Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus

Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus grew out of a community-wide conversation about how best to serve students across RSU 24 for generations to come. As district leaders, families, and educators looked at the future of their aging school facilities, they saw an opportunity to do more than replace a building. They envisioned a school that could bring students together, expand educational opportunities, and provide equitable access to programs across the district's nine rural communities.

That vision became the 103,000 SF Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus, a grades 6–12 school that opened in 2023 and replaced the former Sumner Memorial High School. Designed as a shared learning community, the campus brings middle and high school students together while giving them access to modern science labs, maker spaces, innovation labs, career and technical learning environments, breakout spaces, and a centrally located Learning Commons. The building balances opportunities for collaboration with spaces tailored to different age groups' needs, creating an environment where students can explore their interests, build new skills, and prepare for future success.

The project was shaped by extensive community engagement and close collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, helping build consensus around a solution that supports both students and taxpayers. Today, the Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus serves as a regional hub for learning, providing expanded educational opportunities while creating a sustainable long-term home for students across eastern Maine.