ABTS Finally Breaks Ground on School

After nearly two decades of waiting, a middle school is finally coming to Arverne By The Sea. On Tuesday, December 20, Rev. Dr. Les Mullings welcomed a crowd that gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Challenge Charter middle school that will rise at 190 Beach 67th Street in Arverne By The Sea. “We look forward with great excitement to serving students and families in this area on the peninsula,” he said. Mullings said the school should open in June 2024. The Reverend also praised City Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers for helping with crucial financing and Gerry Romski, CEO of Arverne By The Sea, for years of support for the school that had been years in the planning.

The 3-story school will accommodate 350 students, Romski said. “This is very exciting for Arverne By The Sea and really good for all of Rockaway as it will provide another excellent educational option for students.”

Challenge has had a Far Rockaway presence on Hartman Lane since 2010, serving more than 1,100 students.  Mullings said “We are bursting at the seams in our current buildings, so we have been interested in another location for some time. We look forward with great excitement to serving students and families in this area on the peninsula.”