Seaton Elementary School’s current building is scheduled to undergo modernization during the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years. During modernization, the Seaton community is expected to temporarily relocate to swing space at 300 Bryant Street NW. See below for more information and how you can make your voice heard!
DCPS has also created a website for our modernization project where you can find updates on the project.
MARCH 31, 2026 UPDATE: In February, DPR presented the final plan for the new playground and green space at the swing space. The PTO was successful in advocating for additional green space! To recap, there will be new, separate playgrounds for PK and K-5, a 72″ security fence around the entire space, a turf field, and a grass field. Please see some images of the plans below:
The swing space is also adjacent to a large baseball/grass field, basketball courts, and other recreational space. The PTO is exploring options for how to use those space for our annual events, like Fall Movie Night, and whether other afterschool opportunities may be available given the additional space. We also continue to advocate for additional security measures during the school day, including securing the entire playground area from any public access during the school day and afterschool.
FEBRUARY 17, 2026 UPDATE: The SIT met today to receive the schematic design for Seaton’s modernized building. The entire presentation can be viewed in English and Espanol. The high-resolution site plans can also be downloaded here: Seaton ES Modernization Schematic Design Boards_bilingual.
The design team noted the community’s preferences from the design phase back in the fall. The current plans include a PK3/4 wing, a courtyard design to provide privacy on the playground, retaining the entrance on Rhode Island Ave NW and the garden in its current space, and large gathering spaces that can be connected. Enrollment projections have also increased, so that the plans include 3 classrooms for all grades PK3-3rd, and 2 classrooms for grades 4 and 5.
The SIT has one week to gather feedback. You can submit your feedback here.
FEBRUARY 10, 2026 UPDATE: The PTO has put together a presentation with additional details about the swing space, including photos and transportation information. You can view it here.
DECEMBER 4, 2025 UPDATE: One very important update: DCPS is providing busses from Seaton to the swing space, based on enrollment! We are waiting on additional details, but we are thrilled and grateful to DCPS for hearing our concerns and ensuring that families (especially those arriving from the west and south) have more convenient access to the swing space.
On December 2, DPR and DGS held another meeting about the playground and recreational space proposals for KC Lewis. The presentation is available here. The final playground equipment has been selected based on majority vote and can be found at slides 17-22 of the presentation. An image of the playground design is below:
The playground area will be enclosed by an 8′ high fence, and the interior PK/K playground will be enclosed by a smaller, 3’4″ fence. Not pictured here are bike racks with space for 40 bikes on the opposite side for the school, which the PTO successfully advocated for.
The PTO is advocating for several changes from this design. First, we strongly oppose the omission of the section marked “K” from the playground space. We are concerned about having public access so close to the playground and we believe that space would be better suited expanding the play space for the school. Second, we oppose the use of turf in the play area. The PTO is sending correspondence to DPR and DGS on these issues and will provide any updates.
NOVEMBER 6, 2025 UPDATE: The PTO has compiled feedback and sent a letter to DPR and DGS with comments on the playground and recreational space proposals for KC Lewis, our swing space during modernization. On Tuesday, December 2, another community meeting will be held to discuss the project. The final design for the playground will be presented and the concept design for the park improvements will be presented. The meeting will take place from 6-7:30 PM at St. George’s Episcopal Church at 160 U St. NW. A flyer can be found here.
OCTOBER 7, 2025 UPDATE: On October 6, DCPS, DGS, and DPR hosted a community meeting regarding the playground for Seaton’s swing space at KC Lewis. Feedback was sought on the playground design, as well as on the proposal for the surrounding baseball field, basketball courts, and other green space surrounding the swing space. Details of the project can be found here.
