Reading Opens $56M Innovation Academy After 5-Year Journey

Students in Reading, Pennsylvania now have access to a brand-new learning space that district leaders hope will transform their futures, one hands-on project at a time.

Reading School District celebrated the grand opening of its Innovation Academy on Thursday, unveiling a $56.2 million facility at 817 N. 9th St. that's been five years in the making. District leaders, students, and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked more than just a new building.

"We're not just opening a building," Superintendent Dr. Khalid Mumin told the crowd. "We are opening the doors, we are opening the minds, and we are opening the future for our young people here in the city."

The academy's journey began in 2021 when district leaders first proposed the project. The road to opening day wasn't easy, with obstacles including the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty about funding, but the district broke ground in 2023 and pushed forward.

The new facility addresses two critical needs at once. It helps reduce overcrowding at Reading High School while creating a modern space focused entirely on career-connected learning. Students can choose from pathways in engineering and design, computer science and information technology, health and biomedical science, and STEM and human services.

Each pathway emphasizes real-world experiences over traditional classroom learning. Associate Principal Amanda Helm promised that every student "will be known, they'll be challenged, and they'll be supported as they discover who they are, what they're capable of, and where they want to go next."

The Ripple Effect

The Innovation Academy represents more than an educational upgrade for Reading students. It signals a major investment in the city's economic future, preparing young people for careers in high-demand fields that could keep talent in the community.

The project came together through input from staff, students, and community members who helped shape what the academy would become. Chief Financial Officer Wayne Gehris noted that pandemic-related funding helped make the dream possible, creating "the everlasting impact that this building and the programs that we will have."

School Board President Dr. Noahleen Betts emphasized the scale of the commitment, reminding attendees that the district invested $56.2 million to bring the Innovation Academy to life. That investment reflects what Assistant Superintendent Wanda Gonzalez-Crespo called "a bold, genuine commitment" to students and "a deep, deep belief in their limitless potential."

The state-of-the-art facility is now ready to welcome students who will learn through doing, exploring career paths while still in high school and graduating with both knowledge and practical skills. For a district that serves one of Pennsylvania's most diverse communities, the Innovation Academy offers a concrete path toward opportunity and a clear message that Reading believes in its young people.