Hempstead, NY – On October 27, 2025, the Hempstead Union Free School District held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $42.3 million modernization and expansion at Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School, marking the first major renovation and addition to the school in its 55-year history.
The project directly addresses long-standing overcrowding that has required the use of portable classrooms throughout the District. The planned expansion includes a two-story academic wing featuring flexible classrooms designed for collaboration and hands-on learning, along with a new Cafeteria and Student Learning Exchange™ – a multi-functional space that will serve as both a dining area and a hub for student interaction, learning, and engagement.
In addition, the school’s existing cafeteria will be renovated and include a media studio, enhancing opportunities for technology-driven learning. Outdoor improvements will feature a new softball/soccer field, and a new parking lot, which will be constructed to serve the expanded middle school building.
Originally renamed in 1984 to honor Alverta B. Gray Schultz, a distinguished civil rights and education advocate, the middle school’s modernization will create environments that foster creativity, collaboration, and student success.
Approved by voters in 2022, the bond-funded project is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027–28 academic year, delivering much-needed upgrades and new educational spaces for the Hempstead community.
