DC Mayor Breaks Ground on $22M Barnard School Addition

Washington, DC – Mayor Muriel Bowser joined the Barnard Elementary School community on May 1, 2026, to break ground on a $22 million addition that will consolidate all students into a single, state-of-the-art facility, eliminating the need for temporary trailers. The 21,000-square-foot expansion at the Anacostia campus includes 12 general education classrooms, a hands-on 'Specials Lab,' dedicated special education spaces, a green roof, new playfield and bioretention ponds for sustainability. Completion is targeted for July 2026, aligning with the start of the 2026-27 school year to minimize disruptions for the Ward 8 school serving pre-K through fifth grade.

Bowser spotlighted her FY26 Grow DC budget, which allocates $2 billion for modernizing 30 DCPS schools, $148 million for targeted fixes like HVAC systems, window replacements and athletic field upgrades, plus $10.7 million to overhaul school technology and IT infrastructure. These investments build on the District's long-term facilities strategy, managed by the Department of General Services across 116 DCPS buildings and 30 public charter school sites. Recent council hearings have pushed for prioritizing older 'Phase 1' renovations, addressing legacy work by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Barnard project exemplifies DCPS's response to ongoing facility challenges, evolving from a $3.5 billion, 15-year capital campaign that modernized landmarks like Eastern High School in 2010. With programming changes underway at multiple campuses, DCPS aims to ensure safe, inspiring environments amid debates over the Public Assistance Capital Enhancements (PACE) Act for master facilities planning. Local leaders emphasized the upgrades' role in boosting equity for underserved communities.