This fall, a new school dedicated to serving immigrant students will open its doors at Ridgewood Middle School IS 77, marking the first 6-12 school for newly arrived immigrants in Queens.
The school, named Queens International, will be part of the Internationals Network for Public Schools, a network designed specifically for students who have recently arrived in the United States.
The decision to house Queens International within IS 77’s building has sparked significant debate. At a heated public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, staff and families from IS 77 voiced concerns, citing past difficulties with hosting another school in the same building. They worry that the new school could further diminish enrollment in IS 77, particularly in its Spanish dual language program.
Queens International will be the 18th school in the Internationals Network, which serves schools across New York City. The network specializes in helping students who are learning English and may have faced disruptions in their education due to their immigration status.
The school is being created to help meet the growing demand for educational support as New York City has seen an influx of migrants. Roughly 48,000 new students have enrolled since the summer of 2022, and Queens has absorbed the largest share of these new arrivals across all five boroughs.
Despite concerns over potential overcrowding and logistical challenges, city officials argue that Queens International must accommodate the rising number of immigrant families and alleviate pressure on the existing school system. The city is grappling with an ongoing affordability crisis, and it remains uncertain whether the flow of new immigrants will continue at its current pace or if some might depart as local and federal policies evolve.
The proposal for the new school comes amid national debates on immigration. President Donald Trump has promised to accelerate deportations, and his administration recently rescinded a policy that limited immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools. While Mayor Eric Adams has not publicly taken a position on these changes, city officials have assured that protections for undocumented students will remain in place.
Queens International will offer its students a comprehensive education, including Advanced Placement courses, opportunities to take college-level courses through CUNY’s College Now program, and paid apprenticeships in fields such as technology, business, and finance.
The school is expected to be a crucial resource for students adjusting to life in a new country, helping them build a strong academic foundation for their future.
In November, the project met resistance from a group of IS 77 parents who petitioned the public school system to expand the existing middle school into a high school serving neighborhood residents. Their bad experiences with the school’s previous high school co-location have bolstered their resistance.
Bushwick Leaders High School temporarily moved into the Ridgewood middle school building for two years, creating an environment that parents say was disruptive and, at times, unsafe for their middle school students. That co-location caused a serious breach of trust between the DOE and the parents.
“We’re going to have the same problems with their kids, and we’re going to tell the principals, and nothing is going to happen. Our students are always going to get the short end of the stick, and it’s not fair,” said Yadhira Franqui, president of the IS 77 parent-teacher association.
Although the opening of Queens International has drawn this resistance, supporters of the school emphasize its importance in providing critical support to immigrant youth, many of whom face unique educational and social challenges.
As the city continues to navigate its role in supporting migrant populations, the school’s opening marks an essential step in addressing the needs of one of its most vulnerable communities.
