ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Building 21 High School will be renamed in fall to reflect its status as Allentown School District’s fourth theme-based school.
As of the 2025-26 school year, it will become Bridgeview Academy of Health, Science, Innovation and Technology.
The school board on Thursday approved the high school’s new name, along with $150,000 in funding to update the school’s signage and logo.
“Just as the bridge physically links different parts of Allentown, the school welcomes and unites students from across the entire district.”Jennifer Bryant, executive director of instructional leadership
The name emerged from a community survey and school naming committee.
“‘Bridgeview’ signifies both the connection to the city’s innovative past and the school's role in fostering future innovation,” district Executive Director of Instructional Leadership Jennifer Bryant said.
“Just as the bridge physically links different parts of Allentown, the school welcomes and unites students from across the entire district.”
Bryant also noted the school’s proximity to the 8th Street Bridge, also known as the Albertus L. Meyers Bridge, which was completed in 1913 and once celebrated as the world's longest and highest concrete bridge.
Bridgeview Academy will be at Building 21’s current campus at 265 Lehigh St.
Prepares students for careers
The academy will focus on artificial intelligence, computer science and allied health careers.
Allied health careers are related to the identification, evaluation and prevention of diseases, according to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.
The jobs include physical therapist, sonographer, radiologist, dental hygienist and others.
Theme-based schools are part of the vision for the district's future.Allentown Schools Superintendent Carol Birks
Bridgeview Academy will transition to its new themes in phases, introducing computer science courses in fall. AI and allied health courses will follow in subsequent phases.
Schools Superintendent Carol Birks has said theme-based schools are part of her vision for the district’s future.
Last fall, the district opened Central Elementary STREAM Academy — the region’s first non-charter, non-private theme-based school, according to ASD.
Through a partnership with the Da Vinci Science Center, Central students are taught about science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and math.
They also spend time at the science center, which functions as a satellite campus.
Additionally, the district plans to build a new school on the city’s East Side for students in kindergarten through eighth grades.
Superintendent Birks said the district intends for the school to also have a theme.
The district’s two other theme-based schools are the Ruby Bridges Early Childhood Center and the Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy.
