Normandin Middle School carries a name deeply rooted in New Bedford's education story. The school is named in honor of Dr. Louis Normandin, a prominent local figure remembered for his lasting commitment to the city's young people.

For generations, students in the North End knew the school as Normandin Junior High, an original brick building that served grades seven through nine and became a genuine neighborhood fixture. In June 2003, alumni were invited back for one final walk through the aging building before it was taken down. In its place rose the modern school that stands at 81 Felton Street today.

Now serving roughly 1,000 students in grades 6–8 as part of New Bedford Public Schools, Normandin has carried its long-standing community spirit into a new era, one the Normandin Navigators are writing the next chapter of.