New School Building

The City of Somerville is developing plans to build a new school building on the site of the former Winter Hill Community Innovation School at 115 Sycamore Street. This new facility will be a state-of-the-art educational center and a community gathering place to benefit students and their families for generations to come. 

This spring, Superintendent Carmona and the school district will work closely with project managers, city planners, and the Mayor's office to complete the feasibility study, which includes two key documents - the Preliminary Design Program and the Preferred Schematic Report. In each instance, the School Committee will review and vote to approve these documents for submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the project's funding partner. 

The City website includes a complete overview of the project, plus important documents and upcoming dates. The site is updated regularly as a vital resource for those following the New School Building Project. Residents can also sign up to receive a monthly project newsletter from the City. 

For Project FAQs, please scroll down. 
 

> HOW WE GOT HERE

In June 2023, the Winter Hill School on Sycamore Street was closed and the school was relocated to the Edgerly Building on Cross Street. In March of 2024, the City launched an initiative to build a new school to replace the aging Winter Hill. A Construction Advocacy Group (CAG) was appointed by the Mayor's office to recommend a viable course forward, and late in 2025 the group issued its report. They concluded that the best course of action would be to build a new school on the site of the original Winter Hill building, at the largest possible capacity of more than 900 students. The scope of the project would therefore include relocating students and staff from the Brown School, the oldest school in the district, to the new facility at 115 Sycamore. The new school would open in Fall 2032. Review meetings and documents from the CAG process at the City's website. 

> WHAT'S NEXT

Work on the feasibility study will continue throughout Summer 2026 for a late August submission to MSBA. This fall, work begins on the Schematic Design, as the look and layout of a new school begins to take shape. During the entire process, project managers urge the community to participate in public forums and discussions to offer constructive feedback on the development. Additionally, the school district will identify opportunities to engage Winter Hill and Brown families directly, and those will be shared through SPS channels as well as directly through school communications. Upcoming community dates can be found at the City's website. 

Ultimately, the residents of Somerville will vote at the ballot box to determine if and how the plan moves forward. 
 

> FAQ: General

What does the planning process involve?
Projects of this scale must undergo a multi-year planning and design process before the start of construction. Additionally, the MSBA has a defined process to follow as well as a project timeline. It is important to note that we are currently on track and moving forward according to the MSBA’s timeline. A full outline of this process and timeline is available at somervillema.gov/newpkto8.

How will the school be paid for?
The City is currently working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to obtain state funding. The MSBA would fund approximately half of the project, and the City would fund the other half. Even with funding from the state, the City will need to raise property taxes to pay for a new school, as it did for the new Somerville High School. This would require voters to approve a property tax increase called an override. This would require voters to vote to approve a property tax increase called a debt exclusion proposition 2 ½. We currently anticipate the vote on a debt exclusion would take place in the fall of 2027.

If the MBSA approves funding for a school to include the Brown population, do we still have to close the Brown School?
Accepting state funding to meet the student population needs of the Brown School means these student seats would need to shift to the new school building.. 

If the Brown population moves to the new school, will it still be called Winter Hill Community Innovation?
No, there is no intention to simply absorb the Brown School community into the Winter Hill school. The configuration and programming on the new school building needs to be the subject of extensive School Committee discussion on how we best meet the needs of our students and school community. 

During the MSBA process, will maintenance and facility improvements continue at the Edgerly and Brown?
Yes, it is critical to ensure that both buildings can continue to serve our students through the completion of the new school building and beyond. 

Why do we want to build for 925 students at 115 Sycamore Street?
Building a larger school means creating a modern learning environment with dedicated, purpose-built spaces that better support specialized programming and meet the needs of more students. The Construction Advisory Group (CAG) recommended pursuing the largest school size supported by the state because it maximizes opportunities for both the district and the broader community, and the district agrees with that recommendation. This approach allows for an expanded range of opportunities available to students through thoughtfully designed learning environments — including age-appropriate experiences across grade levels, dedicated spaces that support diverse learning needs, and areas designed for community use and programming. Project partners at Perkins Eastman and PMA Consultants bring extensive experience delivering similar projects in communities across the state. As part of this process, we are learning from successful models elsewhere while thoughtfully tailoring the design to reflect the unique needs, priorities, and character of Somerville and its students.

