The new West Elementary School and the new Shawsheen Preschool are both now open! The new West El welcomed students and staff in August of 2024 for the start of the 2024-25 school year. Summer school for preschoolers in the new Shawsheen began in July of 2025 and the school will be in full operation for the 2025-26 school year.

The final phase of construction will be completed in August of 2025 when new playing fields, roadways, walkways and parking areas in front of the new schools are opened.

We thank the many people who made this possible – staff and managers from throughout the Town of Andover and Andover Public Schools, our elected officials, our building committee, our construction team, project managers, and architects, the MSBA and the citizens of Andover.

Traffic Patterns for the 2025-26 School Year

With the start of the 2025-26 school year, there will be some changes in traffic patterns. School buses will continue to enter the site from High Plain Road, drop off or pick up students behind the new school, and exit onto Beacon Street. Families dropping off or picking up their students at West El will enter school grounds from the southern entrance on Beacon Street, make an immediate right turn, proceed in a counter-clockwise pattern, drop off or pick up on the outer loop in front of the school, and exit the site at the same place where they entered on Beacon St. Families dropping off or picking up their students at Shawsheen will enter school grounds from the northern entrance on Beacon Street, proceed in a counter-clockwise pattern, drop off or pick up on the inner loop in front of the school, and exit the site at the southern entrance on Beacon St. See attached diagram.

For those who would like to learn more about the project, please see the information below. The FAQs and Presentations sections contain lots of useful information. If you still have questions, please contact Joel Blumstein, the Building Committee Chair, at joel.blumstein@andoverma.us.