Addressing Our Facility Challenges

Abington School District maintains 12 buildings with nearly 1.5 million square feet of space, as well as hundreds of acres of parking lots, playgrounds, fields, and green spaces. As the District addresses growing enrollment and pursues future-ready learning environments, our facilities must support a personalized learning experience. We currently face various facility challenges that impede our progress in providing a learning environment that helps students experiment, grow, and achieve. Our top priority is the aging middle school, with over 2,000 students in grades 6 through 8.

View a virtual tour of our Middle School here or by clicking on the image below.

A text graphic stating, "Our top priority is the aging middle school, with over 2,000 students in grades 6 through 8." The background is dark gray with three vertical colored lines (yellow, blue, and teal) on the bottom left.

The middle school was built in 1964, and the building and its infrastructure are in severe disrepair. Outdated and insufficient spaces present roadblocks to modern learning and innovation for the evolving needs of students, teachers, and staff. 

Addressing infrastructure challenges in aging elementary schools.

Proactive maintenance by the District has helped extend the lifespan of our elementary schools. However, the time has come for more than just upkeep. Three schools in particular – Rydal East, Rydal West, and McKinley – face infrastructure challenges, including outdated HVAC systems, aging roofs and parking lots that the District must address. 

Why address these challenges now? 

A classroom full of students sitting at desks, listening to a teacher standing next to a chalkboard. There is a large digital overlay with the words "SAFETY AND HEALTH" obscuring part of the image.
A group of diverse students and a teacher sitting at a table in a library engaged in a discussion with a focus on educational impact.

Without facility investments, the District will not be able to address safety, health, and capacity challenges.

Group of students with a teacher in a classroom, engaged in a discussion, with the phrase "EQUITY AND INCLUSION" overlayed in white text.

Without facility investments, the District will not be able to build on our innovative educational practices and ensure the best learning environment for a growing student population.

Students seated at tables in a library during a presentation or class, with shelves of books in the background, overlaid with text promoting long-term cost savings.

The District is committed to removing barriers to our students’ path to academic achievement and personal growth. Upgrading our facilities, equipment, and outdoor spaces helps us achieve our mission to educate and support all students.

The longer the District waits to address facility challenges, the costlier it becomes. Operating in perpetual emergency response mode, fixing problems as they arise based solely on urgency and cost, is an unsustainable cycle of inefficiency and expense. 


Community input has been essential in this process. The District will continue to gather information and feedback as we move forward. Over the next few months, residents will have opportunities to review and provide input on the proposed options for Abington Middle School.