Education
Education news and stories in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Regina Opera's future at OLPH uncertain as charter school plans move
A charter high school plans a 2027 move into OLPH Academy, raising enrollment concerns while Regina Opera's future at the site remains uncertain.
Back-to-school season tests family routines
Sunset Park families discuss the costs, homework and planning that come with the start of a new school year.
Sunset Park teens cultivate skills on a rooftop farm
Sunset Park teens spent six weeks farming at Brooklyn Grange while learning about environmental justice, urban ecology and workers’ rights.
From guard dogs to digital cameras, a Sunset Park firm adapts
Cesar Talavera looks back on nearly five decades of Sunset Park security work and a business now focused on training, monitoring and local hire
Fourth Ave brownfield cleanup continues to raise alarm
A resident describes renewed odors as an expert explains brief exposure and chronic risks at the 4001 4th Ave. cleanup.
Parents, teach your kids to use AI responsibly — and sparingly
A Sunset Park media literacy educator offers parents three ways to teach children to use AI carefully, verify its sources and understand its costs.
Free community sailing brings local residents to the waterfront
Blue Horizon Sailing’s free community events introduce Sunset Park residents to sailing and expand access to the neighborhood’s waterfront.
Summer break brings big plans and mixed feelings
Sunset Park students and teachers share their excitement, worries and plans as another school year ends and summer vacation begins.
Gasoline odors raise concerns near Fourth Ave cleanup site
Residents and educators raise concerns after gasoline odors were reported near a brownfield cleanup site planned for a new charter school.
CB7 criticizes DOT and opposes school at contaminated gas station site
CB7 criticized DOT truck-route changes, backed two street co-namings and opposed a charter school at a contaminated former gas station.
Students helped design activities for school’s growing annual celebration
PS 958 and UPROSE hosted a growing Sunset Park block party with student-designed activities, food, music and family resources.
Sunset Park High School clothing drive gives formalwear a second life
Sunset Park High School’s Prom Corner helps students find donated formalwear for prom, interviews and other milestones.
High winds and model sailboats bring boating basics to Bush Terminal
Families tried model sailboats at Bush Terminal Park as Blue Horizon Sailing works toward a larger waterfront presence.
Sunset Park schools see growing need for food support
Sunset Park school food pantries report rising demand as food prices, SNAP cuts and immigration fears strain families.
RaisingHealth and NYU Langone bring free hernia screenings to Sunset Park
RaisingHealth Partners and NYU Langone Health offered free hernia screenings and health education at MADE Bush Terminal.
PS 1 Beacon programming moves to PS 516 during renovation
Sunset Park’s Beacon programs offer free after-school, weekend and summer activities for children and adults at PS 1 and PS 503/506.
After more than a decade, the Green-House welcomes visitors
Green-Wood’s restored 1895 greenhouse opens as a visitor center for exhibits, classes, research and public programs.
Opinion: Protect our public schools
Sunset Park parents say charter school expansion could worsen under-enrollment and drain resources from neighborhood public schools.
Local charter school faces resistance
As Brooklyn RISE prepares to open a new Sunset Park building in 2027, some residents and educators question the need for another nearby school.
Local elementary students perform Disney classic
P.S. 24 fourth- and fifth-grade students will present Disney’s The Lion King KIDS on March 25 and 26.
Join a union, assemble a wind turbine
At Windscape, union leaders, nonprofits and offshore wind workers introduced Sunset Park residents to training and job opportunities tied to Empire Wind.
Strong turnout at BCS job and resource fair amid immigration tensions
More than 250 people attended BCS’s early February job and resource fair in Sunset Park, where students and neighbors met employers and service providers.
Turkish family welcomed at Chinese American community arts center
A snowy Saturday at Rainbow House in Sunset Park, where kids paint Lunar New Year wishes and families describe how the center builds community.
Long Island leader and governor hopeful brings campaign to Sunset Park
Bruce Blakeman campaigned in Sunset Park with state lawmakers, criticizing rent freezes, gifted-program changes, congestion pricing, and migrant spending.
Cycle Alliance expands access to period supplies
Cycle Alliance at Sunset Park Library offers free period supplies as advocates say school access remains uneven.
BCS names new executive director as it enters 160th year
Brooklyn Community Services names Archana Jayaram executive director as it marks 160 years, with its Sunset Park Education Center serving adult learners.
Local nonprofit dance studio celebrates 40th
Young Dancers in Repertory marks 40 years in Sunset Park, balancing professional training with access, and opening winter classes with free trials for ages 3-14
Free books expand neighborhood’s access to reading
From sidewalk book boxes to Brooklyn Book Bodega giveaways, Sunset Park groups and businesses help families access free books.
