On April 24, 2025, Mayor Bowser previewed several investments in early childhood education, including a project to secure long-term additional space for Bancroft Elementary School. (For background, read our post about short-term measures at Bancroft here). 

In the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget for FY2026-2031, a project has been funded to convert the former Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) headquarters at 3149 16^th St NW into PK3 and PK4 classrooms to support the growing Bancroft community. A letter from Chancellor Ferebee was sent to the Bancroft community on April 24. Read it in English here or in Spanish here. 

On August 22, 2024, DC Public Schools (DCPS) shared an update with the Bancroft ES community addressing the school’s over-utilization challenges and the 2023 Boundary and Student Assignment Study recommendations.  

For School Year 2025-2026 and School Year 2026-2027, DCPS will relocate Bancroft Elementary School’s PK3 and PK4 classrooms to the Sharpe Health building at 4300 13th St NW to alleviate overutilization at Bancroft. The facility was selected due to its proximity to the school, current use as a DCPS learning space, and previous use as a swing space for Bancroft during the school’s modernization. More information on the relocation of PK3 and PK4 classrooms to Sharpe will be shared with families over the next few months. 

To read the full letter, click here (English) and here (Spanish).