School and county leaders broke ground Nov. 18 on a new elementary school on Westerleigh Parkway. The new school will be the 41st elementary school in Chesterfield County Public Schools. (The school is temporarily being called the west area elementary school, but the Chesterfield County School Board will work with the community on a permanent name.)
Scheduled to open for students in August 2026, the new school in the Matoaca District is part of a community facilities bond plan approved by Chesterfield County voters in 2022. Virginia Public School Authority bonds will cover the building’s $52 million budget.
The community selected the exterior colors of the new two-story building, which was designed using the elementary school prototype for Chesterfield County Public Schools. The new school will accommodate up to 1,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
The first floor of the 111,500-square-foot school will hold younger grades and special education classrooms, and the second floor will house older grades. Both floors will include conference rooms, teacher workrooms and offices. A gymnatorium, cafeteria, media center, art room, music room and STEAM maker space will be located on the first floor. At the main entrance, the security vestibule will be flanked by administrative offices.
Steven Paranto, Chesterfield County School Board member representing the Matoaca District, said, “This is a special day, not just for our students and families, but for the entire community. This new school represents so much more than just bricks and mortar. It stands as a symbol of our community's commitment to providing an enriching and supportive environment where every child can learn, grow and thrive. We know that education is the foundation of a strong and prosperous community, and, with this school, we are building that foundation even stronger.”
Interim Superintendent John Murray said, “The beginning of a new school is always exciting. The west area elementary school is not just a structure: It is a space designed with the future in mind. This school, along with the other schools that are under construction or soon to be under construction in Chesterfield, incorporates the latest in educational technology and flexible learning spaces. Our goal is to create environments where students are inspired to think critically, collaborate with one another and grow into well-rounded individuals.”
The largest school system in central Virginia, Chesterfield County Public Schools enrolls more than 64,000 students who attend 67 schools.
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