Target Margin and CFL put on show made by local kids
Local students created and performed BOOM!, a bilingual show made with Target Margin and CFL, staged at PS1 and Target Margin’s 52nd Street space.
CB7 weighs Open Streets, votes on co-naming during transportation meeting
CB7’s Transportation Committee weighed a street co-naming, feedback on LEEP’s School Open Streets on 54th Street, and a slate of safety requests.
Free studio help at the library opens the mic to everyone
Every Wednesday, audio engineer Anthony Mitchell offers free one-on-one recording help in Sunset Park Library’s basement studio.
Neighborhood celebrates official opening of Gilligan Memorial Field at PS 94
Families and neighbors celebrated the opening of the new Gilligan Memorial Field at PS 94, bringing more space for kids to play soccer in Sunset Park.
Parents push for clarity on COMPASS funding
Parents and educators in Sunset Park question how the city decides which schools can access COMPASS after-school funding.
Nutrition Class offered at Mixteca through November
Spanish-language class at Mixteca teaches parents how to prepare healthy, affordable meals and earn a Cornell certificate.
Inclusive education takes center stage at PS 958 in Sunset Park
PS 958 in Sunset Park integrates students with and without disabilities in every classroom, modeling inclusive education and celebrating diversity.
Planning and protection for our community
A guide to help Sunset Park families prepare immigration plans, find legal aid, and protect themselves during court hearings.
Afterschool is not optional — it’s infrastructure
Sunset Park’s P.S. 516 fights to keep its vital afterschool program alive after sudden federal cuts, urging the city to step in with COMPASS seats.
New charter high school opens on Fifth Ave
Launch Charter High School opens on Fifth Avenue with just over 60 freshmen, raising questions about rental assistance and impacts on local public school funds.
The future of SBMT unveiled at learning center launch in Sunset Park
WindScape Brooklyn opens in Industry City, linking Sunset Park students to offshore wind jobs, hands-on exhibits, and Empire Wind’s construction.
Library Immigrant Job Fair draws diverse group of candidates
Hundreds visited a Sunset Park Library job fair with 15 vendors, 10 interpreter languages and training programs such as security and CDL classes.
Spectrum donates $35,000 to Center for Family Life’s employment program
Spectrum donates $35,000 to CFL in Sunset Park, supporting job readiness, counseling, and classes at the Adult Employment Center on 39th Street.
Neighborhood kids head back to school
PS 516 kids kicked off school—drop-off, yummy lunch—dismissal at 2:20 PM. After-school starts Sept 15. Funding gains citywide, state grants, local advocacy.
Apex youth crossover from mentees to mentors
Apex for Youth brought hoops, Field Day fun, and lasting mentorship to Sunset Park, from 3v3 tournaments to year-round coaching.
Build it and they will come: Street Soccer park opens at PS 94
New SSUSA park at PS 94 adds two turf pitches with a removable divider, free for kids and families, with seasonal play and a planned school league.
Mother of three shares her experience preparing for the new school year
A Sunset Park mom of three faces back-to-school costs and language hurdles, discovers local giveaways, and remembers what truly matters.
Get ready for school with free supplies
Starting today, Sunset Park families can get free backpacks and supplies at events hosted by local officials, churches, and community groups.
Garden of Shared Heritage blooms at BCS Education Center
Adult ESL students and artist Viktoriya Basina create a mural inspired by animals and plants from their home countries.
At Mixteca, community care takes many forms
Mixteca offers legal aid, mental health, and community support to Latinx immigrants in Sunset Park, despite growing political pressure.
New charter school partners with food bank to hand out fruits and vegetables
Launch Charter opens a new high school in Sunset Park, blending hands-on learning with community outreach and a unique outdoor-based curriculum.
Paddlers take to Bush Terminal Park as plans for community boathouse move forward
Over 130 people kayaked at Bush Terminal Park. Volunteers hope to make access permanent with a proposed boathouse for year-round programming.
BCA’s Annual Family Day Carnival celebrates summer on 8th Avenue
BCA's Family Day Carnival brings Sunset Park families together for rides, games, and summer fun. The event capped a week of programs for local kids.
School’s out—and that means the pool is open
Sunset Park Pool opens as NYC students end school. Expect lines, chilly water, and construction—but also plenty of classic summer fun for all.
Learning English in Sunset Park
Learn English for free at the BCS Education Center in Sunset Park, integrating into the community and creating new opportunities in your life in New York.