Richmond Prep Breaks Ground on New Building!

With a focus on the future and a mission to offer unparalleled
educational opportunities on Staten Island, Integration Charter Schools (ICS) held a
groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 15 for the new location of Richmond Preparatory Charter School at 2245 Richmond Avenue, site of a former Barnes & Noble store.

The new location, which will open for classes in September 2022, will offer additional seats, a music room, a science lab and movement studios for children in grades 6 to 12.
A one-story extension to the south side of the building will include a drive-through for buses and student drop-off/pick-up. Its rooftop will accommodate an outdoor play area.

The escalators that were part of the Barnes & Noble floor plan will be replaced by a grand staircase for access to the second level. Richmond Preparatory Charter School has been operating in Corporate Commons 3 on South Avenue in Bloomfield since its grand opening in September 2021. The new location on Richmond Avenue will more than double the school’s square footage, from 28,000 to 63,000, and offer easy access from all communities across Staten Island.

The school offers small classes with a college preparatory curriculum and an inclusive environment that is welcoming of all students, including those living on the autism spectrum. A Computer Science career track beginning in grade 6 offers skill-building and certification. Dr. Kenneth Byalin, ICS president and CEO, and Chris Zilinski, founding principal of Richmond Preparatory Charter School, were joined at the groundbreaking by other ICS administrators, Staten Island elected officials, and charter school sponsors.

“We’re excited to have our own campus, centrally located on Staten Island, that is easily accessible by public transportation,” Zilinski said. “We are starting something special that will have a long-lasting impact on Staten Island.”

Tamborra Architecture of Dongan Hills is overseeing design and construction at the new site.

*Read more about the groundbreaking ceremony from the the Staten Island Advance, here! https://www.silive.com/education/2021/12/richmond-prep-breaks-ground-on-new-school-building-set-to-open-in-fall-2022.html