As New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL) welcomed students back for the 2026-2027 season of its free ACES afterschool program, the youth tennis and education nonprofit expanded to four new sites in the Rockaways.
With the introduction of the new Rockaway sites, NYJTL now operates 16 ACES programs across 12 schools in Queens. The Rockaway schools that now offer this program include P.S./M.S. 42 The Robert Vernam School, located at 4-88 Beach 66th St. in Arverne, P.S./M.S. 105 The Bay School, located at 4-20 Beach 51st St. in Far Rockaway, M.S. 318 The Waterside School for Leadership, located at 1-90 Beach 110th St. in Far Rockaway, and M.S./H.S. 323 The Scholars’ Academy, located at 3-20 Beach 104th St. in Rockaway Park.
The ACES afterschool program offers students free tennis instruction, tutoring, enrichment activities, wellness lessons and healthy snacks.
“ACES provides a safe, supportive environment where students receive the academic, social-emotional and physical health support they need to thrive and succeed,” NYJTL President and CEO Udai Tambar said. “We’re excited to welcome more students into our programs and give them opportunities to grow on and off the court.”
There are 40 ACES programs across 32 schools citywide. These programs run Mondays through Fridays from school dismissal until 6 p.m.
With more than 3,900 New York City kids served annually by the ACES program, NYJTL has emerged as one of New York City’s biggest providers of comprehensive school-based after-school programming.
In addition to expanding across the Rockaways, the ACES program has also reached Manhattan, at J.H.S. 167 Robert F. Wagner Middle School.
The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development provides funding for the ACES programs across the city. Funding is also provided through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services’ new Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports (LEAP) grants, which are awarded to afterschool programs that provide academic support and enrichment opportunities to kids that assist them in meeting their academic and personal goals and expose them to future learning and life opportunities.
Since being founded by Arthur Ashe in 1971, NYJTL has worked to develop the character of youths through tennis and education, helping provide them with a lifetime of success on and off the court. Having served nearly 90,000 New York City kids between Kindergarten and 12th grade, NYJTL is the largest youth tennis and education nonprofit in the United States.
Other Queens schools where NYJTL offers its ACES program include P.S. 37Q The Cynthia Jenkins School in Jamaica, P.S. 127 The Aerospace Science Magnet School and P.S. 148Q The Ruby G. Allen School in East Elmhurst, P.S./M.S. 147Q The Ronald McNair School in Cambria Heights, P.S./M.S. 219 The Paul Klapper School in Flushing, P.S./M.S. 232Q The Lindenwood School in Howard Beach, Our World Neighborhood Charter Elementary School in Astoria and Our World Neighborhood Charter Middle School in Long Island City.
There are also ACES programs available across 11 schools in Brooklyn and eight schools in the Bronx. Those interested in learning more about where to find ACES programs can visit nyjtl.org/aces-sites.