Milford School District officially dedicated the renovated Milford Middle School on Saturday, September 13 with a ribbon cutting and open house. The project began over four years ago, and the district was able to complete the renovations on time and under budget.
“Saturday was truly a special day in Milford as we celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of Milford Middle School,” the district announced on social media. “Students, families, alumni, current and former administrators, city council members and our community all came together to honor the rich legacy of this beloved school and to celebrate the promise it holds for generations to come.”
There was much energy, pride and a sense of community in the crowd gathered to celebrate the reopening of the historic building. Originally built as the Milford High School, the main portion of the structure has stood since 1929. Over the years, additional wings were added to accommodate a growing student population. After the construction of a new building on Walnut Street, the school was converted from a high school to a middle school.
In 2013, the school was closed permanently due to structural problems. The district went out for referendum in 2014 that would have demolished the building to construct a new middle school on the same property. That referendum failed. The following year, the district again attempted a referendum, this time to construct a new high school where Simpson Crossing now stands. They did not have a plan for the middle school building, stating they could either sell it or demolish it. That request also failed.
Over the next few years, the district held many informational meetings to get public input regarding what the community wanted to see on the property. Public comment overwhelmingly favored keeping the building as a school and retaining as much of the historic portion of the building as possible. An engineering firm reviewed the building and determined that the 1929 portion of it was structurally sound, but the newer wings needed to be demolished. A plan was formed with a new design that retained the brick portion of the school with new wings added.
In October 2021, over 2,000 Milford residents went to the polls and approved a referendum that would allow the district to renovate the building for up to 1,000 fifth and sixth graders. Demolition began in 2023, and construction began in 2024. The district predicted the school would be ready by the 2025-26 school year and they stayed true to their word with the first students entering the renovated building in September 2025.
The school has historical significance, not just in Milford but nationally. It was the site of the first attempt at integration in Delaware after the Supreme Court Brown v. Education case in 1954. That year, 11 African American students began attending Milford High School, leading to massive protests which gained national attention. The entire school board resigned as a result of the protests and, 28 days later, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that the attempt was “premature” and the African American students were unenrolled. In 2012, all were given honorary diplomas from Milford High School.
In 1964, seven African American students, now called the Milford 7, quietly enrolled at Milford High School and were the first to graduate in 1965. The district plans a ceremony in February 2026 to recognize the Milford 11 and the Milford 7.
“We ended up getting it done on time and I think something like $4.5 million under budget which is remarkable, “School Board Vice-President Matt Bucher said during a recent tour. “We’ve had great contractors. We have a great construction manager. We are excited to show it off to the community.”
On the first day of school, just over 700 students entered the building to start the school year. Because the school is under capacity, the third floor is currently being used for offices rather than classrooms.
