Facing $800 million in needed repairs and upgrades for its schools and facilities, the Cumberland County School Board on Monday approved a plan to close and demolish several schools and consolidate others in the district.

This decision came after the board worked with MGT of America Consulting and the district’s Master Facilities Assessment to consider the conditions of all the facilities, how best to utilize them, and what the student enrollment trends are.

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And now the Cumberland Board of Education is asking the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for approximately $300 million to implement the recommendations.

The school system said, "This is a long-term effort to modernize school facilities, improve student learning environments and address significant maintenance needs across the entire district.”

The school board’s recommendations for some of the high schools in the district are:

  • Close Reid Ross Classical middle and high schools and reassign those students. Use the facilities as a swing space during the construction of the new E.E. Smith High School.
    • Build additional classrooms at Grays Creek High School.
      • Relocate and rename Ramsey Street High School to the Douglas Byrd Middle North building before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
        • Move Cumberland Virtual Academy to space in Seventy First High School.

          The school board’s recommendations for some of their elementary schools and middle schools are:

          • Build a new elementary school on the Ferguson-Easley campus and close Marget Willis Elementary School
            •  Build a new elementary campus on the J.W. Coon campus and close and demolish Sherwood Park and Brentwood elementary schools.
              • Close and demolish the existing Stedman Primary School and build a new one.
                • Close and demolish Manchester Elementary School and reassign those students to W.T Brown Elementary School.
                  • Close and demolish the former Pauline Jones Elementary School.
                    • E.E. Miller Elementary would transition from a year-round school calendar to a traditional school calendar for the 2027-2028 school year.
                      • Designate T.C Berrien as the Exceptional Children’s Center.

                        Before a final decision can be made, the Cumberland County Schools will have to solicit input from  families, staff and community members. That could come in the form of community meetings, public notices or other opportunities for feedback.

                        The school system has also established a memorialization committed to determine how best to honor the names, history and legacy of the namesakes of buildings to be torn down. 

                        Cumberland County Schools will continue to provide updates as this work progresses and as additional information becomes available.