Arlington County Schools in 2026: The New Grace Hopper Center, a Larger Arlington Tech and a Voter-Approved School Bond
By Carolyn Thompson, Broker, CRS, ABR, SRES, SFR, CDPE, MRP, CDS, Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC · Updated November 6, 2026
Arlington Public Schools opened a new career and technical education building this fall, is doubling the size of its Arlington Tech program over four years, and on November 3 Arlington voters approved an $80 million school bond, about 80% to 20% in unofficial results. Home buyers who are comparing Arlington with other parts of Northern Virginia ask about these changes. Home sellers who know the facts, and who know where buyers can confirm them, can answer those questions and keep a sale moving. Clarendon, Ballston, Westover, Shirlington, Fairlington and Crystal City are a sampling of the many Arlington communities Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC serves.
Arlington County Schools in 2026: What Home Buyers Are Asking About
The Grace Hopper Center opens on S. Walter Reed Drive
The Grace Hopper Center, APS's new home for the Arlington Career Center, opened for the 2026-27 school year on S. Walter Reed Drive, just north of Columbia Pike. The school's website lists Arlington Tech Governor's STEM Academy, Career and Technical Education, dual enrollment, the Langston High School Continuation Program, the Multilingual Pathways Program, the Program for Employment Preparedness and the Teen Parenting Program among its programs. The county added a new traffic signal at S. Walter Reed Drive and 9th Street S. in August as part of infrastructure work around the site.
The campus work is not finished. The legacy Career Center building is being renovated for the Montessori Public School of Arlington, and the current Montessori building is set to be demolished to make room for a play field and a repaved bus loop. Officials expect the full project to be completed by fall 2027.
Arlington Community High School also moved this year into space on four levels of Amazon's HQ2 campus at 1450 S. Eads Street in Pentagon City, under a 30-year lease the School Board approved in June.
Arlington Tech is growing to 1,000 students
APS plans to expand Arlington Tech from about 500 to 1,000 students in stages by 2029-30, using space in the Grace Hopper Center. Beginning in 2026-27, the program has room for 250 ninth graders, and APS plans to reach 250 students in each grade by 2029-30. Admission is by application and lottery, so no applicant is assured a seat.
The school construction plan and the November 3 bond vote
On June 18, 2026, the School Board unanimously adopted its FY 2027-36 capital improvement plan. It sets a $142 million cost for the renovation and expansion of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, with most of that funding expected on a 2028 bond referendum, and an $80 million planning amount for an upgrade at Swanson Middle School on a 2030 referendum. The plan also includes about $41 million to move the Montessori Public School of Arlington into the legacy Career Center building and $20 million for roofs, HVAC, electrical systems and other infrastructure across the district.
On November 3, 2026, Arlington voters approved an $80 million Arlington Public Schools bond for capital improvements, including renovations of Jamestown and Oakridge elementary schools and building systems, with 79,197 votes in favor (79.6%) and 20,328 against (20.4%), according to unofficial results reported November 4 (Patch). Results become final when election officials certify them. The School Board also extended Superintendent Francisco Durán's contract through 2030.
What else is changing
Arlington's November 3 ballot also included county bond questions for Metro and transportation, local parks, community infrastructure and public utilities; all four passed, with 76.4% to 88.2% of the vote in unofficial results. In National Landing, Metro is building a second entrance, the East Entrance, at the Crystal City station; the county expects the project to be completed in summer 2027.
Arlington Communities Home Buyers Search For
Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Virginia Square, Ballston, Lyon Village, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights and Bluemont. This corridor follows Metro's Orange and Silver lines, with the Blue Line also stopping at Rosslyn. Buyers come for the restaurants and shops of Clarendon, Ballston Quarter, the FRESHFARM Arlington Courthouse Farmers Market, Gateway Park in Rosslyn, which is being redesigned, and quick access to the Custis Trail and Mount Vernon Trail.
Cherrydale, Waverly Hills, Donaldson Run, Old Glebe, Rock Spring, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Tara-Leeway Heights, Westover and East Falls Church. North Arlington draws buyers to Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Gulf Branch Nature Center, Bluemont Park, the W&OD Trail and the shops and cafes of Westover Village and along Langston Boulevard. East Falls Church station serves the Orange and Silver lines.
Penrose, Douglas Park, Alcova Heights, Barcroft, Arlington Heights, Columbia Heights, Claremont, Shirlington, Fairlington and Green Valley. Along Columbia Pike and toward Four Mile Run, buyers find Shirlington Village and Signature Theatre, Glencarlyn Park, Long Branch Nature Center and the Four Mile Run Trail. The Grace Hopper Center sits on S. Walter Reed Drive in this part of the county, and buses connect the Pike to Pentagon City and Metro.