For the swing space, the proposal includes a 6′ tall perimeter fence and privacy plantings, a PK playground and a K-5 playground, an outdoor classroom, and a small turf area. The playground area will be completed in time for SY2026-2027. Parents also advocated for space for a garden, potentially in collaboration with the local community, grass instead of turf, more bike parking, traffic safety/calming measures, as well as consideration of a space in the broader field/courts project that would allow for soccer. Additional feedback can be provided to Christopher Dyer for DPR (christopher.dyer@dc.gov) and Brittany Hughes for DGS (brittany.hughes@dc.gov). Another community meeting will be held in Winter 2025 to present the playground concept in greater detail.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 UPDATE: On September 16, the SIT committee received three conceptual proposals for a modernized Seaton. You can view the presentation and the concepts here in English and Spanish.
The three concepts are excerpted below. The SIT has put together the below list of pros, cons, and other considerations for each to help the community understand each proposal, but please take a look at the presentations for more.
Please review the concepts and provide your feedback here no later than Monday, September 22.
Concept A Pros
- All PK and K on first floor
- Most PK/K classrooms open to playground
- PK has its own separate wing
- All classrooms have windows to street/playground (not alley)
- New wing on 10th Street provides privacy from street
Concept A Cons
- PK classrooms are long walk to entrance, gym, cafeteria
- Smaller space for playground than Concept C, similar to Concept B
- No circular flow among different parts of school
Concept A Other
- Retains garden in same location and adds outdoor classroom there
- Entrance remains on Rhode Island Avenue in roughly the same location
Concept B Pros
- More internally connected/better flow/less walking
- Homerooms all have windows (some specials on alley)
- All PK on 1st floor
- Most PK/K classrooms have playground access
- Building condensed to one space on site means more open outdoor space
Concept B Cons
- Smaller space for playground than Concept C, similar to Concept A
- Some admin offices are interior in new section of building, but retain light from atrium
- No privacy from 10th Street
Concept B Other
- Moves entry to 10th Street
- Some K on 1st floor and some on 2nd
- Garden and outdoor classroom in front of building along Q Street (but we could advocate to move it behind building)
Concept C Pros
- Most outdoor space of all three concepts
- Open playground with good visibility
- Uses more space in front of building for gym
- All PK on 1st floor (K together on the 2nd floor)
- More internally connecter/better flow/less walking
- Largest community space of three options (gym to dining room)
Concept C Cons
- Some specials have windows facing alley
- No privacy from 10th Street
- Longer walks to some specials classrooms located on third floor
Concept C Other
- Entry on Rhode Island Ave side, moved up closer to Q St
- Garden moved to along 10th Street, with new outdoor classroom
JULY 1, 2025 UPDATE: In June, the School Improvement Team (“SIT”) met with DCPS, DGS, and the design-build team who was awarded the modernization contract. The presentation can be found here: English and Espanol.
Based on our survey results to date, we discussed elements that we hope to see in the modernized space, including: 1) separate spaces for a gymnasium/auditorium and cafeteria, 2) enough classrooms to accommodate our growth and maintain small class sizes, 3) dedicated PK3/4 space, 4) collaborative spaces, 5) separate spaces for students to receive services, and 6) useful outdoor spaces, including preservation of our garden, large playgrounds to accommodate separate PK and K-5 populations, and grass field over turf. We also heard more about the project timeline. At the beginning of the new school year, the SIT will receive the design concept and will conduct another survey to collect feedback. In the interim, please feel free to leave any additional thoughts here!
MARCH 18, 2025 UPDATE: Thank you to all the Stingers who joined the Community Kickoff Meeting today. The slides from the presentation are here: English and Espanol. If you are a parent or guardian interested in joining the School Improvement Team (SIT) to advise on the modernization process and serve as a liaison to the community about the process, please email president.seatonpto@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes are coming and how will this help Seaton? Seaton Elementary School’s current building is scheduled to undergo modernization during the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years. This is an exciting development for Seaton, as our building is due for an upgrade, and modernization will ensure that Seaton has the facilities and capacity to provide the best possible resources for our Stingers for years to come! (The Seaton playground areas were most recently renovated in 2020-21.)
