The Three Schools of Arcola

This is Arcola Elementary School:

This is also Arcola Elementary School:

This is, you guessed it, Arcola Elementary School:

   Since 1939, there have been three Arcola Elementary Schools built. Unlike some cases, all three buildings are still standing, all within 3 miles of each other.

Arcola (1)
Like these low-hanging wires? Very easy to reach up and touch.

   Pictured above is Arcola (1). It was built in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration, an agency set up by the Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. It closed its doors in 1972 with the opening of Arcola (2). In 1979, it was given over to the county's Parks and Rec and became a community center. In 2006,  it was again replaced by Arcola (2), this time as a community center. By 2008, it was placed on a list of endangered historic sites in Virginia. Today, it sits empty. The community surrounding Arcola is fighting to save the school; as recently as this February a group called Friends of the Arcola Community Center was trying to get it onto a historic registry.


Arcola (2)

   Arcola ES (2) opened in 1972, sharing the same design layout as Lovettsville ES (which is still an active public school in Loudoun). It closed in 2005, briefly becoming a community center 2006-2008 before it was replaced by the Dulles South Multipurpose Center.  After some extensive renovations, Arcola (2) reopened in 2009 as a private school -- renamed as The Boyd School at Aldie. (Even though Aldie is a small unincorporated community like Arcola and they are a couple of unincorporated communities away from each other, Arcola is part of the Aldie postal area. I suppose the Boyd School chose to ignore local heritage to avoid directional confusion). In early 2016, all Boyd Schools became LePort Montessori Schools. Arcola (2) was renamed to LePort Montessori Aldie.

Arcola (3)

   Arcola (3) is the current Arcola still owned by LCPS. It opened its doors in 2007. It looks like a long line of other elementary schools the school system has built recently.

   Maybe one day, there will be the four schools of Arcola! 

The saga continues...

PS: Here's some bonus pictures looking inside Arcola (1) through windows. Enjoy!

And one of the backside:

Sources:
"Residents Petition For Renovated Arcola Community Center" -WTOP
"APVA Preservation Virginia Announces the 2008 Endangered Historic Sites List"
"Arcola School recognized as endangered historic site" Loudoun Times Mirror
"A Battle Against Bulldozers; Parents Group Is Trying to Preserve Historic Arcola School" Washington Post
"The Boyd School to Open 'Flagship' Facility at Aldie Campus" Loudoun Independent
"Historic Registry Status Sought For Former Arcola School" Leesburg Today
CIPs
1987 Facility Assessment
"County Begins Converting Former Schools to Community Centers" 250 Years of Service: Loudoun County, Virginia
The Boyd School at Aldie
LePort Montessori Aldie

[Updated 6/4/2017 to update history of Arcola (2)]


Read Other Arcola School Posts:
Arcola School - 2017 Update
Arcola School - 2019 Update
Arcola School - 2022 Update

Arcola School - 2024 Update