The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has proposed creating a new school, Queens International, at the partially occupied Ridgewood Middle School (IS 77) to accommodate the influx of recently immigrated students. This plan is part of an effort to address overcrowding in School District 24, one of the city’s most overcrowded districts. However, the proposal has faced opposition from IS 77 parents, who are concerned about the disruption caused by past co-location experiences. Parents cite problems with a previous co-location of Bushwick Leaders High School, which they say created an unsafe environment and breached trust with the DOE. The new school would serve students who have been in the U.S. for four years or less, with grades 6 and 9 starting in the 2025-2026 school year, and additional high school grades phased in over time.
Parents speak out as DOE proposes new school for recently immigrated students at Ridgewood’s IS 77
