The New York City Education Department says it will open nine new schools later this year.
Chalkbeat New York reports that the new schools will offer a mix of elementary, middle, and high school programs across three of the city’s five boroughs.
Schools Chancellor David Banks says the new schools are a way to address the “serious hemorrhaging” of students in recent years. Enrollment had fallen by more than 100,000 students, beforevticking back up slightly last year.
Five of the schools will be housed in new buildings that will open later this year, said Nina Kubota, president of the NYC School Construction Authority.
The development of the new schools runs counter to the recommendations of a working group tasked advising New York City’s public schools on complying with a state law capping class sizes. A report from the group advised the city against opening new schools — instead suggesting that resources be directed to existing, underutilized schools to provide new programs and services.
The nine new schools:
- Motion Picture Technical High School in Queens will give students a chance to explore potential careers in the film and television industry. The school will provide students with immersive training in video production, post-production, and production-design
- Bard High School Early College in Brooklyn will enable students to earn an associate degree by the time they graduate from high school. The Bard model already has highly sought-after sites in Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx.
- M.S. 644 in the Bronx will offer a middle school education focused on debate, multilingualism, and experiential learning.
- M.S. 428 in Brooklyn will offer middle school students dual language programs in Chinese and Spanish.
- M.S. 407 in Brooklyn will offer a medical- and STEAM-focused program.
- P.S. 413 in Brooklyn will offer an inclusive learning community for elementary students.
- P.S. 331 in Brooklyn will emphasize “empowering graduates with a profound understanding of entrepreneurial pathways, sensible financial knowledge, and proficiency in strong communication and technology skills."
- P.S. 456 in Brooklyn will follow the model of the Brooklyn New School, offering “inquiry-based curriculum centering on exploration, problem-solving, and becoming change agents."
- P.S. 482 Albee Square Montessori Public School in Brooklyn will be the first Montessori-inspired public school in the city, according to the Education Department.
