August 24,2023
BUILDING FASTER & SMARTER: PGCPS TO OPEN SIX NEW SCHOOLS DURING 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will open the doors to six new state-of-the-art schools for the 2023-24 school year, underlining historic investments in modernizing rapidly aging school buildings and addressing growing enrollment.
Known colloquially as the Blueprint Schools, they include four building replacements — Drew-Freeman Middle School in Suitland; Hyattsville Middle School; Kenmoor Middle School in Landover; and Walker Mill Middle School in Capitol Heights — and two new schools, Sonia Sotomayor Middle School at Adelphi and Colin L. Powell Academy in Fort Washington. Overall, the schools will provide capacity for 8,000 students.
"These new schools show what is possible in public school construction through innovation and collaboration," said Superintendent Millard House II. "The Blueprint Schools program is a model for school systems across this nation. We are grateful to our partners for bringing to life these fully modernized learning environments."
House, who was appointed Superintendent in July, will begin the first day on Monday, August 28 at an elementary school in Mitchellville followed by a visit to the new Hyattsville Middle School.
2023-24 School Year Highlights:
New Leadership
Superintendent Millard House II joined PGCPS from the Houston Independent School District, where he led the nation’s eighth largest school district. House will also host listening and learning sessions this fall for stakeholders to share input and priorities with his administration. In addition to new executive leadership, 34 new principals are at the helm, including new administrators for Gwynn Park, Northwestern and Potomac high schools.
Building Faster & Smarter: Blueprint Schools Open Doors
To deliver long overdue new schools, PGCPS has reimagined not only the way schools are built, but also how they are financed. Through the Blueprint Schools public-private partnership, PGCPS is the first public school system in the nation to leverage a full-scope alternative financing model to accelerate new school construction. A second phase of schools to be built under the alternative financing model is underway.
Focus on Safety
PGCPS is implementing new safety tools for the 2023-24 school year including a clear backpack policy for students in ninth through 12th grades. The school system is also phasing in security screening devices in all high schools and some middle schools.
Superintendent House’s first day of school schedule is as follows:
6:30 a.m. Douglass Bus Lot, 13302 Old Marlboro Pike, Upper Marlboro
Superintendent House will greet bus drivers and ride a school bus to Lake Arbor Elementary.
7:15 a.m.
Lake Arbor Elementary, 10205 Lake Arbor Way, Mitchellville
Superintendent House and County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will start the first day welcoming students and staff to school.
8:45 a.m.
Hyattsville Middle School, 6001 42nd Ave., Hyattsville
Superintendent House and County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will join in the excitement as students, families and staff begin the school year in their new school building.
11:15 a.m.
Crossland High School, 6901 Temple Hill Road, Camp Springs
Superintendent House will serve lunch to staff, eat with students and visit a Career and Technical Education barbering class.
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