A brand-new special education public school is coming to Staten Island for the 2025-2026 school year. Known as Staten Island Rise Academy or PS 89, this school will be part of District 75, which serves students with serious learning and developmental challenges.
A Big Step for Special Education on Staten Island
Staten Island Rise Academy will open in two newly built school buildings in the Travis neighborhood. It will offer special education from kindergarten to eighth grade. This school is specially designed for students with autism, cognitive delays, emotional disabilities, sensory issues, and multiple disabilities.
The school will operate out of PS 121 at 4074 Victory Blvd and PS 26 at 4108 Victory Blvd, just 1,000 feet apart. PS 121, a new three-story school, will also serve general education students from pre-K to fifth grade and help reduce overcrowding in nearby schools. It includes 96 seats specifically for District 75 students.
Leaders Speak on the School’s Vision
Mayor Eric Adams shared his excitement, saying, “As the mayor of the largest school district in the country, I’m committed to giving every child the chance to succeed, no matter where they live.”
He added that Staten Island Rise Academy is one of seven new schools opening in 2025, bringing the total number of seats added under his administration to 13,732. The aim is to give students better access to specialized education and career options, closer to their homes.
Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said this is “an exciting new D75 program focused on personalized instruction.” She emphasized that these new school choices are what families truly deserve.
Mission and Core Values of Staten Island Rise Academy
The mission of Staten Island Rise Academy is to help each student reach their full potential through personalized support and a caring, inclusive environment.
The school’s values are built around the word RISE, which stands for:
Resilience – helping students bounce back from challenges
Independence – encouraging students to do things on their own
Self-advocacy – teaching students to speak up for themselves
Empowerment – building confidence to grow and succeed
Dr. Shawn Rux, a senior leader in the Department of Education, said, “This is the first District 75 program of its kind on Staten Island, finally bringing high-quality special education closer to home for many families.”
New Opportunities for School Leadership
The launch of Staten Island Rise Academy is also part of a new initiative from the city’s Department of Education — the New School Leaders Fellowships. This program offers hands-on training for the founding principals of these new schools.
Chancellor Aviles-Ramos added, “I’m thrilled our new school leaders can learn from each other and from existing schools before the new academic year begins in September.”
