State education chief on hand for groundbreaking for new elementary school

Rendering shows what new school will look like once completed (Courtesy image)

ROCHESTER - A groundbreaking ceremony for a new elementary school on Salmon Falls Road that has been in the works for 10 years finally took place on Wednesday.

The new school, which was necessary after the aging Nancy Louds School was demolished earlier this summer, is set in the 2025-26 school year, will accommodate up to 420 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

The $33.6 million project is funded through a combination of local and state contributions, including $15.5 million approved by the Rochester City Council, and $15.77 million from the New Hampshire Department of Education, which ranked the project as a top priority for its 2024 funding cycle.

The facility will feature state-of-the-art technology, flexible learning spaces, and specialized areas for music, art, and special education. Local leaders emphasized the importance of this investment in the community's future.

The event was attended by several local leaders, including Rochester Superintendent Annie Azarloza, Assistant Superintendent Alison Bryant and New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut.