Middletown Middle High School
Now in construction, the new Middletown Middle High School will serve as a model for future school projects, as one of the first combined grade 6-12 public schools in Rhode Island. Designed in partnership with DBVW Architects, this facility is a showcase for the expanded resources, operational and financial efficiencies, and educational opportunities that a well-designed middle high school can provide.
Middletown, RI
212,000 sf
6 – 12
1,088
4 CTE programs
Tracking NE-CHPS Verified Leader
The new middle high school is the leading project in Middletown’s school facility master plan, designed to foster equity and operational efficiency across the district. The plan consolidates grades PK-1 in an early education center and relocates grades 2-5 to the former high school building, which is now being renovated for elementary-level education.
The decision to combine Middletown’s middle and high school into a single facility necessitated thoughtful design strategies that establish distinct identities for each school and ensure age-appropriate learning environments.
Dedicated middle and high school academic wings flank a public-facing core, replicating the experience of two separate schools within a single facility. Each wing features clusters of classrooms, science labs, project areas, and support spaces surrounding multi-story lightwells.
Characterized by its tall ceilings, expansive windows, and tile murals, the central core provides a bright and welcoming environment for students and Middletown community members with public-facing spaces including dining areas, a media center, performance venues, and athletic facilities. A forum stair bridges the significant elevation change across the site, connecting separate middle and high school entrances on the first and second floor and providing informal space for large gatherings, dining, study, or socializing.
With this project, Middletown has expanded its high school career technical education (CTE) programs in computer science, health careers, and manufacturing technology with state-of-the-art labs, makerspaces, and shops that open to outdoor learning spaces for large-scale projects. High school CTE spaces, middle school STEM classrooms, and art rooms for both levels are located directly off of the school’s main thoroughfare, creating a CTE-STEAM spine that promotes hands-on, career-focused learning opportunities at all levels.
