UPDATED, Sept. 5: Under bright skies and with picture-perfect sunshine, students in Arlington returned to the classroom on Sept. 2, with schools across town welcoming all for the 2025-2026 year.
The day was marred by a report that an 11-year-old boy was approached by a masked man in a suspicious car while the boy was walking home from a convenience store on Broadway in East Arlington. Arlington Police have closed the investigation after determining that the report was unfounded, according to a press release from Arlington Police.
Arlington schools Superintendent Liz Homan sent out a communication on Tuesday night noting that “Unfortunately, we are writing this evening to share a safety alert from the Arlington Police Department. This afternoon, an elementary school student reported being approached by a stranger after school in East Arlington.”
“We are in close communication with the Arlington Police Department and we will share any updates if and when they become available. We encourage families to establish and discuss safe walking routines with their students, including walking to/from school with peers and neighbors or trusted adults, and to reinforce the importance of avoiding contact and interaction with strangers,” Homan wrote. “We have posted Safe Routes to School on this page of the APS Website and this resource from the National Center for Safe Routes to School may also be helpful. If you require support establishing a safe walking plan for your child, please contact your child’s principal.”
Homan added: “There will be increased police presence throughout the community over the next week to ensure the safety of those commuting to and from school. Our school crossing guards will also be informed of this incident and will exercise vigilance during their shifts. As requested by APD, we urge community members to report any suspicious or concerning behaviors.”
For those keeping track, the last scheduled day, which could be affected by the number of snow days, is June 12, 2026.
At the high school, the traffic was making its way through Mill Street, but traffic around all the schools, particularly at the elementary level, was heavy for the first day.
For more information on Arlington’s schools, see the website here.
Published on Sept. 2, 2025, and updated on Sept. 5 to reflect that the investigation has been closed after the report of the masked stranger was unfounded.
