Hell’s Kitchen Children May Go Without School

Over 1,000 of Hell’s Kitchen elementary school children could be left without a school seat over the next 10 years.

Elected officials and community leaders express the need for more schools in the Clinton-Hell's Kitchen area as development increases. Diana Hubert/The Epoch Times

NEW YORK—Over 1,000 of Hell’s Kitchen elementary school children could be left without a school seat over the next 10 years as development continues.

With a boom in construction and an estimated 26 new building projects by 2019, it is predicted that approximately 1,026 elementary school children will be without a school seat according to a report by New York State Sen. Thomas K. Duane and Manhattan Community Board Four.

The report predicts about 11,259 new residential units in the Hell’s Kitchen area—increasing the population of elementary school children by 1,350 students.

Currently the local elementary schools P.S.111 and P.S. 51 have just under 150 seats left for students, with P.S. 51 planning to add an additional 324 seats for both elementary and middle school students.

Sen. Duane along with community leaders and other elected officials expressed their concern that these seats will simply not be enough.

“We need a plan. We are ready, willing, and able to work with the Department of Education,” said Sen. Duane.