(FLUSHING) The City Council on Wednesday voted to approve a new 696-seat elementary school in Councilmember Sandra Ung’s district.

“This vote is a commitment to providing a quality education and shaping a brighter future for our children,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung. “This new school will enable our children to thrive both academically and personally, and I look forward to welcoming the first group of students to brand new, state-of-the-art learning facility.”

The new school will be built on a nearly 70,000-square-foot vacant lot at 137-31 45^th Avenue in Flushing. The proposal includes 36 classrooms for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, including two special education rooms.

The new building will have a kitchen/cafeteria, medical and administrative suites, gymnasium, and a library. There will also be dedicated science, art, and music spaces, as well as guidance and resource rooms.

The project also includes a 29,800-square-foot play yard on the northern portion of the project site. It is slated to open in September of 2027.

The new school will not only serve the current needs of the district, but will help the Department of Education (DOE) comply with a new law passed by the state legislature last year to reduce class sizes. The law requires DOE to limit kindergarten through 3^rd grade classes to 20 students, while class sizes in 4^th through 8^th grade classes will be capped at 23 students. Implementation will be phased in over the next five years.

According to a report released by the Independent Budget Office in July, if schools had been required to fully comply with the new law in September of 2023, nearly 72 percent of the schools in School District 25, which includes the Councilmember’s City Council district, would be over-enrolled.

“This new school will help DOE meet the new state requirements in addition to being a worthwhile investment in the future of our city,” said Councilmember Ung. “It not only addresses the immediate challenges faced by the district, but demonstrates a commitment to providing a quality education for future generations.”