Evening star., 1952-08-08
|beItsvi||e School
Gets u. 5. Grant
|0f $1,925,000
Junior-Senior Hiqh
To Be Constructed
For $500 Students
By ChorIes A. McAjeer

Dy \norleS a. McAIeer
A Federal aid grant Of $685.
BOO has been authorized for allo-
cation to Prince Georges County
for use in building a large new
junior-senior high school near
Beltsville.
Plans for such a school were
disclosed today simultaneously
with announcement by the U. S.
ONCE Of Education of an addi-
tlonal $8.5 million ALLEGATION for
areas affected by Federal activi-
ties.
Among other ALLEGATIONS an
proved today were $1,566 500 for
Fairfax County and 50 1892 1856 for
the Anne Arundel County Board
OF Education. Details of the
FAIRFAX grant were revealed Tues
DAY by the Fairfax School Board.
On 2S-Acre Tract.
The new high school in Prince
Georges County will be erected on
a 28-acre tract at Cherry Hill road
and Powder Mill road in the Vans
vile election district.
1t will have 48 classrooms a
gymnasium and cafeteria and will
nave capacity for 1,500 students
Classroom facilities will include
science and home economics lab
orator1es and shops.
School Supt. William S. Schmidt
said the proposed school, now
IN the blueprint stage only. will
cost more than 50 million. The
county. he added, will put up about
$l85, 900 in addition to the Federal
Grant.
Preliminary plans were approved
early this year and submitted to
tne Office of Education, along with
tne county's application for the
Federal money. Mr.. Schmidt said.
Bids will be sought some time this
1all after completion Of final plans
oy the architectural firm of Ross.
walton & Madden of Mount
Rainier. he reported.
Ready In Late 1854.
The school itself probably won't
be ready for use until the 1954-5s
school year, the superintendent
announced.
We were looking to the future"
said MIR. Schmidt, in explanation
Tor the reason for earmarking all
the money for the Beltsville school.
We knew that, in a year or two.
wed have to build another new
high school and so we asked for
this school when submitting our
application"
Predicting that high school en-.
rollment alone within the county
would increase by 10000 students
IN the next six years, Mr.. Schmidt
declared:
This money will be a godsend
to the county"
The Beltsville High School ia
be built on property known as the
Latlmer tract. will relieve already
crowded conditions at the North
western High School. which op-
ened only last year. It also will
provide relief for the Greenbelt
ana Mount Rainier Junior High
Schools.
Boom in Population.
The booming growth in popula-
tlon IN the northwestern part of
the county is responsible for the
new school, Mr.. Schmidt said.
Present plans call for it to take
care of students generally living
north OF University lane and west
OF Riggs road, although there NAV
be some variation.
Its construction, Mr.. Schmidt
said, may avert possible double
shifts at the Northwestern High
School. This school, located on
Colesville road. near Hyattsville.
had 1850 students last year, some
so more than the intended ca.
pacity. Mr.. Schmidt said it is an
ticipated that 1900 will enroll
there next month and that this
number will increase to 1000 by
1853.
The Federal ALLEGATION for this
project is the first to be received
oy the county under provisions of
Public Law BIS, which provides
for Government assistance in de.
tense areas. Congress has au.
thorized expenditures Of $195 mil.
lion for such assistance, of which
$100 million already has been al
lotted. according to the Office Of
Education.