Future of the 158 Spring Street School Building
In December 2024, the Cambridge School Committee voted to close the Kennedy-Longfellow School, a K-5 school in East Cambridge, at the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools. The school closed in June 2025.
The City of Cambridge has committed funds through its capital improvement budget to provide for investments in the 158 Spring Street building that will allow the Cambridge Public Schools to retain the building for use as a school located in East Cambridge, and that will place more CPS students in better positions to succeed by providing an enhanced learning environment through necessary renovations to the building.
Project Summary
There are three elements that we are seeking to accomplish with the renovations:
- Building: Through approximately $10 million in capital investments, renovations to critical infrastructure will enhance the educational experience and extend the building’s lifespan.
- Programming: Identifying what options are most likely to put more CPS students in better positions to succeed, with a focus on supporting students in high-need populations.
- Field: Approximately $6.5 million investment in the John A. Ahern Field, to benefit both CPS and the Cambridge community at large.
Preliminary project priorities include:
- Instructional impacts: Auditorium, gym, technology, and flex space(s)
Aesthetic impacts: Cafeteria floor and ceiling, restroom floors, framing and drywall, carpentry, reception area/lobby
- Safety impacts: Sanitary systems, pest control, asbestos abatement, PA systems
- Operational impacts: HVAC systems, elevators, plumbing systems
Community Engagement