Chesapeake families could see a new career center, converted elementary schools and broader preschool access under a proposed capital improvement plan that calls for $616.2 million in projects over five years.
Chesapeake Public Schools presented its proposed 2027–2037 Capital Improvement Plan to the School Board on Oct. 29. The document outlines a decade of construction and maintenance priorities, with $616,165,000 in estimated costs for the first five years, 2027 through 2032.
The proposal is available through the district's School Board Community Portal.
The district estimates $39.65 million in projects for the first year, 2027–28. Longer-term projects are identified through 2037, but many lack cost estimates or committed funding.
Career Center replacement
One of the largest projects is the proposed replacement of the Chesapeake Career Center, with $101.5 million listed for construction in 2028–29.
The existing Career Center is more than 50 years old. The district plans to build its replacement on a school-owned site on Clearfield Avenue.
The project is intended to expand and modernize facilities supporting career and technical education programs. The proposed plan identifies completion during the 2030–31 school year.
The district says the facility's design has been funded. Construction is included in the five-year capital program but is not yet technically funded.
The district also received a $20 million grant from the Virginia Department of Education for the replacement project.
Carver conversion and Portlock evaluation
Another major proposal would replace G.W. Carver Intermediate School and convert it from a grades 3–5 facility into a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school.
The estimated cost is $86.5 million, including $6.5 million for design in 2027–28 and $80 million for construction in 2029–30.
The existing building is approximately 75 years old. The district projects completion during the 2031–32 school year.
Although the project is not currently funded, the city's Capital Improvement Program includes $84 million in programmed funding over five years that could cover most or all of its estimated cost.
Portlock Primary would also be evaluated for potential modifications or an addition to support a K–5 grade configuration.
Preschool expansion remains under study
The district is continuing to examine options for expanding early childhood education.
Staff previously proposed converting Norfolk Highlands Primary School into an early childhood education center. In August, the School Board approved postponing further planning after the superintendent recommended additional evaluation.
The district's proposed capital plan states that administrators are studying demographic trends, program requirements and potential facilities before making updated recommendations.
The School Board has directed the administration to develop options that could broaden early childhood education access by fall 2028.
No final location for a dedicated preschool center is identified in the proposed plan.
HVAC, roofing and maintenance
Major maintenance is another significant part of the capital proposal.
The district estimates $129.76 million for HVAC replacements and $91.48 million for roofing projects during the first five years. Another $10.74 million is identified for repaving projects.
Together, those categories account for approximately $232 million.
The plan schedules 17 full or partial HVAC replacements and 14 full or partial roof replacements during the first five years.
Officials note that some maintenance projects overlap with buildings also scheduled for larger renovations or replacements. If those larger projects receive funding on schedule, some maintenance work could be incorporated into construction or removed from future plans.
Enrollment growth remains uneven
The district's planning document projects modest overall enrollment growth, even as several schools face overcrowding.
Chesapeake Public Schools expects enrollment to reach approximately 39,455 students by the 2031–32 school year and 40,085 by 2036–37.
The projected increase over the decade is 840 students.
As of July 2026, Chesapeake had 5,810 approved preliminary home sites, although the district cautioned that many were not yet under construction.
The plan identifies significant existing overcrowding at several elementary schools, including Cedar Road, Deep Creek Central, Grassfield and Hickory.
A new elementary school at Culpepper Landing, already under construction, is scheduled to open for the 2027–28 school year and help relieve overcrowding in several attendance zones.
Public hearings scheduled
The School Board will hold its first public hearing on the proposed capital improvement plan Monday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m.
A second hearing and final action are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14.
Both meetings are scheduled at the School Administration Building, 1421 Kristina Way in Chesapeake, according to the district's official meeting calendar.
The $616.2 million proposal remains subject to the School Board's review and funding decisions. Inclusion in the capital plan does not mean every listed project has received construction approval or funding.