Will the public have input on this project?
Absolutely. The City, school district, and project developers are eager to hear feedback from the community through a variety of opportunities, including Community Forums and Coffee Hours. These are announced via the City website and social media channels. Keep up to date by signing up for the City's project newsletter!
 

> FAQ: School Enrollment

How will the city address enrollment needs on the west side of Somerville if the Brown School is closed, including potential citywide catchment reassignments, the future of school choice, and whether all students will continue to have access to a realistic walkable school option rather than creating additional “dead zones” for walkability?
The closure of the Brown School facility is not expected to reduce overall enrollment capacity, as those seats will be shifted to the new school facility at 115 Sycamore. However, the closure will impact student assignment and family choice across all PK–8 schools and the Capuano Early Childhood Center as the School Committee reviews and updates the School District Street Directory and reclassifies SPS catchment areas. In addition, the district’s current school assignment and choice policy is under review through discussions between the School Committee and the Somerville Educators Union via the Ad-Hoc School Assignment Advisory, and any resulting policy changes may further affect school assignment and choice across the district. Throughout this process, there will be multiple opportunities for public input and feedback before any final decisions are implemented. SPS has stated that it is committed to prioritizing families most affected by these changes — including Brown and Winter Hill families — for placement in the new school facility. The district also plans to provide a projected timeline by Fall 2026 for School Committee review and approval of any assignment and choice policy changes, with the overall goal of maintaining citywide capacity and equitable access for students and families.

How will the city address enrollment needs on the west side of Somerville if the Brown school is closed?
The closing of the Brown School Facility will not impact enrollment needs as those seats will be shifted to the new school facility at 115 Sycamore. That being said, student assignment/family choice will be impacted across all PK-8 schools and the Capuano Early Childhood Center when the Brown school facility closes and the School Committee reviews and updates the School District Street Directory, which will reclassify SPS catchment areas. Moreover, the current school assignment/choice policy is being reviewed and discussed at the School Committee level with the Somerville Educators Union via the Ad-Hoc School Assignment Advisory. Any changes to this policy as a result of the recommendations of this Advisory will also impact school assignment/choice. As the School Committee reviews assignment policies and catchment areas, there will be multiple opportunities for public input and feedback before any final changes are implemented. As any changes are made to the SPS assignment/choice policy, SPS catchment areas, and as a result to the Brown School facility closure, SPS is committed to prioritizing families for the new school facility who are most impacted by the changes, including Brown and Winter Hill School families. SPS will provide a projected timeline for when the School Committee will review and approve the assignment/choice policy changes by the Fall of 2026. Ultimately, the District aims to maintain overall capacity and equitable access across the city.

Will the city provide a new catchment plan for the entire city, and if so, how will this affect the other schools in Somerville? Will the catchment reassignments provide a walkable school option for every child or will it leave more dead zones where walkability is not a realistic option? How does the city envision the future of school choice in Somerville?
Please see the answer above regarding an SPS Catchment plan. The Catchment plan will include considerations such as distance, access to specialized programs, family choice, and enrollment trends by grade. It is important to note that not every family selects their neighborhood school as their first choice for various reasons. In fact, approximately 44% of families did not choose their proximity school as their first choice for Kindergarten placement. Questions regarding Vision Zero and broader transportation and climate policy are best addressed by the City of Somerville. The School Committee is currently fielding interest in a School Assignment Advisory Committee to guide a thoughtful, community-informed review of the district’s school choice and assignment policies. This temporary committee will bring together a broadly representative group of stakeholders, including district administration, to examine how current practices impact school demographics, composition, and class size. To express interest, click here. 

How does the city plan to provide a smaller school environment for children whose learning styles need and benefit from such an environment if both Brown and Winter Hill, two of Somerville’s smallest schools, no longer exist as small schools?
Research on school size and student outcomes does not demonstrate a clear educational advantage between schools serving approximately 600 students versus 900 students. Rather, research and best practices emphasize the importance of strong school culture, developmentally appropriate learning environments, student supports, and opportunities for meaningful relationships between students, educators, and families. Consistent with these educational models and the district’s Educational Program submission, the new school is being designed around smaller learning communities organized by developmental age groups: PreK–3, Grades 4–6, and Grades 7–8. These clusters will function as distinct student environments with dedicated administrative and support spaces while also benefiting from shared resources, expanded programming opportunities, and the flexibility a modern facility can provide. The goal of this model is to combine the benefits of a smaller-school experience with the academic, programmatic, and operational advantages of a larger school facility.