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Malcolm X Elementary Reopens After $67 Million Modernization

The modernized Southeast Washington school expanded to 85,000 square feet and unveiled a bronze sculpture of Malcolm X.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Primary Education

Modern two-story brick and glass school building with a wide entrance plaza and young trees under soft daylight.
DC Public Schools reopened the modernized Malcolm X Elementary School @ Green in Southeast Washington on September 21 after a $67 million, 85,000-square-foot renovation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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DCPS held a ribbon-cutting for the modernized Malcolm X Elementary School @ Green on September 21, 2026, after a $67 million project. The campus grew from 42,000 to 85,000 square feet and now includes classrooms, advanced technology, artistic murals, a child care center, a demonstration kitchen, and energy-efficient infrastructure.

Why it matters

The school was at risk of closure more than a decade ago due to structural concerns, leaking ceilings, and malfunctioning announcement systems. Its modernization restores a neighborhood school in Ward 8 and reflects a city effort to rebuild aging public school facilities.

The modernization cost $67 million and roughly doubled the campus from 42,000 to 85,000 square feet. The school reports more than 35 community partnerships, though the stub does not specify enrollment or the timeframe for those partnerships.

The players

DC Public Schools (DCPS)

DCPS is the public school system of the District of Columbia, which hosted the ribbon-cutting for the modernized school.

Department of General Services (DGS)

DGS is the District agency that managed the modernization project and its Percent for Art program.

Mayor Bowser

Mayor Bowser is the mayor of Washington, D.C., who spoke about the project at the ceremony.

The details

The school was modernized through a project managed by the Department of General Services, with public art added through the DGS Percent for Art program. Highlights include a bronze sculpture of Malcolm X by artist Jay F. Coleman, titled "Malcolm the Educator," and the school reported significant gains in mathematics proficiency.

Timeline

  1. More than a decade ago: the school faced possible closure due to deteriorating conditions.

  2. September 20, 2026: Mayor Bowser discussed the project during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

  3. September 21, 2026: the ribbon-cutting celebration of the modernized school was held.

Season Trajectory

The school's art was funded through the DGS Percent for Art program, which sets aside a portion of capital construction budgets for public art. This project follows that pattern of pairing school modernization with public installations in Southeast Washington.

Families in Ward 8 now have a modernized elementary campus with classrooms, technology, a child care center, and a demonstration kitchen. The school's more than 35 community partnerships provide added family resources for neighborhood households.

The takeaway

Modernizing aging schools can reverse closure risks and expand what a campus offers its neighborhood. Families considering enrollment in Ward 8 can look at the school's new facilities and partnerships when weighing options.

Further reading

Explore more on Primary Education to see how other District schools are being rebuilt and expanded.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Washington Informer.

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