Arlington School Board Adopts 2025-34 Capital Improvement Plan

Funds Major Facilities and Infrastructure Priorities Across Arlington Public Schools 

The Arlington School Board adopted the 2025-34 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at the Board meeting on June 20, 2024. The approved CIP totals $569.64 million for ten years, through fiscal year 2034, and funds the completion of a variety of projects started in the previous CIP, as well as new long-term facilities and infrastructure priorities.

“I want to thank the dedicated Facilities and Operations and Finance teams for developing a comprehensive CIP that provides a systematic approach and roadmap for addressing the highest priority needs of the school division,” said School Board Chair Cristina Diaz-Torres. “I appreciate the engagement of our staff and families in this process and the ongoing commitment of our community to maintaining high-quality facilities for our students.”

The approved CIP:

• Strengthens school safety by completing the remaining security vestibules and entrance renovation projects at four schools—Glebe Elementary, Oakridge Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Middle School and Claremont Immersion—by December 2024;

• Completes the renovation and modernization of kitchens at six schools—Barcroft, Drew, Barrett, Carlin Springs, Ashlawn and Science Focus—to meet current standards, by December 2026;

• Completes the modernization of the internal APS STARS Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System, enhancing the efficiency of HR and finance services related to payroll, leave and other essential functions;

• Replaces Synthetic Turf fields at six schools and converts a Kenmore field to Synthetic Turf;

• Completes the Heights, with a Phase 2 project making the campus universally accessible for all; and

• Completes Phases 1-3 of the Grace Hopper Center Campus to include a new, universally designed facility which offers state-of-the-art spaces to support current and new program instruction, a parking structure, field and site work, by December 2027.

As part of the adopted CIP, the School Board further directed APS to prioritize ongoing renovations of existing school facilities by:

• Executing the long-range framework and data recommendations, beginning with identified infrastructure projects at five schools, including Hoffman-Boston HVAC replacement, Dorothy Hamm roof replacement, Oakridge HVAC replacement, Williamsburg roof replacement and Jamestown roof and HVAC replacement.

• Renovating the legacy Career Center building for the relocation of the Montessori Public School of Arlington (MPSA), for opening in SY 2028-29.

• Enhancing school safety by upgrading Critical Notification/Public Address Systems at 11 schools.

The School Board also moved that the Superintendent prepare for the FY 2027-36 CIP by proceeding with feasibility studies for five (5) high-priority facilities projects for Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Taylor Elementary School, Barrett Elementary School, Swanson Middle School, and Randolph Elementary, based on the Long-Range Plan to Renovate Existing Facilities’ Methodology.

This also includes work to continue the joint optimization study of the Trades Center with Arlington County, to further inform a plan for full electrification of APS school buses, APS white fleet, and County fleet, while improving site safety and efficiency of operations at this shared County and APS site.  The CIP projects will be part of the School Bond Referendum when Arlington residents vote on November 5.

View the full presentation and additional details about the process.