Schools Champions

As an Arlington Public School (APS) site, you can be recognized and rewarded for your dedication to sustainable transportation.

Through the APS partnership with Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP), your school or site will see immediate benefits, including:

  • Reduction of vehicle traffic around/to school and around neighborhoods
  • Improved employee health, well-being and productivity
  • Increased school sustainability goals
  • Neighborhood and community enhancements
  • Arlington County site plan compliance

As a Schools Champion, you will receive great perks and opportunities to be featured around the County. Every Champion is recognized and rewarded; however, the higher your level, the more benefits your school receives.

JOIN CHAMPIONS

Learn more: 2016-2017 Schools Champions | Criteria | Blogs

2016-2017 Schools Champions

Enrollment for Schools Champions 2016-2017 has now ended. See the program year’s highlights here and subscribe to our newsletter to get notified when Champions 2017-2018 is open for enrollment.

Oakridge Elementary School

Oakridge is a vibrant and thriving elementary school serving the Arlington Ridge, Aurora Hills, Crystal City, Long Branch Creek and Pentagon City neighborhoods. Given the school’s location, close to DC’s embassies and the Pentagon, it has children from many other states and over 50 countries, representing all seven continents. With the lowest reported staff drive alone rate (from the APS GO! 2013-2014 survey) and about 50% of the students riding the bus, Oakridge is already ahead of the game when it comes to safer, healthier transportation. But the school knows it can beat its best, and looks forward to doing more with Champions.

Arlington Community High School

Arlington Community High School is an alternative high school for students whose life circumstances have interrupted their schooling. Arlington Community High School seeks to support students in their goal of graduating from high school as well as planning individualized goals for future college and career pathways. Staff and students understand the importance of public transportation, biking and walking as a way to help achieve goals. Arlington Community High School, with a slightly older student population, is a huge and active supporter of Capital Bikeshare and has set a school-wide goal of rapidly moving up Champions levels.

Swanson Middle School

Swanson Middle School, located in Westover, celebrated its 75th birthday in 2015, and is the oldest continuously run middle school in the state of Virginia. Home of the Admirals, Swanson proudly promotes scholarship, service and spirit. Biking and walking is already popular with the 1000-strong Admirals, and the school participates in Walk/Bike to School Day in the Fall, and Bike/Walk to School Day in the Spring. Swanson looks forward to increasing awareness of transportation options to and around the school while helping improve safety in the Westover community.

APS Facilities and Operations

Facilities and Operations Management provides oversight and authority for facilities planning, capital improvement programs, aquatics, building and grounds maintenance, custodial services, energy management, and transportation. Approximately 3.9 million square feet of space in 39 buildings and more than 400 acres of land are managed and maintained. About 240 buses, vans, pickups, sedans, trailers, and moveable equipment are included in the bus and support vehicle fleet. In addition to all of that, APS Facilities and Operations supports ATP’s Champions program by working to reduce vehicle traffic around all APS locations.

Ashlawn Elementary School

Ashlawn is a close-knit neighborhood school and has a well-deserved reputation for being a friendly, caring place where most of the families know each other by name. The diverse student population reflects the changing demographic in Arlington, with families from over 30 different countries and cultures. Located next to Bluemont Park, Bon Air Park and several convenient multiuse trails, Ashlawn has plenty of opportunity for biking and walking. Ashlawn staff and students take pride in taking care of the planet and understand the importance of sustainable transportation.

Discovery Elementary School

Discovery Elementary School opened in September for the 2015-2016 school year as the first net-zero school built in Virginia, and only one of three that exists in the United States. It was recently designated a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School for its efforts in sustainable activities such as recycling and limiting food waste. Discovery Explorers know that transportation plays a major role in sustainability, so being in Champions and promoting walking, biking, carpooling and riding transit comes naturally. Discovery aims for Platinum by embracing a multimodal, green lifestyle.

