South Middle School Open, Ready To Welcome Braintree Students

BRAINTREE, MA — The new school year is upon the students, teachers and faculty in Braintree, but there's a new element for the 2023-2024 year. South Middle School, the long-awaited new building — a first in the last 50 years for the town — is open along with the rest of the school buildings on Wednesday.

A ribbon cutting was held on Friday at the new school, and teachers were able to get into the building to start prepping their classrooms during the week of Aug. 14, officials said.

"The energy throughout the building is downright gleeful as folks see the light-filled classrooms, spacious hallways, and state-of-art facilities that will be supporting our students’ learning and growth going forward," school officials said in an Aug. 16 letter.

"Of course, the faculty is always excited to welcome a new class of scholars every fall, but this year takes that sense of rebirth and limitless possibility to a whole new level."

The 146,000-square-foot building was constructed behind the existing school. It was approved through a $63 million debt exclusion that Braintree voters approved in a special election in the fall. The state was expected to pay $31 million of the cost.

School officials said the new South Middle School will consist of three main parts. The first section will include a dining room/auditorium, media commons, two innovation labs with computers and a band room.

The second part of the school will consist of two two-story sections, organized by grade. This is where classrooms will be, with grades seven and eight in one and the lower grades in another.

The third part of the building is the athletic wing and will include two gymnasiums, one with bleachers and one without. In the middle will be a courtyard with three seating areas designed to allow teachers to take a classroom outside.