D.C. Mayor to Break Ground on School Renovation

With less than two weeks left in his term, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray is still launching new school construction projects.

Gray will attend at a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for a modernization of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

At 116 years old, the building is one of the oldest in the District's public school system. The renovation will add more than 80,000 square feet and new, non-traditional classrooms, digital art studios and dance studios, among other new amenities.

Gray's predecessor, Adrian Fenty, led a push to improve school facilities after he took over control of the school system. Gray has continued to make renovations and new school buildings a priority. The mayor also cut the ribbon this week on a new high school in southeast Washington.