Achievement First celebrated a significant milestone on Sept. 27 with the grand opening of its new Linden Middle School building in East New York.

The event, held outside of the Pitkin Avenue institution, brought together community stakeholders, families and staff to mark the beginning of a new era for the school and the East New York community. Addressing the crowd, keynote speaker State Senator Roxanne Persaud emphasized the importance of community engagement in education

“Today we are here at Linden Middle School, I am pleased to help them with the ribbon cutting because I want to make sure that all the schools in my district understand that they have access to me and that I participate in the activities that they have,” she said. “It’s one community and we want to make sure the community understands that. I want to make sure the students are participating in the community because it’s all one community.”

The new 42,000-square-foot, four-story building will serve 343 students in grades 5-8 and features a variety of amenities designed to enhance the educational experience. The facility includes a varsity-sized gymnasium, a dance room, well-equipped science labs, and large windows that flood the space with natural light. An elevator also ensures accessibility for all students.

“This space is more than just a building — it’s a home where our students can thrive, learn, and grow into the leaders of tomorrow,” said Stephanie Blieka, principal of Achievement First Linden Middle School.

The celebration also featured performances by the school’s step team and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by students, families, staff, and community partners.

Eighth-grader Gabriella Dyall shared her excitement about the new facility.

“All the great things in the building made me forget how the old building was. Our new school is also a hub for building connections within our community,” Dyall said. “With spaces for events and gatherings, we can host activities that bring us together. Our new school prepares us for the future.”

Dyall added that the new building is “more than just a school.”

“It’s a place where we are learning skills that will help us succeed in high school, college and beyond,” she said.

Amber Roussel Cavallo, senior manager of Civic Builders, expressed pride in collaborating with the non-profit and Achievement First.

“We are extremely proud to be here at the ribbon cutting for Achievement First Linden Middle School,” she said. “The school has been a partner of ours for many years. The second school we’ve developed together, and we are really excited to see the students in their new school.”

Additional reporting by Ramy Mahmoud