BURLINGTON — Burlington High School students will begin classes in a new school building in two weeks, bringing an end to five years of learning in a repurposed downtown store while the city replaced the old facility.
New facility built for growth and accessibility
The district says the new building was constructed with capacity for 1,100 students. Current enrollment stands at about 960 students combined between the high school and the adjacent technical center. Officials hope the new space will help stabilize and potentially increase enrollment after the long transition away from the former school.
Inside, the facility features expansive windows and conventional high school spaces — a gymnasium, cafeteria and an auditorium — alongside adaptive learning areas. School leaders emphasized acoustic treatments in music rooms and an accessible balcony that allows people with disabilities to view the main floor from above, a design element added after public feedback.
- Capacity: 1,100 students
- Current enrollment: 960 students (BHS and technical center)
- Public tours: District offering free tours before opening
- Grand opening and ribbon-cutting: Aug. 22
Community response and memories of the old building
Reactions during an early public tour ranged from excitement to wistfulness. Alumni and community members who saw the new lobby said it evoked memories of the old school while also offering modern amenities. One alumna from the class of 1980 told reporters the entrance's soaring ceiling and stair configuration gave her “a feeling of familiarity.”
“When I first walked into the lobby, I had a feeling of familiarity because the old building had an open, tall ceiling with a set of stairs; that was actually a little comforting,”
Incoming students who toured the halls described the space as inviting and well organized. Two first-year students said they felt eager to return to class in the fall. A recent graduate expressed mixed emotions — proud that current students would benefit from the new facility but also a bit envious of the upgrades.
Why the move mattered
The city demolished the previous Burlington High School several years ago following concerns about polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the older building. Since then, high school classes were held in a converted Macy’s department store in the downtown area while the district planned and built the replacement.
Superintendent Tom Flannigan noted the building was sized to serve future needs. He pointed to the current student count as evidence that the district is not yet at capacity and expressed optimism that modern facilities can help attract and retain students.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Building capacity | 1,100 |
| Current enrollment (BHS + tech) | 960 |
| Public ribbon-cutting | Aug. 22 |
What to know before classes start
The district is offering free public tours of the new building in the weeks leading up to the start of school to let families and taxpayers see how the site was configured. Organizers said the tours also respond to community interest in how bond dollars and other funds were used to construct the facility.
School leaders and community members framed the opening as both an end and a beginning: the close of a period spent in temporary quarters and the start of a new chapter for Burlington schools with updated learning spaces and features meant to improve accessibility and student experience.
Administrators will provide details to families about transportation, schedules and any other operational changes before the first day of classes in the new building.
