“Public School No. 3” is what this red brick school building was originally named. Today we know it as Public School 65K.
Public School 65K is a landmark. It stands in Cypress Hills Brooklyn. Let’s take a closer look.
This building has seen generations pass through its doors. Public School 65K first opened in 1870. It has been a place of learning and community for over a century.
The school significantly expanded in 1889. Architect James W. Naughton designed the expansion. He gave it the Romanesque Revival style we see today.
Notice the two-story brick building. It rests on a stone base. The central tower projects slightly. Terra cotta details add to its charm.
In 1981 Public School 65K earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places. That same year it was designated a New York City Landmark. This honor protects its unique architecture and history.
Back then this area was the Town of New Lots. New York State recognized the need for education. An act in 1868 called for a school for the upper grades.
Before Public School 65K was built classes met in a church basement. Imagine students learning their lessons. They sat in the basement of the local Methodist Church.
James Naughton oversaw the enlargement of P.S. 65. He was the Brooklyn Board of Education’s Superintendent of Construction. Naughton designed many of the city’s schools.
The Mothers Club of P.S. 65 played an active role. In 1901 they rented land next to the school. They created a flower garden for the students.
The Mothers Club also supported Bushwick Hospital. In 1926 they raised funds for radio hookups. These connected patients to a radio set.
For many years students attended Public School 65K. In September 2009 a charter school moved in. Now Achievement First East New York Middle School calls it home. The Little Red Schoolhouse continues to serve the community.
Think about the children who have walked these halls. They learned read wrote and dreamed within these walls. Public School 65K stands as a testament. It represents the power and importance of education. It is a beautiful and vital piece of Brooklyn history.