City Officials Break Ground At New Site Of Beacon High School

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A former 6-story library annex will be completely gutted and converted into a new home for Beacon High School.

On Monday, a symbolic groundbreaking was attended by city officials, including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

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"It's gonna be in an old building, but it's going to be a great, new school. It tells you about New York City and New York City's school system. Parents want their kids to go to school here in the city and the kids want to stay here in the city," Bloomberg told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks.

The ceremony took place at the site of what will be Beacon High School's new home at 521 West 43rd St. The school is currently located at West 61st Street.

The former library warehouse will be converted into 50 classrooms to go along with an auditorium and other school amenities, including Wi-Fi, science labs, art suites and a dark room.

"We're also adding a gym on top of the building and the school will be designed to accommodate nearly 1,500 students, including 120 special-ed students," Bloomberg said.

According to the mayor, the school boasts that nearly 99 percent of its students graduate within four years, while 82 percent go to college.

The new site is expected to be completed in 2015.

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