people saving me from having to manage any record keeping and payment issues. That also relieves a lot of stress. I would strongly recommend Always Best Care to anyone in need of such services.”
“I am a past client of this provider My mother was in hospice care and needed help and companionship and I couldn’t be there 24/7. Always Best Care sent providers to be with her and I can’t say enough good things about them. They were compassionate and skilled, and always there when I needed them. I could relax knowing that my mom was in good hands.”
“Scott and his team provided excellent companion care for Mom as her dementia progressed. They ran errands with her, provided meals for her and Dad, and generally kept her engaged and entertained during the pandemic. Scott was a wealth of knowledge and always available to help us navigate the disease and it’s effects. I highly recommend him and his team!”
“I had the good fortune to work for Scott Maguire at ABC following my move from New Hampshire to Virginia. I was with the agency for eight years until last month when I moved to Florida. Scott always cared about his clients, and had a knack for matching them with compatible caregivers. He was always available for questions and concerns. I had opportunities to work for other agencies between clients, but chose to stick with Always Best Care, because the name of the agency says it all.”
“Anyone reading this is likely where my family was. Completely exhausted and desperate. My husband and I had been primary caregivers for my in-laws when one ended up with non-COVID pneumonia and the other had a stroke followed by a fall-- all since early January. Now vaccinated, they were ready for outside help and wanted it to start right away. We had been talking to an agency throughout the process that came highly recommended, Old Dominion. But they were not able to turn around an awesome caregiver in 72 hours and recommended I call one of their friendly competitors-- Scott- At Always Best Care Senior Services in Herndon. Scott understood that we were looking for stopgap care until Old Dominion could find someone permanent and after a call Friday afternoon, he had someone at my in-laws on Monday, 8:00am. And she was terrific. It makes all the difference to have such a positive experience from the beginning. My in-laws were very pleased and appreciated that Scott had been upfront that the caregiver he had available had a thick accent and that, combined with a mask, might be challenging for someone hearing impaired. This is an issue for my mother in law and it made all the difference that she knew in advance. The other thing I appreciated is that all of Scott's caregivers are vaccinated or on their way. The one he sent was getting her second shot later in her start week with us. Unfortunately, my father-in-law is going to need a stint in skilled rehab, so we won't be continuing with Scott's wonderful caregiver. But Scott stepped up to help provide some insiders perspective on facilities. There was nothing to gain from that, except putting goodness out into the world. The process is overwhelming and it made such a difference to get his perspective. We could not have been more pleased to have had such a terrific experience and highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services if you or a loved one is looked for quality care.”
“Wow--my family has worked with a number of companies to assist us through the years in the Annandale area. This is the best. Scott Maguire--the owner is responsive, collaborative, and empathetic to unique questions and requirements. This is the company we will work with hereafter.”
“Over the last year Scott Maguire, at Always Best Care Senior Services, has been a wealth of information for helping me with my ageing parents. Pre Covid, we were looking into continuing care options and he went through all of our options in a manner that was easy to understand (when you are new to the system)! Then Covid hit, and we decided to keep our parents at home as long as possible. Since, he has been very quickly responsive about in-home care at a stressful time for all. We have really appreciated his help! I would highly recommend his services.”
“I worked at the agency for a year as a caregiver and then as a supervisor. The owner is a very nice and caring person, very hands on and always there to help. I would recommend this agency to anyone that needs help with their loved one.”
“I worked at the agency for a year as a caregiver and then as a supervisor. The owner is a very nice and caring person, very hands on and always there to help. I would recommend this agency to anyone that needs help with their loved one.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Jones Point Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ada's on the River or visit Captains Row Old Town Alexandria, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Alexandria, VA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Alexandria, VA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Alexandria, VA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Alexandria City Public Schools is in the midst of considering boundary changes to address school capacities and enrollment projections.Patch StaffALEXANDRIA, VA — After releasing draft options for adjusting boundaries of public elementary schools and K-8 schools, Alexandria City Public Schools held a community meeting Tuesday to provide an update about the process.Three draft options ...
Patch Staff
ALEXANDRIA, VA — After releasing draft options for adjusting boundaries of public elementary schools and K-8 schools, Alexandria City Public Schools held a community meeting Tuesday to provide an update about the process.
