Dear School Community,
We are writing to share an exciting strategic initiative the Collingswood School District is undertaking: the transition to a unified 6–12 campus model, merging the current middle school (grades 6–8) and high school (grades 9–12) into a single campus. This transition is scheduled to begin in the 2026-2027 school year.
Why This Change? A Focus on Student Success and Efficiency
Our core mission is to provide an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers every student to become a positive contributor to an equitable community. To continue delivering an outstanding educational experience while responsibly managing the financial challenges the District has faced, we have decided to maximize efficiency through this unified model.
This merger is driven by two main commitments: student success and responsible fiscal stewardship. The unified 6–12 campus aims to achieve the following:
● Seamless Educational Path: Create a smoother, continuous learning experience for students from the start of 6th grade through high school graduation.
● Strengthened Academics: Improve curriculum alignment and significantly increase student access to advanced and accelerated programming currently only available at the high school.
● Greater Consistency: Reduce the disruption students currently face by establishing a single, cohesive school culture and consistent expectations across all grades.
● Improved Support: Strengthen resources dedicated to ensuring college and career readiness for all students, starting earlier in their educational journey.
● Enhanced Efficiency: Proactively address financial pressures and enrollment patterns through improved efficiency in staffing, space utilization, and service delivery.
Our Commitment to the Community
We understand that a change of this magnitude will bring many questions. We deeply value the unique contributions and identity of both Collingswood Middle School and High School and are committed to navigating this transition with thoughtfulness, transparency, and sensitivity to the experiences of our students, staff, and families.
The success of the Unified 6–12 Campus model depends on robust, collaborative community participation. We are launching a comprehensive engagement process to ensure all stakeholder voices are heard. This will include public meetings and smaller working groups for participants to review model schools and contribute to the phased planning process.
The District is committed to keeping you informed throughout the year with regular updates. We look forward to working with you to lay the foundation for the next generation of learners in Collingswood.
Sincerely,
Dr. Fred McDowell
Superintendent