We will be thinking about two spaces: the modernized school and the two-year swing space. During modernization, the Seaton community will temporarily relocate to swing space at 300 Bryant Street NW. The PTO is proactively engaging in advocacy to ensure that our community’s needs are met both in our temporary space and in our new modernized school.
What will the modernized building include? The PTO is monitoring the planning process to understand what facilities the new building will have. The request for proposal includes these specifications for the new building, which list, among other things: separate spaces for a cafeteria, gym, and stage; a library; multiple art and music spaces; 12 classrooms across PK3-1st grade with included restrooms; 9 classrooms across grades 2-5; 4 self-contained classrooms; and more. While it is still early in the process, the PTO will continue to monitor and advocate based on community feedback (which you can provide here!)
When will Seaton move from its current location to swing space? The entire school will move to the swing space starting in August 2026 and return to the modernized space in August 2028.
Where is Seaton’s swing space? Seaton will move to 300 Bryant Street NW, approximately 1 mile from the current location. The site is between 4th St NW and 2nd St NW and between W St NW and Bryant St NW. This building formerly housed the Washington Metropolitan School. Howard University entered into a four year lease of the building in 2021, renovating it to house its School of Communications and other departments. The field next to this building bears the name K.C. Lewis Field and is currently used by various DC recreational programs and leagues. Starting in 2025, the building will undergo additional renovations to make it suitable for elementary education.
What kind of renovations will be completed before Seaton moves to the swing space? DC has allocated $14 million for additional renovations on the swing space prior to Seaton occupying it. According to the request for proposal that was issued in November 2024, this will include a new kitchen and cafeteria/multipurpose space, replacing windows, constructing a new playground, replacing exterior doors as needed, replacing walkways and sidewalks around the site, upgrading or replacing signage, installing new perimeter fencing and a parking lot gate, converting restrooms to elementary school standards, a full roof replacement, and new furniture, among other things. These renovations are scheduled to be substantially complete by July 15, 2026, in time for Seaton to move by August 2026. In addition to funding for the swing space, an additional funding $1.25 million has been allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation to improve the green space and courts around the facility.
I am a current parent or guardian at Seaton. Will my student move to the swing space? Will they return to the modernized school? Whether your student will be impacted at depends on the current grade of your student for the 2025-2026 school year:
- 5th graders will complete their Seaton education at the current location.
- 4th graders will have 4th grade at the current location and 5th grade at the swing space.
- 3rd graders will have 3rd grade at the current location and 4th and 5th grade at the swing space.
- 2nd graders will have 2nd grade at the current location, 3rd and 4th grades at the swing space, and will return to a modernized Seaton for 5th grade.
- 1st graders will have 1st grade at the current location, 2nd and 3rd grade at the swing space, and will return to a modernized Seaton for 4th – 5th grades.
- Kindergarteners will have Kindergarten at the current location, 1st and 2nd grades at the swing space, and will return to a modernized Seaton for 3rd – 5th grades.
- PK4 students will have PK4 at the current location, Kindergarten and 1st grade at the swing space, and will return to a modernized Seaton for 2nd – 5th grades.
- PK3 students will have PK 3 at the current location, PK 4 and Kindergarten at the swing space, and will return to a modernized Seaton for 1st – 5th grades.
I got into Seaton in the lottery. What does this mean for me?
We are so happy to have you! Seaton is an amazing community. If you received a spot at Seaton in the 2026 lottery, your student would spend their first two years at the swing space, entering the brand-new, modernized space in August 2028 for their remaining years at Seaton.
How can I learn more about modernization and/or the swing space? DCPS maintains a site with the most up to date information here. The PTO provides updates at all of our meetings. It is our goal to keep our community informed about any developments and receive regular feedback about what concerns you have. Please also check back here frequently for updates.
I want to provide feedback on what I want to see in a modernized Seaton! Where can I do that? The PTO is eager to hear from the community about what you want to see! We’ve created a survey here. If you have additional questions or would like to join the Modernization/Swing Space committee, please reach out to the PTO at president.seatonpto@gmail.com. Thank you for engaging in this process with us.
