Experience K12 New Haverhill Elementary Portage Public Schools New Haverhill ElementaryPortage, Michigan // 68,000 sq. ft. Haverhill Elementary opened in fall 2025 as one of the first five new elementary schools completed through Portage Public Schools’ district-wide initiative to replace five aging schools originally built in the 1960s. The new school reflects the district’s vision for the future of education, providing a modern learning environment that supports flexibility, collaboration, and student success. Portage partnered with TowerPinkster to create an innovative educational space that utilizes learning communities and common spaces rather than the traditional model of a double-loaded corridor with individual classrooms. The building is organized into learning communities for each grade level. Within each learning community, educators and students share resources and spaces, choosing the best room setup based on the day’s needs. They swapped out rigid chairs in orderly rows and stagnant teaching desks for flexible and movable furniture, including pieces that encouraged student movement, group desks, floor seating, standing options, and lounge furniture. These options provide students with a variety of posture choices. These environments–including nooks and breakout spaces–give teachers greater flexibility to support small-group instruction, hands-on learning, and individualized support while encouraging collaboration among students and educators. The schools are designed to reflect the neighborhoods they serve. At Haverhill Elementary, the design team carefully integrated the new school into its established residential setting and surrounding natural landscape. Haverhill Elementary represents a new chapter for Portage Public Schools, combining innovative learning environments with a strong sense of place. Designed to support collaboration, flexibility, and student success, the school provides a welcoming foundation for learning today and for generations to come.
