Jennie Dean Elementary School is Officially Under Construction.

Construction for Manassas City Public Schools’ Jennie Dean Elementary School has officially kicked off with a ceremonial groundbreaking, held on December 20, 2024. The new facility is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2026-2027 school year.

Jennie Dean Elementary School is more than an elementary school to the City of Manassas and the surrounding community. It is a tribute to the legacy of Jane “Jennie” Serepta Dean, an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to educating African American children.

History of Jennie Dean 

Jennie Dean was born into slavery on a plantation in Prince William County. Her father served as a household slave, which was considered one of the higher positions. This afforded him the ability to learn reading and writing, which he taught to his daughter.

Jennie Dean utilized her informal education to found the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1893. The school served 500 students, teaching boys trades such as carpentry and welding and girls cooking and sewing. Much like today’s career and technical education centers, students were able to acquire the hands-on skills needed to secure high paying jobs.

By opening the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth, Jennie Dean created opportunities for her fellow African Americans to advance in society at a pivotal time in American history. The importance of the school was understood by donors such as the famous steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie, whom the library was named after. Frederick Douglass, well known as the most important leader of the African American civil rights movement, gave the opening remarks at the school’s dedication ceremony.

The site for the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth was eventually transitioned into a regional high school for African Americans. In 1977, the City of Manassas established its public school system and transformed the high school into a middle school. In 1990, it became the elementary school that serves as the predecessor to the new Jennie Dean Elementary School, now under construction. Located on the original Manassas Industrial School site today is the original 1990-era elementary school, the RRMM-designed replacement elementary school that is currently under construction, and the Manassas Industrial School/Jennie Dean Memorial.

Renovation Versus Replacement

Understanding the illustrious history behind Jennie Dean Elementary School, it is understandable that there would be significant discussion over the decision to either renovate the existing building or construct a new facility. The Manassas City School Board and the City Council formed a joint task force to explore the outcomes of both options.

A confluence of factors, such as meeting modern instructional needs amid the outdated state of the current building, led Manassas City School Board to opt for a replacement school. The new school will be built on the same site, adjacent to the current elementary school. The existing school will remain in operation during construction. Once students and staff are moved into the new building, the option to either demolish or repurpose the old school will be considered. However, the school board has indicated that they are leaning toward keeping the existing building and eventually repurposing it.

The school board visited RRMM-designed elementary schools in the Hampton Roads area to help visualize what a new elementary school could look like for their division. Isle of Wight County’s Hardy Elementary School was one of the schools toured by the school board and serves as the design basis for the new Jennie Dean Elementary School.

The New Jennie Dean Elementary 

Manassas’s iteration of the Hardy prototype will be 110,904 SF and designed for 900 students. The main entrance is distinct, which is especially important for this project since the site will host both the new and old school. In an ongoing effort to honor the legacy of the school’s beloved namesake, graphics on the entrance window feature a silhouette of Jennie Dean empowering her students.

Careful consideration has been given to traffic patterns on the site, with parent drop-off located at the front of the building and bus drop-off directed to the rear of the school. The rear entrance also includes a covered canopy with exterior seating that can be used as an outdoor learning area.

The front entrance includes a secure vestibule that directs visitors through the administration area once they have been identified and badged in. The two-story facility is designed so that public-facing spaces such as the gymnasium and media center can be accessed along the same corridor. This allows the classroom wings to easily be closed off for additional security during after-hours events.

Classroom wings for kindergarten, first and second grade are located on the first floor, while the third and fourth grade wings are housed on the second floor. Each grade has its own color for wayfinding and easy directional cues for the young students. The design palette includes muted green and blue tones that complement the Jennie Dean Elementary School’s dolphin mascot.

Honoring Jennie Dean and Manassas Industrial School 

Graphics throughout the school work together to tell the story of Jennie Dean and her perseverance in opening the Manassas Industrial School.  A biography wall of Jennie Dean lives outside the main entrance, immediately introducing her to students, staff, and visitors. The wall includes a recreated image of a newspaper clipping.

Additional graphics include historical photos of Manassas Industrial School and its students. Signage explains facts about the school and the classes offered. Information about the various donors who significantly contributed to Manassas Industrial School are also interwoven into the graphics.

The cafetorium (cafeteria/auditorium) has an illustration that features silhouettes of musicians, children dancing, and musical notes. A fun detail is that the musical notes are from the Manassas Industrial School song.

This new elementary school will have a profound impact on its community, not just in its role of educating future generations, but also for its part in honoring Jennie Dean’s work toward equitable and quality education for all. RRMM has given this design thoughtful consideration, and their hope is that it pays appropriate homage to Jennie Dean.