Oshkosh Residents Will Select New Middle School Name
The school district is accepting public feedback on three finalists until October 30.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Should public opinion carry more weight than board authority when naming new local schools?
Oshkosh residents can vote on three finalist names for a new middle school by October 30. The district will make a final decision on the name this December.
Why it matters
The school board seeks community input to ensure the new building honors local history, geography, or influential figures who have passed away. This collaborative process follows the narrowing of nearly 900 suggestions to three finalists.
The Facilities Committee narrowed the list of three potential school names from 891 original suggestions submitted by the public. The survey for these finalists remains open until October 30.
The players
Lewis Hine
He was a photographer and educator who grew up in the city of Oshkosh.
Paul Poberezny
He was the founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
The details
The finalists include Lewis Hine Middle School, named after an Oshkosh-born educator and photographer, Paul Poberezny Middle School, for the founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and Quarry Park Middle School, reflecting the park located across from the future site. The school is being built on the property of the former Shapiro STEM Academy.
Timeline
The survey for the naming process remains open until October 30, 2026.
The school board is scheduled to review public feedback on November 11, 2026.
A final decision on the official school name is set for December 2, 2026.
The new middle school is expected to open its doors in the fall of 2028.
Culture Shift
The selection of these specific names follows the Oshkosh Area School District facility naming guidelines. This process reflects a broader trend of municipal districts using public participation to align infrastructure projects with local historical and geographical heritage.
Residents can influence the final identity of the new middle school by participating in the online survey before the October 30 deadline. This choice directly shapes the branding and local recognition of the facility scheduled to open at the former Shapiro STEM Academy site in 2028.
The takeaway
Participating in district surveys allows community members to directly contribute to the naming of local landmarks. Residents should ensure they submit their feedback via the official portal before the end of October to be included in the board's final review.
What happens next
The school board is scheduled to review public feedback on November 11, 2026, followed by a final decision on the school's name on December 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local school development, visit the Secondary Education page.
More information
To participate in the selection, visit the middle school name survey.
Live Poll
Should public opinion carry more weight than board authority when naming new local schools?