Drew Model School

Drew Model School is a neighborhood, County-wide elementary school serving the immediate Nauck neighborhood and residents throughout Arlington County. The two instructional programs, Graded and Montessori, focus on the Four A’s – Academics, Appreciation, Accountability and Arts. As a Bronze Level Champion, Drew Model School shares information with staff and families about transportation options, and is looking into increasing biking and walking participation to complement existing activity clubs, such as Girls on the Move.

Gunston Middle School

Gunston Middle School, in South Arlington, provides a supportive learning environment, sets high expectations, and promotes wise decision making and life-long learning. One way that Gunston promotes wise decision making is helping to promote transportation options to staff and students. With bus stops and a Capital Bikeshare station located on the same block, Gunston’s community is encouraged to access the school in healthy, green ways.

H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program

The H-B Woodlawn Program is based on a proposal developed by Arlington students and teachers over forty years ago. The program is designed to give students more control over their education, and prizes self-motivation and self-discipline. Students, chosen by lottery from across the County, make choices in use of time and personal behavior; educational goals; and school governance. By participating in the Champions program, the H-B Woodlawn Program seeks to encourage different transportation choices for students and staff alike.

Hoffman-Boston Elementary School

Hoffman-Boston Elementary School is located in a small neighborhood nestled between 395, the Army-Navy Country Club and Arlington National Cemetery. The school focuses on learning experiences that encourage students to create solutions to real-life problems, and its interest in Champions echoes this mission. Since starting Champions at Bronze Level, Hoffman-Boston quickly rose to Silver Level after doing a staff density map and determining that staff already carpool, which led to the create of a priority carpool parking spot. Hoffman-Boston continues to seek ways to help reduce stressful commutes and encourage green transportation for its community.

McKinley Elementary School

McKinley Elementary School, which opened in 1950, is a neighborhood school where staff, families and community members work collaboratively to provide a rich educational experience for students. McKinley students learn Spanish through the APS Foreign Language Elementary School Program (FLES). Other initiatives include the Children’s Theater, a highly acclaimed science fair and the Kaleidoscope project which focuses on integrating the arts throughout the curriculum. McKinley’s success is evident in its growing student body and its growing campus. A school expansion project prompted participation in Champions, as McKinley sought ways to share additional transportation information with its staff and families. Adding transportation links to its website, sharing benefit and amenities information with staff and being engaged with Arlington Transportation Partners has started McKinley on its multimodal journey.

Nottingham Elementary School

At Nottingham, academic excellence flourishes in a learning environment that all stakeholders in the community work cooperatively to maintain. Students receive a nurturing, challenging educational experience that stimulates intellectual curiosity and encourages critical and creative thinking. Nottingham understands the significant impact that physical activity has on education, and students are encouraged through organized events to walk and bike to school as much as possible. Through Champions, Nottingham Knights will enhance their healthy, sustainable school and remove even more cars off the road.

Patrick Henry Elementary School

Patrick Henry Elementary School was built in 1925, and in 1959 became the first integrated elementary school in Arlington County. Now the school has students and families from over 20 different countries, speaking as many different languages. Students already manage Walking Wednesdays, which encourages students to walk, bike or ride their scooters to school every Wednesday. With a large number of staff who also walk, bike, take transit or carpool, Henry students will expand their program to include staff, a perfect fit for Champions.

Tuckahoe Elementary School

Tuckahoe Elementary School is located in western Arlington, not far from the East Falls Church Metro station. Originally built in 1953, the school has weathered many changes, and is now thriving as a school dedicated to inquiry-based, differentiated and multi-sensory instruction. Tuckahoe has a growing population of students who walk and bike to school. Given its proximity to both a Metro station and several bus stops, a number of staff are able to utilize their transportation benefits. Being in Champions is a therefore a natural fit. Tuckahoe plans to expand awareness of benefits and amenities throughout the remainder of the 2016-2017 year, and recognize staff who are already utilizing different modes. By raising awareness this year, Tuckahoe will be ready to start off the next school year aiming for Gold.

Williamsburg Middle School

The northernmost Arlington middle school, Williamsburg Middle School has been around since 1954. The Williamsburg Wolves were recognized as one of 12 schools in Arlington that earned a 2014 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) award for advanced learning and achievement. Along with its new neighbor, Discovery Elementary School, Williamsburg encourages biking, walking and carpooling for staff and students to help the environment and to be more active.