Three draft options for new school boundaries, released on March 12, were shared at Tuesday's community meeting. The three options are drafts and are not final boundary maps for consideration. According to the tentative timeline for redistricting, updated school boundaries and policies could be adopted in June. New boundaries would take effect in August 2026.
ACPS says the school board will make redistricting decisions based on student enrollment projections, capacity and facility utilization, geographic and transportation considerations, legal and policy guidelines, and equity and community impact.
The draft green plan seeks to address school utilization while putting a focus on neighborhood schools, according to ACPS. While the plan would provide capacity relief from Samuel Tucker Elementary to Patrick Henry School attendance areas, ACPS says it would split neighborhoods from the William Ramsay Elementary attendance area and put a western part of the Patrick Henry attendance area to the Douglas MacArthur area.
The proposed blue plan would move some students farther from their neighborhood schools. ACPS says pros of this plan are assigning Samuel Tucker neighborhoods to closer schools and providing relief to the Patrick Henry and Samuel Tucker attendance areas. However, it would move the Ferdinand T. Day Elementary attendance area more west and have it be bisected by Interstate 395. Another con identified by ACPS is moving Seminary Towers farther to the Douglas MacArthur attendance area.
The draft purple plan differs by providing relief to the Naomi L. Brooks Elementary attendance area and considers the future reconfiguration of Jefferson-Houston to turn from a K-8 school to a middle school. Like the blue plan, the purple plan assigns Samuel Tucker neighborhoods to closer schools and provides relief to the Patrick Henry and Samuel Tucker attendance areas.
However, ACPS said it would move the Ferdinand T. Day Elementary attendance area more west, move the Seminary Towers to Douglas MacArthur attendance zone, create a non-connected area of the Lyle Crouch attendance zone, and likely increase transportation demands.
Cons of all three plans identified by ACPS are keeping a non-connected area of the George Mason Elementary boundary and keeping imbalances of school utilization on the east end.
Redistricting Background
The ACPS redistricting process started in June 2023 with a boundary analysis. A former school board policy called for a boundary analysis every five years, or when a new school opens. The school board has since adopted a new policy to support the latest redistricting process. The last redistricting process was in 2018, but ACPS opened its renovated Douglas MacArthur Elementary School in fall 2023.
The boundary analysis found that more ACPS schools have capacities above an ideal range. It concluded that ACPS had to be proactive to plan for future developments in school boundaries already over capacity and that modernized schools with upgraded capacity should be utilized to address the issue.
According to the March 18 community presentation, schools with enrollment above 100 percent capacity are Charles Barrett Elementary, James K. Polk Elementary, Mount Vernon Community School, Patrick Henry K-8 School and Samuel W. Tucker Elementary. Several schools have enrollment at less than 80 percent of capacity — Cora Kelly School, Douglas MacArthur Elementary, George Mason Elementary, Jefferson-Houston Pre K-8 School, John Adams Elementary, and William Ramsay Elementary.
The school board will have a redistricting work session on Thursday at 6 p.m. and another update at its April 3 meeting. Another community meeting on redistricting will be held April 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Alexandria City High School King Street campus.
Related Content More stories from the Pamplin College of BusinessMore stories from the Innovation CampusVirginia Tech marked a new chapter in its commitment to innovation and technology education on Friday with the opening celebration and ribbon-cutting for its new academic building in Alexandria.The event, attended by ...
Virginia Tech marked a new chapter in its commitment to innovation and technology education on Friday with the opening celebration and ribbon-cutting for its new academic building in Alexandria.
The event, attended by more than 1,000 people, highlights the university’s growing presence in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area and its role in shaping the future of technology research and graduate education.
The 300,000-square-foot, 11-story Academic Building One, which opened to students in January, represents the transformational investment by both the commonwealth and Virginia Tech announced in 2018 as part of Virginia’s successful bid to attract Amazon’s HQ2.
"We have an extraordinary statement to make today. Innovation is alive and well not just in Virginia, not just in the mid-Atlantic, but across the United States. And it’s happening right here at the Innovation Campus at Virginia Tech — how exciting,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said. “This journey is one that is filled with both a sense collective pride, a sense of collective accomplishment, and a real sense of opportunity and aspiration for what will happen here.”
The event also featured remarks from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Tim Kaine, and keynote speaker Regina Dugan, a two-time Virginia Tech alumna and president and CEO of Wellcome Leap.
