Newark Opens Doors To $73M Oliver Street School: 1st In East Ward In 104 Years

Newark, NJ – The first students have officially set foot in Newark’s new Oliver Street School.

Last month, city officials and district administrators joined local students, parents and teachers at the grand opening of the new, $73.6 million facility, the second newly constructed facility in the school district this year after Elliot Street School was opened in March of 2016.

“There are signs that we are making progress toward a brighter future here in Newark every day,” Mayor Ras Baraka said. “Welcoming Oliver Street families to the first new school in the East Ward in 104 years is just another example of that important progress.”

Located on the west side of the existing school at 86 Oliver Street, the new school is 137,000 square feet with 40 classrooms and will serve approximately 850 students, district administrators said.

The new building will also provide access to a separate cafeteria, media center, and gymnasium, school officials stated.

The school will continue to serve grades prekindergarten through 8 in the 2016-2017 school year, officials said.

In addition to the Oliver Street School project, the district is also planning a construction project at South St. School, which is planned for completion in fall of 2018, and recently completed arrangements with a design company, school administrators stated in a news release.

• See related article: Design Work on New Oliver St. School Underway

Sign up for Patch NJ email newsletters here.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: Newark Public Schools