The Process

The District conducted a multi-year facilities planning process to assess the needs of the Middle School and engage residents in creating the best plan for our students, teachers and staff, and community.

The District carefully evaluated the best way to address Abington Middle School's needs, using robust evaluation criteria to create proposed options for the community to consider. 

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Educational impact

  • Stakeholder input and alignment

  • Community impact

  • Enrollment projections

  • Facility and site needs

  • Site suitability and limitations based on zoning and municipal requirements

  • Operational and financial considerations

  • Budget and tax implications

Based on research, expert analysis, and community input, the District proposed four options for the future of Abington Middle School. 

A Community-Informed Plan

The District administrative team retained two local consulting firms (ICS and SCHRADERGROUP) to conduct a complete assessment of each of the District’s buildings, including infrastructure, operations, and educational needs. The assessments addressed the following key questions:

  • Do the District’s buildings meet today’s codes for safe, healthy, and accessible educational spaces?

  • Is facility infrastructure reaching the end of its useful life?

  • How can the District’s buildings consume less energy?

  • Are the District’s buildings designed for the number of students we expect?

  • Does classroom space meet the educational needs of teaching staff and students?

  • Are we able to provide the services expected in modern schools?

  • Do our buildings support collaboration, project-based learning, and other aspects of modern education?

  • Which needs can be addressed with continued maintenance, and which require replacement?

  • What is the cost of the identified needs?

The District evaluated demographic trends to determine enrollment projections for the next 10 years.

In August of 2023, the Abington School Board received the consultants’ report that explained the District’s facility challenges and outlined potential solutions. The Board asked questions about the assessments, and there was an opportunity for community members to share their input. The Board recommended the next steps in the process, which included additional evaluation of potential options that provided opportunities for community input in the process. This was presented at a special public meeting and can be viewed here.

In early 2024, the District conducted a telephone and online survey, hosted two open houses with tours of Abington Middle School, and invited residents to share their feedback with the District. Community engagement has been, and will continue to be, essential in this process. The District will continue to seek feedback from residents this fall as we develop options for a comprehensive facilities plan that addresses our infrastructure challenges, supports our students, and aligns with our community’s expectations.

Guided by stakeholder and resident feedback, the District developed concepts for 12 options to address the needs of Abington Middle School. This evaluation considered the educational impact, efficiency, enrollment projections, facility and site needs, operations, and financial considerations.

Four options for Abington Middle School were identified for further consideration by the District, the Abington School District Board of School Directors, and our community. This included reviewing the District’s financial position while considering the impact on taxpayers.

The District gathered input on the four options from teachers, staff, parents/guardians, students, and community members. This included two scientific telephone surveys, three online surveys, and three open house/town hall community events. The District also received additional input through a Connect Form.  

The District used data, independent analysis, staff, parent/guardian, and student insights, and community feedback to refine and evaluate the proposed options for Abington Middle School's future. 

Parents/guardians, staff, and residents who provided input into the planning process believe that:

A new Middle School is needed

One Middle School is the best use of tax dollars

The community should have the opportunity to vote on a plan in a referendum.

In January 2025, after a multi-year planning process, the Board of School Directors:

  • Approved a plan to build a new Middle School for 2,200 students. 

  • Authorized a $285 million bond referendum to fund the plan. By seeking a referendum to build a new Middle School, the District would secure dedicated and sustainable funding for this major capital investment without diverting resources from classrooms, programming, and other District priorities. A referendum would also ensure voters have a direct voice in decisions impacting public education and local tax rates.

Our community helped shape this plan for a new Middle School. Residents of Abington Township and the Borough of Rockledge will decide whether to approve it when they vote on a referendum on Tuesday, May 20.