Dayton STEM School to Expand with New Elementary Campus at Miami Valley Research Park
The Dayton Regional STEM School is set to expand its footprint with a new elementary campus at the Miami Valley Research Park (MVRP) in Beavercreek and Kettering. The school plans to purchase 9.58 acres of land just south of its current site to build a 60,000 square foot facility for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
Superintendent Robin Fisher expressed her excitement about the expansion, stating that adding a K-5 component has been a long-term goal for the school. The design phase has already begun, with plans to break ground in the fall and accept new student applications in January 2025.
The phased-in admissions approach will start in fall 2025, adding grades K, 1, 2, and 4 initially, and expanding to grades K-5 the following school year. The city of Kettering will sell the land to the STEM school for $55,000 an acre, generating over $525,000 in revenue for the city.
The new elementary campus is expected to not only benefit the school and its students but also the surrounding businesses at MVRP. The collaboration between education and business is seen as a positive step towards providing real-world experiences for students and broadening the array of industries in the area.
City officials believe that the addition of the STEM school will enhance Kettering’s education options and provide parents with more choices for their children’s education. The project is seen as a win-win for the community, bringing together education, business, and economic development in a mutually beneficial way.