School is back! This week, our children will gather their school supplies, fill backpacks, and greet their friends as they kick off the 2025-2026 school year. Our public schools are the best of our city — a place where children from every walk of life can get a world-class education. And from pre-K to our selective high schools and technical training programs, New York City students have every opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, with the quality of our teachers unmatched anywhere in this nation. As the largest school district in America, our young people deserve the best chance to fulfill their promise and potential no matter what school they attend. And we know, that to make New York City the best place to raise a family, we must continue to invest in our education system.
As part of first-day back at school celebrations, I will be joining students at HBCU Early College Prep High School in Queens. Early College Prep is the perfect example of what we’re trying to do for our students and their families. It is a school that honors our students’ rich backgrounds and histories, provides rigorous instruction, meets local needs, and prepares our students for the future. Students at HBCU Early College will get a head start on college with the opportunity to graduate with an associate’s degree from a Historically Black College or University. At this school, and so many others, we are giving our students an A+ education and a chance to prepare for the future.
