Harrison Welcomes Preschoolers to Campus

Extensive Renovations Give Downtown School a Boost of Confidence

Harrison Elementary this week again welcomed preschoolers to its school family as the youngsters stepped into brand-new classrooms and refurbished spaces throughout the campus. 

The Fayette County Preschool Program once had a classroom at Harrison many years ago, but had to move it because state regulations require that our littlest learners be on an entry-level floor. In spring 2022, the school board set aside money for preschool in a five-year plan, including the addition of three classrooms at Harrison. 

“It is a win for children, families, FCPS, and the community. Meeting families where they are is a game-changer,” said Whitney Stevenson, director of Early Childhood Education in Fayette County Public Schools. 

Assistant Principal Natasha Al-Suud agreed. “We’re small, so Harrison has a neighborhood feel. If we can get these children in sooner, it’s only going to help them down the road,” she said, noting they will be more ready for kindergarten and their families will be on board earlier for wrap-around support. 

Harrison is now designed to meet preschoolers’ needs through the building’s layout, the accessibility of classroom items, the intentionality of the color scheme, and the outdoor play space. The school’s full renovation project – which took about 18 months and was completed in December 2025 – also featured a new playground for grades K-5, HVAC work, and additional staff parking off Jefferson Street. 

Al-Suud and her colleagues are eager to spotlight the significant changes at their school, which recently became a Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA) magnet elementary. For instance, Harrison secured a new sound system and stage lighting, along with several new instruments for band and orchestra students. In addition, tables and chairs in the cafeteria and the library are easily moved to open up additional performance space, which allows for multiple activities at once.  

In the main hallways, individual art frames have replaced old-style bulletin boards, and remote-controlled sconce lighting adds to the gallery vibe. Meanwhile, students have a huge dance studio in which to develop creative movement, and they can dream big in the decked out Husky Theatre classroom. 

Additionally, Harrison benefited from using a local artist to paint several expansive murals inside and outside the building, which gave students firsthand experience watching a professional at work. The school also sits in a fortunate location. “We’re positioned downtown to lean into the arts community,” as Al-Suud said. For example, Harrison last year put on a production of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center on Main Street. 

Given the VAPA opportunities and now the latest renovations, the refreshed Harrison Elementary is positioned to fly high in 2026-27 and beyond. Enrollment numbers have risen in the past four years, and the seasoned teachers and dedicated staff are steady at the helm. 

“We’re trying hard to change the narrative around Harrison,” Al-Suud said. “It’s an old school but a proud school.”