FAYETTEVILLE, NC — The Cumberland County Board of Education on February 9, 2026, approved a sweeping facilities plan that could significantly reshape the school system through new construction, potential school closures, campus relocations, and major funding requests to Cumberland County.
The plan follows a districtwide facilities assessment that found more than $800 million in needed repairs, upgrades, and replacements across Cumberland County Schools. District leaders cited aging buildings, underused campuses, and rising maintenance costs as key reasons for shifting away from continued repairs and toward consolidation and new construction.
As part of the plan, the board approved moving forward with proposals for several new school projects. A new E.E. Smith High School is proposed to be rebuilt on its current campus, rather than relocated, contingent on county funding approval. New elementary schools are also proposed at existing school sites, including the J.W. Coon, Ferguson-Easley, and Stedman campuses. In addition, a classroom addition is planned for Gray’s Creek High School to address growth and capacity needs.
The plan also outlines a list of schools being reviewed for possible closure, demolition, or student reassignment. These schools are not currently closed, but are under evaluation as the process moves forward. They include Sherwood Park Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Margaret Willis Elementary, Manchester Elementary, Anne Chesnutt Middle School, Stedman Primary and Stedman Elementary, and Reid Ross Classical Middle School and High School.
For Manchester Elementary, the board approved moving ahead with a process that would reassign students to W.T. Brown Elementary if closure is finalized, along with a proposed demolition of the Manchester building.
Several potential relocations were also outlined. Ramsey Street High School could relocate and be renamed at the Douglas Byrd Middle North building, while Alger B. Wilkins High School may relocate into Douglas Byrd High School. Additional proposed moves include Cumberland Virtual Academy relocating into Seventy-First High School and T.C. Berrien transitioning into an Exceptional Children Center. Former Pauline Jones Elementary buildings are slated for demolition.
The board also approved a calendar change for E.E. Miller Elementary School, which will move from a year-round calendar to a traditional calendar beginning in the 2027–2028 school year.
To address concerns about the loss of school identity and legacy, the plan includes the creation of a committee tasked with preserving the names, history, and artifacts of schools affected by closures or relocations.
Funding remains a central issue. The Board of Education is requesting substantial financial support from Cumberland County, including funding for new school construction projects and approximately $300 million over seven years for major maintenance and priority repairs across the district.
School officials emphasized that no closures or relocations are final at this stage. Families, staff, alumni, and community members will be given opportunities to attend public meetings, review proposals, ask questions, and provide feedback before any final decisions are made. Student reassignment plans and boundary changes are expected to be released as the process continues.
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