“Virginia Tech now has an open front door in the heart of this region’s innovation economy, ready to welcome new talent, partners, and opportunities,” Sands said, addressing the crowd of community members, Virginia Tech alumni, government officials, foreign dignitaries, and D.C. area industry representatives. “This is the new manifestation of an engaged university — meeting people where they live and work to understand their needs and seek solutions that make a difference.”
Designed to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government, the facility houses graduate programs in computer science, computer engineering, and business while supporting cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and next-generation wireless technology. With growing enrollment and hundreds of graduate students already benefiting from its programs, Virginia Tech is becoming a hub for talent development in the nation’s capital.
"Project-based research insists that we focus on the 'why.' And when we do this — teams unite. They begin to depend on each other, so that they can accomplish something together that they cannot accomplish alone," said Dugan, who was also the 19th director and first woman to lead the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, also known as DARPA. "The new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus is built on this belief. It promises to be a hotbed of learning across disciplines — a crucible of urgency and purpose."
The opening of Virginia Tech’s new location continues to grow the university’s network of innovation in the greater D.C. area, building upon its more than 50-year presence in the region. Faculty and programs in Alexandria will support new outreach and partnerships that advance research and learning opportunities, enabling graduate students to address global-scale problems.
“Today we are celebrating a historic milestone in the life of the university,” said Lance Collins, vice president and executive director of the Innovation Campus. “Our world-class faculty and talented computer science and computer engineering graduates will amplify the region’s tech ecosystem with benefits to local industry and the federal government. Their ingenuity and accomplishments inspire me — I can’t wait to see what they take on next.”
The commonwealth and Virginia Tech have made a significant investment in the university’s growth in the region. Virginia Tech began development on the project in 2018, broke ground in Alexandria in September 2021, and has been increasing enrollment in its Master of Engineering program in the region in preparation for this 2025 opening. Today the university enrolls more than 350 engineering students in Northern Virginia, and more than 500 graduate students currently take courses at Academic Building One.
Academic Building One, designed by SmithGroup and constructed by Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, focuses on sustainability, emphasizes health and wellness, and creates spaces that foster a sense of community. The building was designed with cutting-edge technologies at the forefront of the fields of computer science and computer engineering. It is located adjacent to the new Potomac Yard-VT Metro Station, connecting Virginia Tech students and faculty to D.C., Alexandria, the National Landing business community, and Reagan National Airport.
“National security is about more than just tanks and guns and ships and planes — for our defense industry and our economy, America must continue leading the way in artificial intelligence and other next generation technologies as well,” Warner said. “I’m thrilled to see Virginia Tech cut the ribbon on their new Innovation Campus and look forward to seeing the great work it will do training Virginians for essential, cutting-edge tech jobs.”
Kaine has been a longtime supporter of Virginia Tech’s expansion in Alexandria.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, which will provide students with greater educational opportunities in technology, science, business, and more,” Kaine said. “I’ve worked for many years to boost investments in the surrounding area, including by helping to open the Potomac Yard station and supporting Amazon HQ2. I look forward to continuing to work together with the Tech community to support this new campus and its students.”
The new building is also home to Pamplin College of Business graduate programs in the D.C. area, including its online Master of Information Technology program, evening and online MBA programs, an executive Ph.D. Program, and Master of Science in business administration programs in hospitality and tourism management and global business analytics.
“The opening of Virginia Tech’s new Innovation Campus marks a transformative moment for Northern Virginia, cementing our region’s role as a leading national technology hub,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Standing at the intersection of academia, industry, and government, this campus will drive groundbreaking research, cultivate top talent, and foster strategic partnerships that will propel the future of technology innovation and our local economy forward. As it strives to be among the premiere STEM graduate programs in the country, the Innovation Campus will shape the next generation of leaders who will confront and solve the world’s most complex challenges and opportunities.”
Boeing graduate scholar Lamice Albaayno, a Master of Engineering student in computer science and applications, shared her first impressions of Academic Building One with the event attendees: “This new and unbelievable facility in Alexandria is an ideal place to grow and innovate. It gives students direct access to some of the most exciting opportunities in tech.”
Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 11:00 AMArtistic Artifacts, 4750 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA, 22304Artistic Artifacts, locally owned small fabric and art supply store in Alexandria, VA is overjoyed to have been recognized with one of four Creative Hub Awards given to quilt shops worldwide as part of the 2025 Local Quilt Shop Contest. The award was granted on the basis of custo...
