Mayor Bowser Welcomes Pre-K Students at the Newly Modernized J.O. Wilson Elementary School

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined DC Public Schools (DCPS), the Department of General Services (DGS), District leaders, and community members to celebrate the first day of pre-K at DCPS and cut the ribbon on the newly modernized J.O. Wilson Elementary School in Ward 6.

The $90.9 million modernization nearly doubles the size of J.O. Wilson, transforming the original 55,000-square-foot building into a nearly 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art learning campus. The project was completed on an accelerated 18-month construction schedule, beginning in January 2025 and finishing this summer.

"The first week of school is always a special time of the year and today is extra special because for many of our youngest learners, it's their very first day in school. And we're welcoming them to beautiful schools - like J.O. Wilson - in neighborhoods citywide," said Mayor Bowser. "For decades, J.O. Wilson has been at the heart of this neighborhood, and this school year, we are proud to deliver a state-of-the-art campus where students will study and play, make friends, become lifelong learners, and make every day count."

Improvements to J.O. Wilson's classrooms and extracurricular facilities will foster a culture of learning and nurture students' activity and creativity. The modernized school's 28 classrooms include two acoustically isolated music classrooms and two art classrooms, one of which houses a fired kiln. The modernized school also includes a new gym, a turf playing field, running track, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, two playgrounds and an outdoor classroom with a vegetable garden. The school's highly regarded performing arts program, known as the "Cardinal Drama Players," will also benefit from a new stage in the gym, giving students even more space to perform and showcase their talents. Additionally, the school now features 16 public art pieces from the DGS Percent for Art Program, which sets aside 1% of the cost of large-scale construction projects to fund the commission of site-specific public artworks-helping beautify District facilities in all eight wards.

"When we build and modernize schools, we also think about the creative elements that shape the design and how those spaces will make people feel," said DGS Director Delano Hunter. "DGS's Percent for Art program allows us to incorporate original artwork created specifically for the spaces we build in a way that is welcoming, meaningful and a true reflection of the communities they will serve."

The District continues to make early learning a top priority. Mayor Bowser's FY27 Grow DC Budget invests $269 million in free universal pre-K, helping more DC families access free, high-quality early education at schools across DC. J.O. Wilson has one of the largest preschool programs in the District, with three pre-K3 classes, three pre-K4 classes, one mixed-age class and one early learning supports classroom dedicated to special education.

"Across the District, our youngest learners are taking their first steps on an educational journey that will help shape who they become, and I can't think of a better place to celebrate that milestone than the beautiful new J.O. Wilson Elementary School," said DCPS Interim Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson. "This modernized space will be where generations of J.O. Wilson Cardinals discover their potential and develop the foundational skills that support lifelong learning."

The District's universal pre-K program is overseen by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and remains a national leader in both access and funding. In School Year 2023-2024 (the most recent year with published data), DC's public pre-K programs served 82% of all 3-year-olds and 95% of all four-year-olds citywide-far above the national average of 7% and 35%, respectively.

"DC's commitment to early childhood education continues to set a high bar for the nation," said State Superintendent Antoinette S. Mitchell. "We look forward to another year filled with meaningful learning and joyful growth for our youngest learners."

Since 2015, the Bowser Administration has invested nearly $5 billion in DCPS facilities, including major renovations, modernizations and new construction across all eight wards. In Ward 6 alone, the District invested $770 million across school modernization projects, including $77 million for Jefferson Middle School (2019), $58 million for Maury Elementary School (2019), and $84 million for Eliot-Hine Middle School (2022).

As families across the District transition back into the school year, the 2026-2027 Back to School Guide provides helpful information and resources for the year ahead. The guide includes information on enrollment, health and immunization requirements, transportation, attendance, early childhood programs, childcare and more. Families can access the guide at backtoschool.dc.gov.

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