Yorktown High School

Yorktown High School, located in northeastern Arlington, is one of three high schools for students in grades 9-12. A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and ranked in the top 1% of the nation’s top high schools but the Washington Post’s Challenge Index, Yorktown’s diverse student body stays busy with a wide range of programs and extra-curricular activities. Yorktown already has a strong bicycle presence, staff who carpool, and is located right on an ART bus line. Through participation in ATP’s Champions program, Yorktown aims to increase its multimodal usage.

Glebe Elementary School

Glebe Elementary is an important part of the North Glebe Road community between Lee Highway, Washington Boulevard, Fairfax Drive and North Quincy Street. Glebe students attend Spanish class three times a week and participate in the school’s S.M.Art (Science, Math, Art) Project. Glebe has a weekly Bike, Walk & Roll to School Day to encourage active, healthy lifestyles and several teachers bike to school daily. Glebe is aiming to be a Gold Champion in 2015-2016!

Schools Champions Criteria


After completing BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD Levels, complete one additional action:

  • Achieve a 10% reduction in staff drive-alone rates
  • Achieve a 20% reduction of parent pickups/drop offs
  • Achieve 30% staff enrollment in the APS Transportation FSA
  • Apply for Best Workplaces for Commuters designation
  • Apply for Bicycle Friendly Business designation
  • Complete 2 additional SILVER Level items
  • Complete 1 additional GOLD Level items

After completing BRONZE and SILVER Levels, complete three additional actions:

  • Commit to 20% reduction of parent pickups/drop offs
  • Conduct National Safe Routes to School student tallies
  • Conduct surveys to tally staff travel modes
  • Earn priority carpool parking signs by creating staff carpools
  • Increase staff enrollment in the APS Transportation FSA
  • Install secure, indoor bike parking for staff
  • Provide covered outdoor bike parking for students
  • Provide gym/changing facilities on site for staff
  • Offer on-site transit training for students

After completing BRONZE Level, complete three additional actions:

  • Contribute content to ATP’s blog, social media or newsletters
  • Engage staff and students in biking, walking and transit (complete at least two actions):
    • Assist the Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator to promote SchoolPools to parents
    • Create a bicycle repair kit to have available for staff and students
    • Host the ACCS Mobile Commuter Store to promote iRide
    • Maintain records of staff participation in bike/walk programs
    • Recognize staff who regularly bike, walk, carpool or take transit as “Super Commuters” on social media, at staff meetings, on bulletin boards or at school assemblies
    • Offer pedestrian and bike basics education as part of health or PE classes
    • Start, maintain or promote after-school bike clubs
    • Support walking buses, bicycle rodeos and other active transportation activities for staff and students
  • Host a wellness, benefits or transportation presentation for faculty and staff with ATP
  • Increase staff carpooling: Host informational carpooling events with ATP; Share the APS Commuter Connections ridematching website with staff
  • Participate in at least three of the following events: Car Free Day (September), Walk/Bike to School Day (October), Bus Safety Week (October), Love the Bus Week (February), Fire Up Your Feet (Spring or Fall), Crossing Guard Appreciation Day (March), National Walking Day (April), Bike/Walk to School Day (May), Bike to Work Day (May)
  • Work towards school-wide goals: Adopt a nearby bus stop; Invite ATP and SRTS to Open House/Back to School Nights; Install display case/brochure holder and/or electronic display screen providing multimodal transportation information and/or set up a bulletin board dedicated to transportation options

Complete three actions:

  • Appoint a volunteer Transportation Coordinator
  • Distribute transportation information to staff, students, parents and visitors: Provide Quick Glances to all staff, update the school’s website to include multimodal transportation information, Include transportation options in event announcements and promotional materials
  • Encourage staff enrollment in the APS Transportation FSA
  • Host an annual ATP meeting and maintain relationship
  • Post Guaranteed Ride Home information in staff common spaces and actively promote
  • Survey staff to update travel patterns


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