Philadelphia’s newest school, the $62 million Alternative Middle Years at James Martin, is scheduled to open in Port Richmond after the winter break in early 2026, writes Kristen A. Graham for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The school recently welcomed community members, district officials, and dignitaries who got the chance to tour the new building. They noted how meaningful the project feels for a district that has long dealt with deteriorating structures and, in some cases, facilities facing significant environmental concerns.
“This is what growth looks like,” said Paula Furman, AMY at James Martin’s principal.
The middle school teaches 200 students in grades six to eight.
The 88,000 square foot, four-story building provides generous natural light and a wide range of flexible seating options, supported by a makerspace, a digital flex lab, and a blended gym and auditorium that the community has affectionately labeled the gymnatorium. It includes updated science labs and fully dedicated areas for instrumental and vocal music, and to top it off, the rooftop outdoor classroom has a striking view of Center City that enhances the overall learning environment.
The building takes the place of the 1894 school structure that was demolished to provide room for the new modern facility.
Read more about AMY at James Martin’s opening in Port Richmond in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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