Bear Hill Elementary School
Coming in August 2027 - Bear Hill Elementary School
Bear Hill Elementary School Construction Update - Winter 2026
The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is pleased to share continued progress on the construction of Bear Hill Elementary School, the District’s sixth elementary school, located at 1200 West Swedesford Road in Berwyn. Following the official groundbreaking on July 31, 2025, work on the site is advancing steadily as crews transform the building in preparation for its opening.
Recent milestones in the project include the completion of underground plumbing and electrical systems throughout the first floor, as well as interior framing and HVAC installation. Construction teams have also demolished the original stair towers and begun erecting new ones in their updated locations. Across the property, significant site work and stormwater management efforts are underway to support long‑term infrastructure needs. In addition, the new Gymnatorium addition is taking shape with ongoing excavation and block wall construction.
The project remains on schedule, with Bear Hill Elementary School set to welcome its first students in the 2027–28 school year.
Bear Hill Elementary School Construction Update - Fall 2025
The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is pleased to share the latest progress on the construction of Bear Hill Elementary School, the District’s sixth elementary school, located at 1200 West Swedesford Road in Berwyn. Following the official groundbreaking on July 31, 2025, construction is now well underway, with visible changes taking shape on site.
Recent work includes the removal of curbs, sidewalks, parking lot islands, and building entry steps and pavers, clearing the way for future site work. Inside work includes concrete cutting and removal on the first floor to prepare for plumbing installation, as well as demolition of the existing stair towers. This work follows the issuance of construction permits and the mobilization of prime contractors, who are now actively working on site.
TESD Breaks Ground on Bear Hill Elementary School - July 31, 2025
On July 31, 2025, members of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District School Board and administration, along with representatives from Heckendorn Shiles Architects, gathered to celebrate the official groundbreaking of Bear Hill Elementary School. This milestone marks the beginning of construction for TESD’s sixth elementary school at 1200 West Swedesford Road in Berwyn.
The TESD School Board awarded construction bids at its July 2025 meeting, and construction is set to begin this month. Bear Hill Elementary School is scheduled to be open for the 2027–2028 school year and will support full-day kindergarten and accommodate high elementary enrollment. For more information about the Bear Hill Elementary School project, visit www.tesd.net/newelementaryschool.
School Board Approves Bear Hill Elementary School as the Name of New Elementary School on March 24, 2025
The T/E School District is excited to announce that, following an extensive public engagement process, the District’s new school will be named Bear Hill Elementary School.
The naming process included multiple opportunities for community input. The Ad Hoc Public Information Committee met in November to initiate discussions, followed by an online form that allowed community members to submit name suggestions. After reviewing submissions, a second Public Information Committee Meeting was held in January, and another online form allowed the public to provide feedback on the final four name choices. The process concluded with a final Committee meeting in March, before the School Board officially approved the name at its March 24 meeting.
Throughout the process, the District was pleased to see such strong participation, with more than 1,300 instances of public input collected during key phases. The selection of Bear Hill Elementary School reflects the community’s voice and a shared vision for the new school.
The District is also grateful to the representatives from the Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society, Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust, the Tredyffrin Township Historical Commission, and Mount Zion AME Church for their partnership throughout the naming process. Their insights and contributions were invaluable in ensuring the historical significance of the school’s name. We also appreciate the input of local first responders who reviewed name options from an emergency response perspective.
The District has been working closely with Tredyffrin Township to obtain all necessary approvals for the new elementary school project, culminating in the District's receipt of approval from the Tredyffrin Planning Commission in February. February also marked the conclusion of the selective demolition project that began in November. During this period, most interior walls, flooring, ceilings, mechanicals, and plumbing were removed in preparation for the building’s conversion to an elementary school. The building is currently gutted, with primarily steel and concrete remaining. Construction bid documents are scheduled for release to interested contractors on Friday, March 28, and construction is expected to begin in August on both the existing building and the gym addition. Although the building may appear untouched from the outside, significant planning and interior demolition have already taken place, and the school's anticipated opening remains on track for August 2027. As the project progresses, we encourage the community to stay engaged by visiting www.tesd.net/newelementaryschool for future updates and developments.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this important decision!
School Board Approves New K-4 Elementary School on May 28, 2024
At the May 28, 2024 Regular School Board Meeting, the Board adopted a resolution approving a new K-4 elementary school, full-day kindergarten and a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) special. In addition, TESD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Gusick presented an overview of the work leading up to the launch of the new elementary school.
On April 2, 2024, TESD became the owner of a 15-acre property located at 1200 West Swedesford Road in Berwyn and the existing building on the property will be adaptively reused for the purpose of a sixth elementary school. The projected opening date for the new elementary school is August 2027. Additional details about the process that led to the decision to open a sixth elementary school are available at www.tesd.net/enrollment.
Over the next three years, TESD staff will work diligently with the School Board and community to prepare for the successful launch of the new school. The District will focus on nine areas in preparation for the opening of the school in August 2027: construction, financing, Elementary Blueprint for Instruction, redistricting, special education, staffing, safety & security, equity and transportation.
This web page will be expanded in the coming months as TESD moves forward with the new elementary school project. Throughout this process, the District remains committed to open communication and ongoing collaboration with families, staff and community members. The District encourages community members to stay engaged in the process as we work together to provide the best possible educational experience for all TESD students and families.