East Boston Students Step Into a New Era at the Reimagined Patrick J. Kennedy School
Written by b87fm on 10/27/2025
East Boston’s own Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School has officially reopened its doors — brighter, safer, and fully transformed — welcoming students back for the 2025-2026 school year after a $23 million renovation designed to elevate how Boston’s youngest learners experience education.
The upgraded building isn’t just new walls and fixtures — it’s a statement about what Boston’s students deserve. Once an aging structure, the school now features a 3,900-square-foot, two-story addition with a new main entrance, elevator access to all levels, and ADA-compliant bathrooms. Every corner of the building has been refreshed: fully renovated restrooms, upgraded stairways, new hardware, and safety-compliant signage.
Outside, students now enjoy a reimagined playground, improved outdoor play spaces, and a redesigned entryway connecting Bennington Street to the school with new sidewalks and fencing for better safety and accessibility.
“These renovations make PJ Kennedy a place where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired,” said Principal Kristen Goncalves. “It’s more than a building — it’s a reflection of East Boston’s pride and the promise we make to our children.”
The changes extend far beyond appearances. Students now benefit from expanded kindergarten space, a dedicated music room, and upgrades that ensure the school meets modern accessibility and safety standards.
For East Boston families, the project represents an investment in community — and in the next generation.
“This building has educated generations of East Boston kids,” said one parent at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Now it finally looks like the future they deserve.”
The renovation was part of the City’s five-year Capital Plan, led by the Boston Public Schools Capital Planning Department and the City’s Public Facilities Department, with GVW Construction Inc. serving as construction manager and Raymond Design Associates, Inc. as architects.
As the 2025-2026 school year kicks off, East Boston students are walking into more than a newly renovated school — they’re stepping into a renewed commitment to equity, accessibility, and excellence in education.
