Springfield Prep Open House - Fall 2021

View from playground to entrance of new Springfield Prep. (MassLive)

Family visiting new elementary classrooms.

As she looked around the building assessing classroom space, Jenahsiz Millan Tao said the new Springfield Prep Charter School is just the right size. “I love it. I like all the space in the classrooms and that the teachers are nice and kind,” said the 9-year-old, soon to be a fourth-grader, as she and her family toured the recently completed school at 2071 Roosevelt Ave. in East Springfield. The former office building was renovated at a cost of $20.4 million.

Springfield Prep is set to open next week, but parents, students and staff got a sneak peek inside on Thursday. The most common reaction from everyone who visited was surprise at how much space the new building has. “We went from about 20,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet, so it certainly is a change for us,” said Bill Spirer, executive director. The school started off on Pine Street seven years ago sharing space with Veritas Prep Charter School. Then it was at the Jewish Community Center campus on the Springfield/Longmeadow line.

Ashley Shaw, a second-grade teacher and grade level chairwoman, has been with the school since it was founded and said the new building feels like a fresh start. “It’s the little things like the windows that let light in and more space in the classrooms. We are excited to be somewhere where the kids can really grown and learn and we can have a great time teaching,” she said.

Staff welcome visiting students at Springfield Prep (MassLive)