$7M renovations completed at Gorham High School

Gorham High School Opens Newly‑Expanded Facilities for Freshman, Seniors and Community

Gorham, Maine – Students, faculty and community members gathered Tuesday for the ribbon‑cutting of a $7‑million renovation package that now welcomes a larger student body into an expanded high school. The project, which includes a 12,322‑square‑foot cafeteria, seven modular classrooms, new tennis courts and a fresh track‑and‑field complex, is finished and ready for the first day of classes this week.

The school’s 870‑student enrollment is projected to exceed 900 next year, prompting the district to seek additional space. Voters approved the borrowing of money for the projects in November of 2024 and again in November 2025, giving the district a two‑year plan to meet the needs of a growing student population.

“We needed a larger cafeteria, more classroom space, and better athletic facilities to keep pace with our students’ needs,” Superintendent Heather Perry explained at the ceremony. “The last major expansion was in 1994 when we added space for 750 students. Today we’re preparing for more than 900.”

A 12,322‑square‑foot expansion of the cafeteria, the largest addition since 1994, replaces an old lunchroom that once saw students eating on the floor. Chair of the Gorham School Committee, Nicole Yeo‑Fisher, recalled the days of “kids sitting and eating lunch on the floor,” underscoring how the new space will “help them focus and learn.” The new cafeteria will accommodate larger crowds, provide more table space and create a place for students to relax during downtime.

The modular classroom addition brings seven brand‑new rooms, six of which will house world‑language courses. Spanish teacher Leah Scontras was among the first to set up her new classroom after the ribbon‑cutting. “Now we have plenty of space to turn and participate in conversations,” she told reporters, adding that the room’s extra storage and wall space will allow her to display Spanish posters and vocabulary. “We had a whole bin of extra posters that people just grabbed from,” Scontras said, highlighting the resourcefulness of teachers prior to the expansion.

Rising senior Lucas Lane, who has taken French at Gorham, also praised the new classrooms. “Learning the language depends on conversations and actually seeing one another,” Lane said. “It’s been hard in cramped classrooms, but now we have room to talk and learn.”

The seventh modular classroom will serve as a Career Aspirations hub and community space, according to coordinator Kelli Deveaux. The new area will host guest speakers and community events, a function previously performed in the library. “It’s a great way to bring people together and broaden our students’ horizons,” Deveaux said.

Athletic upgrades were a major focus of the renovation. A fresh track and field complex and brand‑new tennis courts replaced the aging facilities that had long been used by local youth and the high school’s teams. Construction work was split between several firms: Great Falls Construction handled the cafeteria and classroom expansion; Shaw Brothers Construction worked on the track and field replacement with Maine Tennis and Track; and Beaverbrook Tennis was responsible for the new tennis courts.

Town Councilor Janet Kuech praised the project’s impact on the community. “I appreciate the continued use of the facilities that our son played tennis on, and where our daughter ran hurdles back more than 20 years ago,” Kuech said. “I trust that these projects are just the beginning of the Town Council, school committee and taxpayer commitment to collaborating and investing in maintaining the resources so important to the future of our growing community.”

Chair Yeo‑Fisher concluded the ceremony with a note of encouragement to seniors and incoming students. “I think you’ll enjoy the space when you’re able to fill it with some great memories before you leave us as seniors and move on,” she told the crowd.

The new facilities will open on Monday, marking the start of a school year that will see students take advantage of upgraded spaces and new athletic opportunities. With the renovations in place, Gorham High School is poised to continue serving a growing population while providing a modern environment that supports learning, creativity, and community engagement.