Crystal City, Pentagon City, Aurora Highlands and Arlington Ridge. National Landing has Metro's Blue and Yellow lines at Pentagon City and Crystal City, VRE commuter rail at Crystal City, Long Bridge Park, the Mount Vernon Trail and the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, with Reagan National Airport next door.
The homes buyers find here
High-rise condominiums and apartments line the Metro corridors in Rosslyn, Ballston, Crystal City and Pentagon City, while townhouses and newer infill homes mix with older houses near Clarendon and Courthouse. Lyon Park, Ashton Heights and Cherrydale are known for bungalows, Craftsman homes and Cape Cods. Westover, Waverly Hills and Tara-Leeway Heights offer brick colonials and ramblers, and Rock Spring and Donaldson Run have larger lots, wooded streets and custom new construction. Fairlington is known for its 1940s garden-style condominiums and townhouses, and Columbia Pike neighborhoods such as Penrose, Douglas Park and Barcroft mix early 20th-century houses, garden apartments and condominiums.
Check your school assignment
Use the APS boundary locator to look up the schools assigned to an address, then confirm with Arlington Public Schools at 703-228-8000. School assignments are set by Arlington Public Schools and can change. Home buyers must verify school zoning and school assignment for any address directly with APS.
How Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC Helps Arlington County Home Sellers
Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC has more than 20 years of real estate experience in Virginia and the Washington region. We give you a suggested price range based on recent sales of homes in closest proximity with a similar style, size, age and condition, and you choose the list price. If your home needs work, you can sell it as-is, and we help you decide which repairs are worth making. If you live out of state or overseas, we can arrange a remote closing. Ask us for current sales figures for your neighborhood. Learn more about our Home Selling Services.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Arlington County Schools in 2026
Do these changes affect the schools assigned to my address?
The projects described here are construction and program changes, not boundary changes. To see the schools assigned to your address, use the APS boundary locator and confirm with Arlington Public Schools at 703-228-8000.
Does the school bond voters approved on November 3 change attendance zones?
The bond authorizes borrowing for construction and building improvements. It does not set attendance boundaries. Any future boundary change would come through a separate School Board process, and buyers should confirm current assignments directly with APS.
Did Arlington voters approve the 2026 school bond?
Yes. Unofficial results reported November 4 showed the $80 million Arlington Public Schools bond passing with 79.6% of the vote. Results become final when election officials certify them.
What will the 2026 Arlington school bond pay for?
Capital improvements, including renovations of Jamestown and Oakridge elementary schools and building systems across the district.
What is the Grace Hopper Center in Arlington?
It is APS's new home for the Arlington Career Center, which opened for the 2026-27 school year on S. Walter Reed Drive, just north of Columbia Pike.
Can buyers count on a seat at Arlington Tech?
No. Arlington Tech is expanding, but admission is by application and lottery. Buyers should check current eligibility rules and deadlines with APS.
How big will Arlington Tech get?
APS plans to grow Arlington Tech from about 500 to 1,000 students by 2029-30, with room for 250 students in each grade.
When will the Montessori Public School of Arlington move?
APS is renovating the legacy Career Center building for the school, and officials expect the overall campus project to be finished by fall 2027. Schedules can change, so check with APS for the latest timeline.
Which Arlington school projects are planned after this bond?
The FY 2027-36 capital improvement plan expects most funding for a $142 million Thomas Jefferson Middle School renovation and expansion on a 2028 bond referendum, and an $80 million upgrade at Swanson Middle School on a 2030 referendum.
When will the Crystal City Metro East Entrance open?
Arlington County expects the new East Entrance at the Crystal City station to be completed in summer 2027.
Should I sell my Arlington home now or wait?
That depends on your plans. We can show you recent sales near you so you can decide. Call the 24-Hour Appointment Desk at 202-630-5070.
Clarendon, Ballston, Westover, Shirlington, Fairlington and Crystal City are a sampling of the many communities Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC serves across Arlington County, Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.
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Consumer notice: this article is general information for home buyers and sellers and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Home buyers must verify school zoning and school assignment for themselves with Arlington Public Schools. Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC is an equal housing opportunity brokerage.
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Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC, 1300 Piccard Dr, Suite 204, Rockville, MD 20850, and 800 Park Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Open 24 hours. 24-Hour Appointment Desk: 202-630-5070. Licensed in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia and Florida. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Sources: Grace Hopper Center (APS); School Board approves FY 2027-36 CIP (APS, June 19, 2026); School Board extends superintendent's contract (APS, July 7, 2026); Crystal City Metro Station East Entrance (Arlington County); Arlington election results (Patch, Nov. 4, 2026).