Teaching & Learning

Arlington Public Schools works to give every student a strong, fair, and engaging education. Our Teaching and Learning work follows the APS Strategic Plan 2023–2028 and focuses on three main areas:

Deeper Learning

APS is building a shared approach to teaching called Deeper Learning. Rather than focusing only on memorizing facts, Deeper Learning encourages students to think critically, work with peers, and apply what they know to real problems. Teachers ask open-ended questions, give students multiple ways to show what they know, and connect lessons to students' own lives and identities. This approach helps all students, including those who may have felt left out in traditional classrooms to access challenging, meaningful work. Teacher teams at every school collaborate regularly to grow these skills and bring this vision into every classroom.

Strong Curriculum

We regularly review and update our curriculum to make sure it meets high standards. Right now, APS is rolling out a new K–5 English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum to make sure all students get high-quality reading and writing instruction.

Equity and Assessment

APS is working to close learning gaps for students with IEPs, students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income families. We are improving how we track student progress and exploring new ways to measure learning that go beyond traditional tests.