Gravesend gets new middle school annex to combat overcrowding
The John Dewey Middle School Annex will serve as a 553-seat, three-story, ADA-compliant facility located behind John Dewey High School.
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Students in southern Brooklyn will soon have a new place to learn.
A new middle school annex is set to open in southern Brooklyn this fall, offering students a modern learning space designed to ease overcrowding in District 21.
The John Dewey Middle School Annex will serve as a 553-seat, three-story, ADA-compliant facility located behind John Dewey High School. The project is aimed at addressing long-standing capacity issues in one of Brooklyn’s most overcrowded school districts.
“District 21 is, you know, a very overcrowded district in Brooklyn, bringing it from a vacant lot to sort of a community hub, I think is going to be really exciting for the community,” said Nina Kubota, President and CEO of the NYC School Construction Authority.
The annex is designed specifically for students in grades six through eight, with officials saying it will help reduce travel disruptions and create a smoother transition into middle school.
“A lot of our folks have New York City public school students, so they bring that experience to the designs themselves so that, you know, we have supervisory, but we also have classrooms and specialty rooms throughout each of the floors of this building,” Kubota said.
Inside, the school includes 18 classrooms, two of which are dedicated to special education along with science labs, art and music rooms, a gymnasium, and support spaces such as a nurse’s office and counseling suite.
“Science labs, your art rooms, your music rooms, your gym, storerooms, nurses suite, the counselors suite - things that that I think is fundamental to a child's development,” Kubota added.
Officials say the goal is to create a smaller, more supportive environment where students have access to both academic and personal development resources.
“Children are our future? Right? That this is extremely important. We value our students and our community," said Nina.
The annex is part of a broader effort to expand and modernize school facilities across New York City as enrollment pressures continue in several districts, and will officially open in September.
