A new tuition-free LGBTQ+-focused middle school in Brooklyn is creating a space where kids can learn, get creative, feel like they belong, and be themselves.
At a Glance
A tuition-free middle school is coming to Fort Greene, Brooklyn and will focus on creativity, the arts, belonging, and community
It’s opening in fall 2027 with sixth grade; grades 6–8 by fall 2029
The school has a “genderful” school environment where students have room to explore who they are and embrace differences
Miss Major Middle will have theater, the arts, movement, academics, and project-based learning
It’s a community school in partnership with NYC Public Schools
Miss Major Middle Is a Middle School Where Kids Can Belong, Create, and Be Themselves
When you think about sending your child off to school each day, you likely envision a place that is nurturing, challenging, and safe. For parents of LGBTQ+ kids, finding a school where they feel understood and supported not only becomes even more vital, but also more difficult to find. Now, a new middle school in Brooklyn is hoping to create just that kind of environment when it opens next fall.
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Miss Major Middle (MMM) is a tuition-free middle school set to open in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in fall 2027. It’s being created with LGBTQ+ families in mind, but it’s open to any family looking for a school where kids can feel comfortable, respected, and free to be themselves.
MMM will not be a charter or private school. Instead, it will operate as a community school through a partnership with NYC Public Schools and Community School District 13.
Theater and the arts will be a central focus in the school’s approach to learning, giving students opportunities to explore ideas and express what they’re learning through creative work.
The Story Behind Miss Major Middle
The school is named after Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a Black transgender activist who spent more than 50 years advocating for transgender and gender-nonconforming people. The way she lived her life and the work she did are part of the inspiration behind the school, which places a strong focus on care, community, and making sure young people feel seen and supported.
At Miss Major Middle, the school’s core values come down to five things: work, joy, pride, love, and light. Students will be encouraged to work hard, listen to others, have fun, celebrate what makes each person different, as well as look out for the people around them. Just imagine if every school were like this.
What Does “Genderful” Mean?
The school uses the term “genderful” to describe an approach that gives kids room to figure out who they are and learn about people with different experiences (isn’t that what all children should have the freedom to do?). It isn’t just about LGBTQ+ identities. The goal is to create a school where all students can be themselves, feel respected, and build a sense of community.
For LGBTQ+ young people, having a sense of belonging at school is especially important at a time when gender identity and LGBTQ+ rights are not only being taken away by political leaders, but bullying and harassment are increasing. A lack of safety and support greatly impacts LGBTQ+ students’ well-being, physically and emotionally. The school aims to give kids a place where they can ask questions without shame, talk openly, build strong communication skills, feel like they belong, and grow into who they are.
How Students Will Learn
Theater and the arts will be a major part of the school day, alongside humanities, STEM, visual arts, music, dance, and project-based learning. Students can explore both performing and behind-the-scenes theater roles, including writing, design, choreography, stage management, lighting, sound, and production.
Morning classes will connect subjects through themes such as performance, bodies, stories, and the city. Afternoons will include Book Club, lessons focused on navigating the wider world, and theater projects. Students will work on three full productions during the school year and can work on creative and/or technical roles.
MMM will operate through a homeschool partnership with NYC Public Schools, with students attending school in person five days a week. The school will follow New York State academic standards and have a 180-day school year plus a required three-week summer term.
The school will open with sixth grade in 2027 and grow into a full sixth- through eighth-grade middle school by fall 2029.
New York is one of the best cities in the world, and as a native Brooklynite, it’s not surprising to see this school opening here since Brooklyn has always been a place where people come together, find their communities, and make space for one another. It feels like a fitting home for a school built around the idea that kids should feel safe being themselves, be proud of who they are, and learn to understand and care about others. Hopefully, Miss Major Middle is just the beginning.
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