NEWPORT, R.I. — Under perfect August skies, Newport celebrated a milestone decades in the making as community leaders, students and residents gathered Friday morning to officially open the new Rogers High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Gabe Amo joined Newport Mayor Charles Holder, School Committee members and City Council representatives at 10 a.m. to cut the ribbon on the impressive 167,000-square-foot facility at 15 Wickham Road.
“It was an absolutely perfect day for a ribbon cutting!” the City of Newport declared on social media following the ceremony. “Community members, Rogers alums, students and dignitaries turned out in force.”
The new Rogers High School represents a significant investment in Newport’s educational future, featuring cutting-edge learning spaces, an expansive gymnasium and a community cafe that will be open to the public starting in October. The facility also boasts dedicated career and technical education spaces, state-of-the-art science laboratories and a commercial kitchen for the school’s culinary program.
Superintendent Colleen Jermain welcomed the crowd before the ceremonial ribbon cutting, which was followed by guided tours of the facility from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The ceremony drew an impressive cross-section of the community, including Rogers High School alumni, current students, parents, teachers and staff. Also in attendance were representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Education, members of the dedicated School Building Committee who oversaw the project and several Middletown Town Council members.
The new facility emphasizes hands-on learning opportunities through fully integrated career and technical education programs focusing on the arts and technology. Students will benefit from modern science labs and the school’s signature culinary program, which will operate the Seaside Cafe restaurant featuring student-prepared meals.
The building also incorporates local culture, with donated artwork from Newport artists displayed throughout the facility. Advanced security systems ensure student safety in the modern learning environment.
With the first day of school just over a week away, the ribbon cutting marks the culmination of years of planning and construction.