Photo credit: thesource
Malcolm X Elementary School in Washington, D.C., has unveiled a $67 million modernization that nearly doubles the size of the Ward 8 campus.
The newly renovated school now spans about 85,000 square feet, up from roughly 42,000 square feet. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser joined school officials, community members and Ambassador Attallah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s eldest daughter, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completed project.
The modernization adds new learning spaces while also bringing the school’s namesake into the daily experience of students.
Malcolm X Elementary School doubles in size
The $67 million project transformed the original school, which was built in the early 1960s.
Now, students have access to expanded early childhood education classrooms and modern elementary classrooms. The campus also includes STEAM learning spaces, a new gymnasium, cafeteria and commercial kitchen.
Additionally, the school features a media center and library. Students can also use outdoor learning areas, playgrounds and a synthetic turf athletic field.
The school also includes a reconstructed child development center for infants and toddlers. The center operates through a partnership with a community-based organization.
The new campus honors Malcolm X
The modernization also highlights the history behind the school’s name.
A large mural now welcomes students and visitors to the campus. The artwork measures 32 feet by 16 feet and stands 9 feet tall.
The building also features a life-size statue of Malcolm X. Additional artwork appears throughout the school, including an installation in the stair tower.
According to D.C. officials, the artwork connects students with history, culture and storytelling as part of their everyday school environment.
Attallah Shabazz joins ribbon cutting
Attallah Shabazz joined Mayor Bowser and D.C. education leaders for the celebration.
Shabazz is the eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. Her presence connected the school’s modernization with the legacy of its namesake.
The project is one of eight D.C. schools that received a modernization or addition for the 2026-2027 school year.
Ward 8 receives major school investment
The Malcolm X Elementary School project is also part of a larger investment in Ward 8 schools.
Since 2015, the District says it has invested approximately $468 million in Ward 8 school projects. Those projects include renovations, additions and new construction.
The District also says the Bowser administration has invested nearly $5 billion in D.C. Public Schools facilities across all eight wards since 2015.
For Malcolm X Elementary students, the completed modernization means a larger campus with updated classrooms, technology-focused learning spaces, athletic facilities and areas designed for early childhood education.
The school now combines those new resources with artwork that keeps Malcolm X’s legacy visible throughout the building.
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Source: D.C. Government, DC Public Schools, The Source
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