Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics, built in 1970, is located on the west side of Alexandria's Old Town, near the King Street Metro Station. The City of Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia.



History

Located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC is the City of Alexandria, Virginia. Building on its past and poised for its future, Alexandria is rich in history. Established in 1749 as a seaport for nearby plantations, Alexandria was surveyed with the assistance of young George Washington. In the 18th century, the City flourished as a port, and in the 19th century became an important railroad center. By the early 20th century, Alexandria became a manufacturing and commercial center. During the 1930's and 40's the City became a bedroom community for commuters working in Washington. Following the Second World War, Alexandria continued to grow with a revival of the colonial portion of the city, where offices and housing replaced industrial uses. Today, the City continues to flourish as an international business and technology center within the region.

Education

54.3% of Alexandria's adults have a college degree, placing Alexandria in the top 10 most educated jurisdictions in the nation.

Universities in and near Alexandria City

Alexandria Public Schools

The public school system is made up of approximately 11,000 students served in 13 elementary schools, two middle schools, a unique ninth grade school, a high school, and an alternative high school.

Teachers receive salaries that are quite competitive within the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and benefits that rank among the best. And with an average class size ranging between 20 and 23 students, teachers and students enjoy a high quality classroom setting.

Urban Ambiance

Alexandria offers many activities for the business community and other guests, such as Potomac River dinner cruises, meeting space at one of the City's historic buildings or a night for a business dinner, dessert and theater.

Many companies relocating to Alexandria comment on how the urban ambiance makes them feel part of the community. The concentration and diversity of restaurants, shops, hotels and parks in the City create a sense of community and appeal unlike any other area in the metropolitan region.

Community Facilities

Cultural Facilities

Alexandria African American Heritage Park, Archaeology Museum, Black History Resource Center, Friendship Firehouse, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, Torpedo Factory Art Center, The Athenaeum and The Lyceum

Hotels

Ther are currently 23 hotels in the City with over 4,000 rooms. The average occupancy rate for FY'05 was 71.9% while the average daily rate over that same period was $107.86.

*Figures collected and provided by the Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association (ACVA)

Office Market

The Alexandria office market offers products suitable to manydifferent needs. These range from small commercial townhouses in Old Town to brand new build-to-suit opportunities on Eisenhower Avenue and the West End.

The affordable costs of these projects and of Alexandria's corporate tax rates make the City extremely competitive. The variety of office product is unmatched in the region. Alexandria offers several incentives for firms. The Potomac West Enterprise Zone is the only state-designated Enterprise Zone in Northern Virginia and offers tax credits for job creation and capital investment.

R&D firms located anywhere in the City of Alexandria can have a portion of their gross receipts tax exempted. Non-profit organizations can access low cost industrial development bonds for new construction, refinancing or equipment purchases. In addition, Alexandria also offers rapid review processing for tenant build-out and is committed to providing the most accelerated development review process in the region.

Local Economy

The City of Alexandria's premier location "inside the Beltway" has been essential to its emergence as an important business center. Alexandria businesses are only minutes away from Capitol Hill, federal agencies and the rest of the Northern Virginia Technology Corridor. Additionally, Alexandria maintains its identity as an important business location - over 350 technology-oriented companies and over 400 associations call Alexandria home. Alexandria is ranked 4th in the nation behind Washington, DC, New York City, and Chicago in the number of associations headquartered in the City. Alexandria's economy has historically been dominated by the service sector, employing almost 50,000 people.

Source: Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Inc.