The new school year officially begins this Thursday, and as a prelude to the start of classes, the city administration announced that the more than 1,800 schools that make up the public education system in the Big Apple are now joined by 24 new buildings and more than 11,000 additional seats, the highest number in recent years. The new facilities are nine in Brooklyn, eight in the Bronx, one in Manhattan and six in Queens.
In the announcement, made this Wednesday at the opening of PS 487 in the Bronx, Mayor Eric Adams not only mentioned that the new facilities have advanced technology, flexible furniture, science laboratories, and spaces for art and sports, but also warned that he is working on creating more than 37,000 seats for more students.
“Our administration is committed to providing our children with a first-class education, and a crucial part of a great education is having access to great facilities,” said the local leader. “The 24 new buildings we are opening before this school year, with the most K-12 seats in two decades, will accommodate 11,000 additional students and prepare our children and our communities for success.”
The Chancellor of the City’s Public Schools, David Banks, took the opportunity to remind that good school infrastructure contributes to the better development of students’ skills.
“School buildings are the physical representation of the investment we make in our children and our city as we cultivate the next generation of leaders. These new buildings will provide 11,000 new classroom seats, creating more space for bright beginnings and bold futures,” he said.
Bronx Councilman Rafael Salamanca thanked the city for opening more student seats in his borough, the poorest in the city, and stressed that greater investment is needed in educational institutions in that part of the Big Apple, where thousands of migrant families have arrived to restart their lives.
“Here in the South Bronx, we are seeing unprecedented levels of overcrowding in our school system, with class sizes impacting the great work our educators do. With a record number of affordable housing units coming to our district, the need for new educational facilities to meet the needs of our community has grown exponentially,” said the political leader. “Now, not only will this new elementary school serve as a beacon for countless generations of Bronx residents, but the expanded educational amenities will ensure that Bronx youth are no longer left behind.”
The new facilities, defined by the local administration as “innovative learning spaces,” will, among other things, have reading and speaking resource rooms, art and music rooms, special education rooms, libraries, gymnasiums, auditoriums, community integration areas, medical areas, orientation posts, parent and community activity rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, and conference rooms.
Nina Kubota, chairwoman of the city’s School Construction Authority (SCA), said the agency will continue to invest in creating new school seats, not only in areas of current overcrowding and projected growth, but also to help other schools comply with state legislation requiring smaller class sizes.
“SCA’s mission has always been to create and sustain safe, nurturing and inspiring learning environments. These new schools are more than just buildings; they are vibrant and dynamic spaces where young minds can explore, create and grow,” Kubota said. “They also underscore SCA’s dedication to providing equitable access to quality education for all New York City children, highlighting the importance of investing in educational infrastructure as a foundation for student success.”