Artistic Artifacts, locally owned small fabric and art supply store in Alexandria, VA is overjoyed to have been recognized with one of four Creative Hub Awards given to quilt shops worldwide as part of the 2025 Local Quilt Shop Contest. The award was granted on the basis of customer submitted comments detailing how Artistic Artifacts provides continuing education opportunities; positive local community impact; inspiring atmosphere; personal connection with customers; and creative encouragement, support, and advice.
“All along the way people — customers, friends, people I didn’t know — jumped in to help me. And they gave their heart to my success,” says Artistic Artifacts owner Judy Gula of her journey in creating her business. “Now the success is beyond me: it’s phenomenal that Artistic Artifacts reaches so many people. We want to be authentic, friendly, encouraging... My team members excel and give so much to be part of this culture we have developed. And it’s just an amazing honor and privilege to have won these awards.”
As a fiber and mixed media artist, Judy Gula’s goal has always been to inspire others to create and find joy in the process. Judy has been successful in her efforts through the creative community she has built over the past eighteen years with her “creative finds for creative minds”, weekly FB Lives, monthly gathering of Judy’s Altered Minds, textile tours and creative retreats, and sponsorship of local and national fiber art events, and more. Our community extends beyond the Artistic Artifacts store front and website! Winning the Creative Hub award, with the worldwide recognition it implies, will serve to spread our creative community far and wide and validate that all of our efforts have achieved Judy’s goal.
In addition to the Creative Hub Award, Artistic Artifacts has been recognized as the Regional Winner for Virginia for the second year in a row. We look forward to welcoming new customers, whether you sew, quilt or create mixed media art, to our Creative Community.
The Local Quilt Shop Contest, organized by ByAnnie, runs annually from the 4th Saturday in January through the end of February, with customers voting and submitting comments for their favorite quilt shops. The 2025 contest saw a 13% increase in total votes: more than 60,500 votes cast, and more than 2,300 stores across 14 countries entered.
Learn more about Artistic Artifacts at https://artisticartifacts.comFor additional information / photographs or to schedule a visit, contact [email protected]
For more about the Local Quilt Shop Contest https://www.lqscontest.com
Development · ArchitectureVirginiaThe 31-story project could feature up to 775 apartments and 40K SF of commercial space reprints A Wash...
A Washington, D.C.-area developer wants to build an apartment tower in Alexandria, Va., that could ultimately become the city’s tallest residential building.
Red Fox Development filed plans with the city to construct a building at 2425 Mill Road that could host up to 775 apartments and 40,000 square feet of commercial space, according to the Business Journals, which first reported the news. The 31-story project was initially proposed last year, though with eight fewer floors. Architecture firm Cooper Carry is designing the tower.
SEE ALSO: D.C. Picks Therme Group’s $500M ‘Urban Oasis’ for Anacostia Waterfront
Plans call for staggered levels to the tower, one of which would feature 1.5 acres and include amenities like an open lawn, a pool, pickleball court and a dog park, per the Business Journals.
The project is just north of Interstate 495 on roughly 3 acres of undeveloped land near Carlyle Crossing, a sprawling 1.7 million-square-foot development in the works from Stonebridge, and near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station. Stonebridge acquired the Carlyle Crossing land from the Hoffman family in 2018, with construction beginning on that project the following year.
Red Fox is under contract with the Hoffmans to use the 3-acre parcel for the Mill Road tower, Red Fox President Adam Peters told Commercial Observer, though price and terms of the contract were not immediately clear. Provided the project is approved, Peters said he expects the land purchase and the beginning of project construction to occur at roughly the same time.
Peters said that he hoped the project would bring “a lot of eyeballs” to Alexandria, and that a residential tower of such scale could bring vitality to local businesses. The project could receive approvals from the city by the end of 2025, he added, with construction beginning in late 2026 or early 2027.
Alexandria, and Northern Virginia in general, have become a hotbed of development and investment activity in recent years. Paradigm Development, for example, is currently trying to win entitlements for a 12-story condo building not far from Red Fox’s proposed project. Paradigm had originally intended to use its lot — adjacent to two other residential towers that it built in 2014 and 2022 — for a nine-story hotel development, but switched up its plans last spring.
