A Brief History of Battlefield Park Elementary School

Battlefield Park School is housed in a four-part building. The large, two-story center building was built in 1935. At that time it housed both the elementary and high school with a total enrollment of 275. In 1959, the Lee Davis High School (Mechanicsville High School) opened and drew students in grades eight through twelve from Battlefield Park School and Washington Henry School. Three classrooms were added to the eastern portion of Battlefield Park in 1958. A two-story west wing consisting of fourteen classrooms was built in 1969. In 1982, six more classrooms and a media center were added onto the east wing. New art, music, and multi-purpose rooms were completed in 1988. In the fall of 1998, eight more classrooms were added to Battlefield Park, the media center was expanded, and the office was remodeled.

In 1969 when Hanover county schools were integrated, the primary grades of Battlefield Park’s attendance zone were combined with those of East End Elementary School’s attendance zone. From the fall of 1969 until the fall of 1982, Battlefield Park housed grades 3–7, and East End Elementary housed grades k–2. With the opening of Cold Harbor Elementary in the fall of 1983, and the subsequent closing of Battlefield Park Annex (East End Elementary), new attendance boundaries were drawn and some of the students from Battlefield Park and Battlefield Park Annex then went to Cold Harbor Elementary. Battlefield Park Elementary School housed grades k–7 until 1990 when the sixth and seventh grades became part of Stonewall Jackson Middle School (Bell Creek Middle School). During the last ten years new development has brought many changes to the 360 corridor where Battlefield Park is located. The rapid expansion of new homes, new businesses, and industries has changed eastern Hanover from a rural truck farming community to a part of the Richmond metropolitan area. Battlefield Park Elementary School, however, has continued to retain the qualities characteristic of a community school.

BPES Mission and Vision:

Vision: To Inspire, To Empower, To Lead

Mission: The BPES community provides a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment and recognizes and embraces cultural diversity while encouraging and supporting the development and growth of all students into compassionate and resilient problem-solvers, high achievers, and lifelong learners.

Community and PTA

Battlefield Park Elementary School (BPES) is part of an amazing community. Last year, Battlefield Park Elementary School was named a National PTA School of Excellence. BPES is one of only 143 schools and PTAs from 29 states across the country to achieve this prestigious status this year. The National PTA School of Excellence designation recognizes the commitment of schools and PTAs in building an inclusive and welcoming school-community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.