Springfield families saw the doors open at the newly constructed Reed Middle School on Aug. 25. The school, built on its historic site, serves more than 530 sixth‑ through eighth‑grade students from the Bowerman, Boyd, Watkins and Williams elementary districts.
Modern facilities for a modern curriculum
Designed by Sapp Design Architects and built by DeWitt Construction, the $39.8 million project delivers 129,716 sq ft of space, including wider hallways, brighter classrooms and updated security. A standout feature is the polygonal “jewel” on the southwest corner – a 430‑seat performance hall with modern acoustics, updated dressing rooms and a stage that will host the school’s inaugural production of “High School Musical Jr.”
Inside the jewel, students can access a media‑production studio equipped with green‑screen technology, light grids, microphones and cameras, as well as rehearsal rooms for band, choir, art and dance. The school also preserves elements of the original 1923 building, displaying the historic front entrance and repurposing wood from the old gym floor in new collaboration spaces.
Fine Arts Performing Academy
Principal Robin Collins, a former athlete, said the academy makes arts education mandatory alongside math and language arts, aligning with Missouri curriculum standards. “Many kids in our neighborhood lack opportunities to learn an instrument or understand the cultural value of music and art,” Collins explained. The academy offers band, choir, theater, visual art and dance classes, while students not pursuing the arts still have electives such as foreign language.
Students will rotate through exploratory units in sixth grade, sampling band, theater and other disciplines before choosing a focus. Collins emphasized that engagement is key: “If a child isn’t in school, we can’t teach them math or English. The arts can be the bridge that keeps them coming back.”
Community impact
The new gym doubles as a community safe room, and the building houses a food‑pantry service called “The Woodpile” and an intensive support classroom for high‑need learners. With modern traffic lanes for parent and bus drop‑offs, the school aims to serve as a neighborhood hub.
Early data from the Missouri School Improvement Plan show modest gains in attendance and academic scores, which Collins expects to improve as teachers benefit from the upgraded environment. “When you give teachers the tools they need, you see growth in math and English,” she said.
Open enrollment
Reed Middle School is not a magnet school; it participates in the Springfield Public Schools open‑enrollment program, giving any interested middle‑schooler in the city a chance to apply. Most graduates will continue to Hillcrest High School, with some Boyd Elementary students feeding into Central High.
The opening of Reed’s Fine Arts Performing Academy reflects a broader commitment by the district to provide robust, values‑based education that includes both academic fundamentals and artistic expression, supporting families who seek a well‑rounded schooling experience for their children.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
