Feb. 4, 2025
Construction of a new Pipkin Middle School is one step closer to becoming a reality. On January 21, 2025, Springfield Public Schools closed on the 8.86 acre property previously owned by The General Council of the Assemblies of God. The closing comes after a 180-day period of due diligence, which allowed SPS to fully assess the site and complete other necessary requirements prior to development.
“We are pleased that we have achieved this important milestone and are positioned to move forward with building a new middle school for students in midtown Springfield,” said Dr. Grenita Lathan, superintendent. “Our community was committed to keeping Pipkin as close to its current location as possible. Residents will soon start to see visible signs of progress.”
The property, located only a quarter of a mile from the current Pipkin location, is bordered by West Division Street on the north, West Lynn Street on the south and North Campbell Avenue on the east.
Demolition of existing structures on the property should begin in March 2025 and construction of the school is expected to be completed in 2027.
In March 2024, the Board of Education unanimously approved purchasing the property, following a lengthy search for a suitable parcel of land large enough to accommodate a modern middle school campus near the heart of the Pipkin community.
The purchase of the property and construction of the new middle school is funded by Proposition S, which voters authorized in April 2023 with a 77.67 percent approval rate.
“Moving forward at this location honors the feedback we received from Pipkin parents and other community members and fits with the recommendations made by the Community Task Force on Facilities,” Dr. Lathan explained.
“This will be an exciting new era for Pipkin Middle School and our community,” said Mr. Duane Cox, principal. “Our students, staff and parents are eager to watch the progress of their new school home as it is constructed over the next two years.”
For more information on Proposition S, visit www.sps.org/props.
