PGCPS Unveils $82M Springhill Lake Elementary Replacement, Targets 2028 Completion

Prince George's County Public Schools plans to tear down and replace Springhill Lake Elementary with an $82 million, two-story facility on the same footprint, with completion targeted for 2028, according to plans presented at a virtual town hall on March 12.

PGCPS officials and project designers from Perkins Eastman shared updated schematics during the Blueprint Schools Phase 2 community meeting, held via Zoom at 6 p.m. The presentation covered the construction schedule, design features, and opportunities for residents to weigh in. PGCPS public engagement and communications manager Jam Kendrick, reachable at pg_jam.kendrick@pgcps.org, coordinated the outreach, which was distributed in English, French, and Spanish. Additional project information is available at pepblueprintschoolsp3.com.

The new building will include accessibility features for students with mobility needs, versatile room configurations, age-separated playgrounds, and a dedicated parking lot handling both parent drop-off and bus traffic. "Our commitment to you, the Springhill Lake community, PGCPS is committed to moving swiftly to deliver a safe, state-of-the-art and sustainable learning environment for our students, teachers and communities," said Sean Matlock, director of the Office of Alternative Infrastructure, Planning and Development at PGCPS.

During the two school years of construction, Springhill Lake students will be relocated to the Dora Kennedy French Immersion building, the large white structure facing Greenbelt and Edmonston Roads. When Springhill Lake students return to their rebuilt campus in 2028, the DKFI building will be decommissioned as a school.

That building carries a complicated history. Originally constructed in 1938 as Greenbelt High School, it became the home of DKFI students in 2014, when the district told them it would serve as their permanent location. In January 2024, PGCPS reversed course, announcing plans to move DKFI out and demolish the structure. By May 2024, however, the county had designated the building a Prince George's County Historic Site, making demolition unlikely, though the district has not confirmed what, if any, use it will serve after 2028.

Questions about where DKFI students will be housed while Springhill Lake occupies their building remain unanswered publicly, as do the specific school years that will be affected and the formal construction start date.