Enid Schools Get $22M Grant for Vance AFB Elementary

New school will address facility issues and support 350 students annually.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:06am

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The Department of War, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, has awarded a $22 million grant to Independent School District No 57 of Garfield County (Enid Public Schools) to construct a new Eisenhower Elementary School at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. This project will address facility capacity and condition deficiencies that placed the school as #65 on the 2019 Deputy Secretary of Defense "Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List".

Why it matters

The new school will improve the quality of education for defense-connected students, aid in the recruitment and retention of vital skills at Vance Air Force Base, and enhance partnerships between the community and the installation.

The details

The $28.2 million project will support 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade annually upon completion. Funding is provided under the Department's Public Schools on Military Installations Program, which prioritizes schools with the most serious facility capacity and condition deficiencies.

  • The Department of War awarded the $22 million grant on March 14, 2026.

The players

Independent School District No 57 of Garfield County (Enid Public Schools)

The school district that will receive the grant to construct the new Eisenhower Elementary School.

Vance Air Force Base

The military installation where the new Eisenhower Elementary School will be located.

Department of War, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation

The federal agency that awarded the $22 million grant to Enid Public Schools.

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The takeaway

This grant demonstrates the federal government's commitment to improving the educational facilities and experiences for children of military families, which is crucial for recruitment, retention, and community partnerships.