APS Celebrates Black History Month

February marks the beginning of Arlington Public Schools’ Black History Month Celebration. Throughout the month, APS honors the enduring contributions, achievements, and resilience of African Americans locally in Arlington, across our schools, and throughout the nation. Information from APS:

Schools will celebrate the month through special events, lessons, and activities. We encourage our community to engage on social media using #APSBlackHistory.

The School Board will recognize Black History Month at its February 5 meeting with a video tribute featuring student, staff and community comments on what this month means to them and how they celebrate.

Black History Month holds a vital place in APS because it deepens understanding of African American experiences and contributions. It serves as an opportunity for all students to develop a fuller, more accurate understanding of the essential role African Americans have played, and continue to play, in shaping the United States and the world.

For African American students, this month affirms identity, honors heritage, and reinforces pride in the legacy of those whose courage, creativity, and leadership paved the way for progress. Educators intentionally foreground themes of dignity, self-worth, and cultural identity, while elevating narratives that reflect the richness and diversity of Black experiences. Concurrently, Black History Month challenges us to examine stereotypes, build empathy, and strengthen cross-cultural understanding.

Each of which serves as a critical foundation for inclusive, respectful, and connected school communities. This work also advances civic learning and responsibility. By engaging with civil rights history and contemporary struggles for equity and justice, students are called to recognize their role in sustaining a democratic society and addressing systemic injustices. These lessons underscore that positive change is not abstract or distant. It is built and maintained through informed action, collective responsibility, and moral courage.

Throughout the year, APS remains committed to embedding inclusive perspectives across curriculum, practices, and celebrations to ensure that diverse histories and voices are not supplemental, but essential to our shared American story. View the list of Heritage Month celebrations APS honors throughout the year.