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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[3] Recent council hearings have pushed for prioritizing older 'Phase 1' renovations, addressing legacy work by the Army Corps of Engineers.[2] 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.[8] 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.[2][5] Local leaders emphasized the upgrades' role in boosting equity for underserved communities.