Manchester Public Schools Master Plan

The Manchester Public Schools Master Plan is a transformative effort to address decades of underinvestment in K-12 school infrastructure and to align educational environments with the evolving needs of New Hampshire’s largest school district.

Shaped by input from educators, residents, and local businesses, the Master Plan provides a road map for the city public school building projects, including “Priority One”, a $306 million investment that includes four renovated middle schools and a brand-new elementary school. These next-generation learning environments are set to inspire students and teachers, improving life outcomes and making Manchester a more attractive place for businesses and young families.

Manchester has long been among the lowest-funded school districts in New Hampshire.

Many of its public-school facilities suffer from outdated layouts, poor lighting, inadequate heating and ventilation, and limited space for modern educational needs like STEM labs, special education, and breakout rooms. These conditions have not only hindered learning but also discouraged teacher retention and student engagement.

“Manchester is amazing—we have tremendous growth happening within our city. Unfortunately, over the years, we have not invested in our school facilities at the same clip. The Master Plan is important as not only a visual representation of the value we place on public education, but as an investment in the city’s future.”

— Dr. Jennifer Chmiel, Superintendent

Manchester's Priority One projects include renovating four existing middle schools—Hillside, Parkside, McLaughlin, and Southside—and building a new elementary school at Beech Street.

Beech Street Elementary School

Hillside Middle School

McLaughin Middle School

McLaughlin Middle School

SMMA conducted site selection, site analysis, conceptual design, budgeting, and project phasing.

To create the Master Plan, the team partnered with all 21 public school principals in Manchester, analyzing each building in turn. This process included a facility assessment, which took inventory of the building layout and condition, and an educational assessment, which determined the adequacy of spaces for the educational programs offered.

The Master Plan supports the district’s long-term educational goals.

The investment in new and renovated school buildings will help the district align its physical spaces with curriculum, staffing, and student needs.

Key educational goals supported by the plan include:

Vertically aligned curriculum from early childhood through high school.
Expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways to prepare students for college and careers.
Whole-child learning environments, including access to green space, flexible classrooms, and social-emotional support.
Modernized school facilities, including four renovated middle schools and a brand-new Beech Street Elementary School.

Manchester Public Schools faced another challenge – how to communicate to the public the complex, multi-layered information unearthed by the Master Plan?

To help, SMMA’s team of architects, engineers, educational planners, and graphic designers created an interactive “data dashboard” and a 104-page report.

The dashboard provides an overview of the district for the 2022-23 school year, along with individual school data, building reports, digital assets, and various data visualizations. It also serves to guide the district and SMMA toward achieving the Master Plan’s long-term educational goals.