Village Academy will open in September 2009 at MS 53 in Far Rockaway.  MS 53 has been on the state’s list of schools in need of improvement since 2004, and though it has made gains in the past two years, test scores are still low. Village Academy will share the building with MS 53 to offer students in the zone another middle school option.

Founding Principal Doris Lee said the school will feature literacy across the