Facilities matter. When a school is overcrowded, consists of inadequate learning spaces, or has dated infrastructure, student growth is compromised.
Current challenges at our K-2 schools
The facilities at our three primary schools, Blue Point, Eight Corners, and Pleasant Hill, are well maintained but lack the infrastructure to support small group instruction, project-based learning, dedicated music, art, and physical education programs, and maker spaces.
Additionally, these facilities lack professional learning spaces such as conference rooms and spaces large enough for the entire faculty to gather. Many rooms within all of our primary schools are used for multiple purposes, which especially limits the effectiveness of student and adult learning opportunities.
This also limits our ability to effectively welcome and communicate with families on each site, as the larger gathering space in each school is limited to the cafenasium (shared cafeteria and gym space); the physical layout of the space is less than ideal for public presentations and/or collaboration, and parking is much less than adequate for hosting large groups of visitors at any one time.
Current challenges at the middle school
The Middle School was already undersized the day it opened. Today, the entire sixth grade is housed in portable classrooms, requiring students to walk back and forth between the main building and the portables multiple times each day. This raises safety concerns and creates particular challenges during bad weather.
The cafeteria is also too small to serve the current student population efficiently. In the 2025–26 school year, six separate lunch periods will be needed—most schools require three to four. Lunch will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and some students will have “split” lunch periods that interrupt instructional time.
The need at Wentworth Intermediate School
Wentworth (grades 3-5) is the newest of Scarborough’s schools and is in excellent condition; but it will require a small addition to accommodate the expected student population increase entering the school system. These students are projected to arrive at Wentworth in 2031.
For more information, read the full Scarborough Schools K-8 Education Program report below.
K-8 Education Program Report
