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Military Families
Arlington Public Schools is proud to serve students and families representing every branch of our nation’s military.
We are committed to ensuring that our educators and other faculty and staff are informed of the military-connected students in their school and that they understand the unique considerations offered to military students and families. Please visit your student’s school website for more information. Use the “Schools” drop-down at the top of this website.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month
This month, APS joins the nation to celebrate “Taking Care of Our Military Families.”
Learn more
Listen to this!
Bridging the Gap: Military Kids and School Communities with Mark Paolicelli and Dulce Carrillo
APS’ Dulce Carrillo, Supervisor for Community Partnerships and Public Engagement, joins Mark Paolicelli, former Deputy Base Commander for joint base Meyer-Henderson Hall, to share their story of coming together to solve a collective challenge that affected each of their respective communities.
APS Purple Star Designated Schools
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
- Gunston Middle School
- Kenmore Middle School **
- Swanson Middle School **
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School
High Schools/Programs
Month of the Military Child
- Purple Up Day – April 15, 2026 (Tentative)
Wear purple to celebrate military students! Purple has been chosen to represent all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans. It blends each branch’s colors: Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Coast Guard’s blues, the Army’s green, and the Marines’ red. - 2026 Military Child World Expo (MCWE) is excited to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and will feature the following flagship events in Arlington, VA:
- Carrying the Torch of Care – Caregivers Breakfast at the Army Navy Country Club (Arlington, VA) An invitation-only event focused on caregiver wellness, policy briefings, and leadership recognition, with a special spotlight on teen caregivers.
- April 25 | Torchbearers of America’s Future – Military Child World ExpoHyatt Regency Crystal City – Independence Center A & B. *Main Expo Hall with over 150 exhibitors, keynote addresses, and family-focused symposiums. * Promise of the Six” Teen Pavilion featuring a teen summit, journaling & wellness zone, youth readiness stage, and civic identity programming.
- April 26 | Military Child ShowcaseFashion Centre at Pentagon City. A cultural and artistic celebration of military children, featuring music, art, and storytelling from around the world.For more information on the expo, visit www.monthofthemilitarychildworldexpo.com/
Use #MOMC and #MonthoftheMilitaryChild every April, and #PurpleUp for promotion and celebration of Purple Up Day.
Interstate Compact
Arlington Public School adheres to the Interstate Compact §22.1-360. The purpose of this compact is to “remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents.” To this end, APS:
- Facilitates the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensures that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from the previous school district(s) or variations in entrance/age requirements.
- Facilitates the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment.
- Facilitates the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities.
- Facilitates the on-time graduation of children of military families.
- Provides for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact.
- Provides for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools, and military families under this compact.
- Promotes coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military children.
- Promotes flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents, and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student.