Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Fort Knox to Replace 63-Year-Old Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/25/21

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has announced a new elementary school on the grounds of Fort Knox in Kentucky. It will replace the existing, 63-year-old facility for Van Voorhis Elementary School with what a news release calls a “state-of-the-art, 21st-century school.”

“All of our schools at Fort Knox are well known for providing a high-quality education for on-post children, and though it’s the oldest school on post, Van Voorhis Elementary is no different,” said Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan. “The staff at that school have done a truly wonderful job teaching our children with the tools at their disposal, so with a brand-new facility and the latest technology, the sky’s the limit.”

Van Voorhis is one of four DoDEA schools at Fort Knox, alongside Kingsolver Elementary School, Scott Intermediate School and Fort Knox Middle High School. Construction work on the new facility will be done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Louisville District. Work is scheduled to begin during the current academic year and be finished in time for the 2024­–25 school year. The facility will measure in at 104,000 square feet and cost about $58.9 million.

“You could hear exclamations of joy across the school when we learned the new school is on its way,” said Van Voorhis Elementary School Principal Angelique Johnson. “Everyone is looking forward to stepping into a new Van Voorhis Elementary School. Teachers love the idea of collaborative spaces, and the students love the idea of being connected to the outdoors. We cannot wait.”

According to a news release, all DoDEA schools take a “student-centered, participatory and experientially oriented” approach to school design. The facilities are designed within an open neighborhood concept that allows all students in a given neighborhood to work and collaborate during the day. Each grade level has its own multipurpose space surrounded by various-sized instructional spaces for breakout group work or one-to-one instruction.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.