News: Frederick Douglass Elementary School Historical Items Sought:

(Feb. 8, 2011) - Loudoun County residents are being asked to help preserve the legacy of the Frederick Douglass Elementary School.

A new elementary school will be constructed at 55 Plaza Street in Leesburg on the grounds of the former Frederick Douglass Elementary School (1958-1982). The existing building will be demolished to make way for the new school, which is scheduled to open in September 2012.

The original Frederick Douglass Elementary School opened as a segregated school for African-American students in 1958. The elementary school was integrated in 1968 in accordance with a U.S. District Court order.


Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) plans to memorialize the history of the original school and is calling upon Loudoun’s citizens for any historical documents, pictures, or memorabilia that could be used to preserve the legacy of the Frederick Douglass Elementary School. LCPS is working with the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library in this effort.

If you have documents that you are willing to share, please contact the LCPS Planning Office at 571-252-1050 or lcpsplan@lcps.org. In order to prepare the permanent exhibition in time for the school opening, submissions are requested by March 1, 2011.