Prince George's County Public Schools is the second largest school system in Maryland with the second-oldest stock of buildings. As of 2021, over half of the 208 schools in the district were more than 50 years old. Challenged by their aging infrastructure and potential for overcrowding, PGCPS embarked on an ambitious undertaking to accelerate the delivery of new schools and modernizations, becoming the first public school system in the nation to leverage full-scope alternative financing model to design, build, finance, and maintain a multi-school K-12 construction program. This unique approach enables the district to complete the design and construction process in half the time of traditionally funded projects.

PGCPS has a mission to "provide a transformative educational experience anchored by excellence in equity - developing 21st century competencies and enabling each student's unique brilliance to flourish in order to build empowered communities and a more inclusive and just world." In 2023, the district opened six brand new community schools serving 8000 students and their families that aim to fulfill their mission. This presentation will highlight the strategy, approach, design process, lessons learned, and successes of these innovative projects which brought high-quality, equitable interior environments to students in historically under-resourced communities.