American Real Estate Partners is meanwhile converting an office building at 1101 King Street in Old Town Alexandria into 200 residential apartments, for which it received a nearly $88 million construction loan in early 2024. That project is expected to open later this year.
Nick Trombola can be reached at [email protected].
ALEXANDRIA, VA — The new City of Alexandria budget proposed by City Manager James Parajon Tuesday night includes the same real estate tax rate, but appreciating property values could still result in higher tax bills.The city's fiscal year 2026 operating budget proposal totals $956.5 million, a 3.2 percent increase from the $926.4 million in the last budget. The city was facing an ...
ALEXANDRIA, VA — The new City of Alexandria budget proposed by City Manager James Parajon Tuesday night includes the same real estate tax rate, but appreciating property values could still result in higher tax bills.
The city's fiscal year 2026 operating budget proposal totals $956.5 million, a 3.2 percent increase from the $926.4 million in the last budget. The city was facing an $18 million budget gap due to increased spending and moderate revenue growth. The budget factored in $6.4 million in efficiency savings, but collective bargaining, funding requests from Alexandria City Public Schools, and city and schools debt service obligations contribute to the increased spending for the city government.
The city government said the budget acknowledges uncertainty from federal actions on reducing the federal workforce and immigration enforcement. The city has an estimated 13,000 federal workers.
"The proposed budget takes a fiscally cautious approach, reflective of uncertainty due to federal administration changes and how those changes can impact our residents and businesses," Parajon said in his budget message.
Alexandria's real estate rate would remain $1.135 per $100 of assessed value. But property owners who saw their assessment values increase should expect a higher tax bill under the same real estate tax rate. The average residential real estate tax bill would increase from $7,931 to $8,285 annually.
This year, the overall residential tax base increased by 4.55 percent, or $1.4 billion. The average single-family home value is $1,001,336, up 4.06 percent from $962,276 in 2024. Condominium values average $447,612, up 5.63 percent from $423,765 in 2024.
The budget proposal continues planned increases to the stormwater utility fee, which are supporting accelerated stormwater capacity project to address flooding. The city has experienced flash flooding in neighborhoods where the stormwater infrastructure cannot handle heavy rainfall in a short amount of time. In the proposed budget, the stormwater utility fee would increase from $324.10 to $349.30.
There is no proposed change to the vehicle personal property tax rate of $5.33 per $100 of assessed value.
On the personnel side, the budget funds collective bargaining commitments for fire, police, and the labor and trades bargaining units. A 1 percent pay scale adjustment is proposed for non-bargaining unit city employees.
The budget proposes $281.2 million in operating funds for Alexandria City Public Schools, which would be an $8.2 million, or a 3 percent increase. That will help support a 1 percent pay scale adjustment for ACPS staff in the school district's budget.
Other budget priorities include increased funding to DASH to support collective bargaining and inflationary impacts, an in-house pharmacy for the Alexandria Fire Department, funding for the city's cable TV franchise renewal, increased funding for Neighborhood Health, purchases of electric leaf blowers, support for Alexandria's participation in Sail 250 Virginia in 2026, a business accelerator pilot program run by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, expanded curbside composting service and glass recycling locations, funding for early childhood support and intervention projects, funding for Alexandria Recovery Court in the scope of Alexandria Circuit Court judges, and support for community-based food hub operations.
"In crafting this year’s budget, we built on the progress made over previous years by making investments that residents can feel improve their lives," said Parajon in a statement. "When they see the investments into our schools and youth programs, our infrastructure, the funding to support diversifying our housing options, and our funding commitment to pursue impactful economic growth, they know their City leaders are building on our progress towards a thriving future."
Parajon also presented a 10-year capital improvement plan update. The 10-year capital plan totals $2.08 billion and is a $324.5 million decrease from last year's capital budget. Among the projects funded in the plan are Alexandria City Public Schools projects, the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project, the city's contribution to Metro, renovations of City Hall, Market Square and the parking garage, street reconstruction and resurfacing for 50 to 55 lane miles in fiscal year 2026, multimodal upgrades for the South Van Dorn Bridges project, DASH Bus fleet replacement, and the Old Town Pool renovation project.
The full budget proposal is available at www.alexandriava.gov/Budget.
The budget schedule will be:
703-463-9462
