City of Alexandria to Host Unveiling of Historic Minnie Howard School Integration Sign
During the height of segregation, five young Black students of the Belk and Bradby families integrated the white Minnie Howard Elementary School. A new historic interpretation sign will be unveiled on Saturday, March 8, 2025 which tells this history. Join the City of Alexandria’s Department of Historic Alexandria, Alexandria City Public Schools, the Belk and Bradby families, and the community for a special program and ribbon cutting.
Minnie Howard Historic School Integration Sign Unveiling
Saturday, March 8, 2025
11-11:30 a.m.
Alexandria City High School
Minnie Howard Campus
3775 W. Braddock Road
In the fall of 1954, the Alexandria City School Board opened a new school called Minnie Howard (on the site of the current school) serving grades one through seven. The school opened in the same year that the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown vs. Board of Education ruled against the segregation of public schools. Two young Black families with deep roots in the Seminary community, the Belks and the Bradbys, tried to enroll their children at Minnie Howard, but were rejected. They courageously took the Alexandria City School Board to court and, like countless others involved in the Civil Rights Movement, took a stand for racial justice and equity, paving the way for future generations.
About Alexandria City Public Schools
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 16,300 students who hail from more than 118 countries and speak 127 languages. ACPS has 18 schools, including two middle schools, two K-8 schools, one pre-K school and the internationally recognized Alexandria City High School. ACPS is committed to putting racial equity at the heart of all decisions and ensuring that each and every student succeeds. Visit www.acps.k12.va.us
About the Office of Historic Alexandria
The Office of Historic Alexandria preserves and shares the history of the City of Alexandria with eight museums, historic sites, archives, archaeology, tours, exhibits and public programs. Through powerful storytelling and confronting the City’s past, Historic Alexandria enriches the present and inspires the future. We enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and serve as a partner in the City’s equity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Historic.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Nicole Quinn at historicalexandria@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4554, Virginia Relay 711.
If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you, please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3960.