Richard A. Balderston OPC '69 Lower School

Light-Filled, Child-Centered, Curriculum-Driven

With $135 million in gifts from generous parents and caregivers, faculty and staff, OPCs and many other friends, our community’s commitment to a vibrant Penn Charter has taken us far. How Far? We have now reached another milestone. The new Richard A. Balderston OPC '69 Lower School opened in September 2025. That’s How Far!

Penn Charter's new Lower School reshapes learning for our youngest learners and unites pre-K to 12 students in a vibrant academic community. The school is designed to reflect PC's curriculum and what research tells us about the way children learn and grow. Through the school's ample learning and playing spaces, students are provided with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a complex world.

• 80,000-square feet of interior space for pre-K to 5 students
• Outdoor learning and community spaces
• All first floor classrooms have classroom access to outdoor playgrounds 
• Outdoor classrooms on second-floor rooftops
• A library with more than 2,500 square feet of working space along with a glass classroom, an outside patio, and a reading nook
• A "Friendship Hall" outside the library to offer a flexible space for student activities, displays of student work, parent/caregiver gatherings, and more
• A health suite with ample space for student care and a dedicated bathroom
• A "Discovery Room" for students to engage in active indoor play and projects
• An "Activities Room" that includes a stage for performances and more, a large drop down screen and projector for assembly activities, and technology for classroom activities  
• An Idea Lab
• And more!

It's Here! Watch the Video