Achievement First Linden Middle School

NYCR-CDE provided $20 million in New Markets Tax Credit financing for the construction of a new public charter middle school in the East New York section of Brooklyn. 

The new 42,000 square foot school is run by Achievement First, a non-profit network of high-quality, free, public charter schools. Prior to construction of the new school, students shared a single floor of a New York City Department of Education building. Today, the new building provides a dynamic home to 370 students in grades 5-8 and includes multiple classrooms and a new gym. The facility enables Linden Middle School to offer more after-school and extracurricular programs, such as a basketball team, step team, and debate club, and serves as a hub for the entire community in East New York.

Achievement First was founded on a central core belief: all children, regardless of race or economic status, deserve access to a great education. Over twenty-five years ago, the non-profit started with a single middle school in New Haven, Connecticut and today its grown to forty-one K-12 public charter schools in three states, including twenty-four charter schools in Brooklyn and Queens. Achievement First schools provide a rigorous college preparatory education, preparing thousands of K-12 students for success in college and for the opportunities that flow from an excellent education. Achievement First schools are committed to serving all students, including students with disabilities and English Learners.

“This building isn’t just for our teachers and students. It’s a resource for the entire neighborhood. It means so much to all of us that we can finally deliver on the promise of providing a beautiful, new space for learning.”

– Stephanie Bieka, Principal, Achievement First Linden Middle School

“This facility is not just a school. It’s a symbol of hope, opportunity, and progress for the entire community. It demonstrates what is possible when families, educators, and leaders come together to prioritize our children’s future.”

– New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud