Leaders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and the county government officially opened the new Davis Elementary School on July 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Families were invited to tour the facility after the event.
The new building, located next to the old Davis Elementary on Providence Road, is the first elementary school in Chesterfield County to use a new prototype design. The two-story structure can accommodate up to 1,000 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade, an increase from the previous building’s capacity of 780. The original school was built in 1964.
Dr. Kenya Batts, principal of Davis Elementary, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming academic year: “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 Davis Elementary was part of a community facilities bond plan approved by voters in 2022. Most of the $52 million cost was financed through Virginia Public School Authority bonds and supplemented by federal funds from the American Rescue Plan. The school serves families in Chesterfield County’s Midlothian District.
Lisa Hudgins, representing the Midlothian District on the Chesterfield County School Board, highlighted her perspective as a former educator during her remarks: “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 features classrooms for prekindergarten through first grade and special education on its first floor; grades two through five are located upstairs. Both levels have conference rooms, teacher workrooms and offices. Additional amenities include a gymnatorium, cafeteria, media center, art room, music room and STEAM maker space—all situated on the first floor near administrative offices at a secure main entrance.
Superintendent Dr. John Murray thanked both governing boards for their collaboration: “Your investment in public education will have an impact that reaches far beyond these walls for years to come,” he said.
