New Elementary School To Be Named After Ferdinand Day

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School will be the name for the soon-to-open school at 1701 North Beauregard Street In Alexandria. The Alexandria City Public Schools Board chose the final name at its Feb. 22 meeting.

Day was the late Alexandria resident that became the first African-American school board chair in the state. The West End School Naming Committee had selected Day among a variety of choices: NASA astronaut Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to go to space; Katherine Johnson, a Virginia resident and NASA mathematician featured in "Hidden Figures" for her calculations that sent astronauts into orbit and to the moon; Barack and Michelle Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Day was the only option directly related to Alexandria.

The committee received hundreds of name suggestions in the fall and released its final choices earlier this month. Day-Ochoa Elementary School was the committee's choice, but the school board had the final say and chose to stick with Day.

Under the naming process, presidents, Virginia historical figures or people that have significantly contributed to Alexandria were all fair game. Guidelines for the new school name included reflecting the school's diversity, inspiring elementary school students, having ties to Alexandria or Virginia and representing the school's STEM focus. The names also have to avoid confusion with other Virginia public schools and places.

The new West End school is slated to open for the 2018-19 school year with a capacity of 650 students. The school district purchased and will convert a former office building and a nearby parking garage, into the school and a play area.

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Image via ACPS