Students in northeast Baltimore will have a new school building when classes resume in August, following the $42.9 million construction of Furley Elementary School.
Elected officials and Baltimore City Public School administrators held a ribbon cutting Wednesday for the new school building at 5001 Sinclair Lane in Baltimore’s Frankford neighborhood.
“Today, we take another important step forward to ensure that every single Maryland child receives a world-class education,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “Education is the foundation on which we build everything else, and the cornerstone of our greatest aspirations. That’s why we are proud that the State of Maryland has invested $42.9 million for this construction project, the benefits of which will be felt for generations to come.”
The new building will accommodate nearly 700 Pre-K through 5th grade students. It includes a music and art center; a recreation center; an early learning special education classroom; technical education classrooms; and gardens for environmental education.
Built in the 1960s, the former Furley Elementary School faced “irreparable structural damage,” which necessitated the construction of a new school building.
“A decade ago, the city closed Furley Elementary because it was literally falling apart. Today, we celebrate the new Furley Elementary: a true community school, with everything our students need to reach their full potential,” Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement. “I’m grateful to celebrate this investment alongside our partners from the state, Baltimore City teachers and administrators, community members, and most importantly, our students.”
The Interagency Commission on School Construction approved $42.9 million for the project, including $7.5 million from the FY 2026 capital budget that the governor signed in May.
“A decade ago, Furley Elementary faced an emergency closure due to aging infrastructure — and with that, students and families were forced to leave behind the place they called home. But even then, a promise was made: that one day they would return to something better. Today, that promise is kept,” State Sen. Cory McCray said in a statement. “It’s a symbol of what happens when we choose to believe in our students, invest in our neighborhoods, and refuse to let setbacks define our future. With world-class classrooms, a new rec center, and space for learning inside and out, we’re opening doors for the next generation of leaders right here in Northeast Baltimore.”
