Up to 300 Pre-K students in Cabarrus County will start the 2026-2027 school year in a brand-new building after the district cut the ribbon Friday, Aug. 7, on the Mary Frances Wall Center at Beverly Hills in Concord.

The 35,000-square-foot center on the former Beverly Hills Elementary School campus replaces the previous Mary Frances Wall Center, which had served the district's youngest learners for more than 15 years. The project includes 25,000 square feet of new construction and 10,000 square feet of renovated existing space, according to the district's announcement.

For families, the upgrades are practical: secure outdoor playgrounds, expanded parent drop-off and pick-up areas, a fully enclosed campus and learning spaces that support both traditional preschool instruction and specialized services.

"The Mary Frances Wall Center represents our commitment to giving every child a strong start," Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki said at the ceremony. "This new facility provides an exceptional learning environment where our youngest students can grow, learn, and build the foundation for future success."

The center is named for Mary Frances "Frankie" Wall, a longtime kindergarten teacher the Cabarrus County Board of Education honored for helping shape early childhood education in the county. The original center opened in 2011 at the former A.T. Allen Elementary School campus, replacing the aging Long School facility to consolidate preschool programs and support services under one roof.

Two Concord-based firms handled the project: YCH Architects designed the building and G.W. Liles Construction Company built it.

The opening comes as the district also pursues a 2026 general obligation bond for broader facilities needs, with Election Day set for Nov. 3. The district's community engagement page described the Pre-K project as bringing "long-overdue upgrades" to the district's early childhood offerings.

The center will serve Pre-K students from both district employee families and the wider community when classes begin Monday, Aug. 10.