Beech Street Elementary School
As the largest project in Priority One, the new Beech Street Elementary School will replace the current building and support some neighborhoods served by the now-closed Henry Wilson Elementary School. The new school construction will resolve educational space inadequacies and aging infrastructure concerns that exist in the current Beech Street School.
Beech Street Elementary School (Grades K-4)
- Address: 333 Beech Street
- Enrollment (24-25 school year): 467
- Sq ft: 68,896 gross square feet
- Acreage: 1.5 acres
- Original construction: 1973
- Additional construction: Interior remodeling completed in 2015
The Wilson School (Grades K-5)
- Closed June 2024
- Address: 555 Cedar Street
- Enrollment at closure: 388
What's Being Done?
The new school will allow former Henry Wilson Elementary School students to remain in their neighborhoods and reduce the need for lengthy bus rides, given its proximity to Beech Street — less than a mile drive down the road and only a ten-minute walk.
New, appropriately sized classrooms with modern amenities will have access to natural light and views. Additionally, the school will feature appropriately sized spaces for all professional staff, including counselors, social workers, psychologists, and interventionists as well as space for small group work distributed throughout the building, close to the classrooms.
Construction will include a learning commons to serve all grade levels and calming spaces to serve both the general population and Special Education programs. Separate spaces for physical education and dining will be constructed. A secure entry vestibule will be installed within the main office in direct visual control for security. Completing the new Beech Elementary School will ensure a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for Manchester’s youngest learners.
why are we doing it?
During the district facilities analysis, Beech Street Elementary School and the Wilson School were identified as being limited in their ability to meet Next Generation Learning goals due to their size, ages and infrastructure challenges. In February of 2023, the District and SMMA collectively recommended closing the Wilson School due to significant physical deficiencies and inadequate educational spaces. To address these challenges, they proposed consolidating Wilson with a new Beech Street Elementary School.
Classroom size compliance
General Education classrooms at the current Beech Street School are slightly undersized according to the New Hampshire Department of Education (NH ED) Section 321, at an average of 850 square feet, compared to the 900 square feet recommendation from NH ED for 25 students in a classroom. The existing science labs are also undersized at 1,100 square feet, compared to the NH ED guideline of 1,500 square feet in a lab.
Improving student outcomes
Necessary expansion and upgrades are vital to improving student outcomes based on ABC – Attendance, Behavior, and Curriculum data.
Major needs
Implementing physical improvements, including air quality, modernized classrooms, indoor/outdoor learning environments, accommodating community events, and improving technology integration is necessary to improve student learning experience and outcomes.
Renderings
At this time, renderings for the new Beech Street Elementary School are still in progress. Renderings will be posted below when completed.
New Beech Street Elementary School timeline
Please refer to the timeline for the most accurate and up-to-date information as to when work is being completed at Beech Street Elementary School.
Harvey Construction awarded as construction manager for the Beech Street School Project
Construction to commence on the new Beech Street School Project
New Furnishings, Equipment, and Technology deployed into the new school
Want to learn more?
To learn more about the work being done at Beech Street Elementary school, please visit the school’s site.
