Leaders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and Chesterfield County government officially opened the new Davis Elementary School on July 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Families were invited to tour the new facility after the event.
The new building, located next to the old Davis Elementary on Providence Road, is the first elementary school constructed using a new prototype design for Chesterfield County Public Schools. The two-story structure can accommodate up to 1,000 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade, compared to the previous building’s capacity of 780 students. The original Davis Elementary was built in 1964.
Dr. Kenya Batts, principal of Davis Elementary, expressed anticipation for the upcoming school year beginning August 18. “We cannot wait to open this incredible new learning environment for the Dragons of Davis Elementary,” she said. “From open and flexible classroom spaces to thoughtful design details that celebrate learning, this building is not just new, it’s transformational.”
The construction of the new school was funded primarily by bonds approved by county voters as part of a community facilities bond plan in 2022. Additional funding came from federal resources provided by the American Rescue Plan. The total cost of the project was $52 million.
Lisa Hudgins, representing the Midlothian District on the Chesterfield County School Board, spoke at the ceremony about her experience as an educator and emphasized how important learning environments are for both students and teachers. She stated: “As someone who spent years in the classroom, I know how important the learning environment is. This new building gives students and teachers the space and the tools they need to thrive. … The best part? Students and the staff had a front-row seat to this transformation, watching the new school rise beside the old one. … And today, it’s finally time to cut the ribbon and open the doors to opportunity.”
The 111,500-square-foot facility includes classrooms for prekindergarten through first grade and special education on its first floor; grades two through five are housed on its second floor. Both levels feature conference rooms, teacher workrooms, and offices. Additional amenities include a gymnatorium, cafeteria, media center, art room, music room, STEAM maker space on the first floor, as well as a security vestibule at its main entrance adjacent to administrative offices.
Superintendent Dr. John Murray thanked both boards for their leadership in providing quality educational facilities and acknowledged local residents’ support: “Your investment in public education will have an impact that reaches far beyond these walls for years to come.”
