Washington Site
Our Future Home at Washington School
30 Years of Odyssey. A Permanent Home. A Future Full of Possibility.
For 30 years, Odyssey Community School has provided students and families with a high-quality, innovative PreK–8 public education grounded in academic excellence, belonging, curiosity, and community.
Now, we are preparing for an exciting new chapter.
Odyssey Community School is working in partnership with the Town of Manchester to establish a permanent home at the former Washington School. This transformational project is about much more than a larger building. It is about creating more opportunities for our students while protecting the relationships, culture, and sense of belonging that have defined Odyssey for three decades.
Washington School is located at 94 Cedar Street, Manchester.
Growing Opportunity
More Space. More Opportunities for Every Otter.
One of the most exciting possibilities of Washington School is what a larger, intentionally designed campus could make possible for Odyssey students.
Our current facility has served us well, but space limitations restrict our ability to expand programs, extracurricular activities, performances, recreation, community partnerships, and other experiences for students.
Washington gives us the opportunity to imagine more.
Current plans envision opportunities for:
- Large, light-filled classrooms and flexible learning spaces
- Expanded academic and enrichment programming
- Dedicated spaces for science, STEM, innovation, and hands-on learning
- Dedicated spaces for art, music, chorus, and performances
- An expanded gymnasium and increased athletic and recreational opportunities
- Spaces for whole-school gatherings, celebrations, and performances
- Outdoor classrooms and learning areas
- Updated playgrounds and recreational spaces
- Expanded green space and community park areas
- Greater opportunities for partnerships with community organizations
- Improved accessibility, safety, and security
Our goal is to create a campus that gives students more ways to learn, explore, create, perform, collaborate, play, and belong.
As schematic design progresses, these plans will continue to evolve and become more detailed.
Expanded Access to an Odyssey Education
Demand for an Odyssey education has grown significantly beyond the capacity of our current school.
Today, Odyssey serves approximately 420 students, with more than 450 additional students on our waiting list. Washington School would allow Odyssey to expand to approximately 630 students by adding one additional classroom at each grade level.
This growth would allow more children and families to access an Odyssey education while also creating the scale and space needed to expand educational experiences for all Odyssey students.
The expansion will occur gradually through a thoughtful, three-year phased implementation.
Our commitment throughout that process remains clear:
Expanded access. Expanded opportunity. The same commitment to excellence, belonging, and community.
Learn more about how Odyssey has grown over the years by visiting our school history.
More Than a School. A Community Resource.
Our vision for Washington extends beyond the school day and beyond the walls of the building.
In partnership with the Town of Manchester and community organizations, we envision a campus that can strengthen connections between Odyssey and the surrounding community through green space, parks, recreation, youth programming, community events, and other partnerships.
Revitalizing the former Washington School provides an opportunity not only to create a permanent home for Odyssey, but also to bring new life and activity to an important Manchester neighborhood.
From Vision to Reality
Transforming Washington School is a significant, multi-year undertaking.
We are currently advancing several important areas of work simultaneously.
Schematic Design
Our architectural team is developing schematic designs that will further define the educational spaces, building improvements, expansion, outdoor areas, and overall vision for the Washington site.
Construction Planning
We are meeting with contractors and other professionals to refine preliminary construction estimates and better understand the scope, phasing, and cost of the project.
Funding Strategy
A project of this magnitude will require a combination of public funding, philanthropy, financing, organizational resources, and community partnerships. We are actively developing relationships with foundations, corporations, philanthropic organizations, and other potential partners.
Town Partnership
We continue working closely with the Town of Manchester as planning progresses for both the school and the surrounding community spaces.
Community Engagement
Students, families, staff, alumni, and community members will have opportunities to learn about the project and help shape Odyssey's next chapter.
Help Us Open Doors
Your Relationships Can Help Build Odyssey's Future
One of the most powerful ways our community can support this project is by helping us build relationships.
Do you have a connection to a charitable foundation, family foundation, corporation, business leader, philanthropic organization, or individual who cares deeply about education, children and families, STEM, the arts, parks and recreation, or community development?
We would welcome an introduction.
You do not need to make a funding request on Odyssey's behalf. Simply opening the door and introducing us can make an enormous difference.
Documents and News
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Our staff provided input on the main Educational Specifications for a larger school. The architect will consider these design requests in their plans.
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Slides from the Town of Manchester Board of Directors Meeting Presentation 8/11/26
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