Long Island City residents celebrated the expansion of P.S./I.S. 78 last week. The new school, located at 40-08 5th Street, will serve 578 students.

The school currently has students in third through sixth grades, and will grow each year to eventually include seventh and eighth grades.

“This building offers P.S./I.S. 78 a state-of-the-art facility for school to grow and prepare students for the older grades and for college and a career,” said Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.

The building has 21 standard classroom and eight special education classrooms, as well as an art room, music suite, two science labs, and an auditorium.

“Today marks a milestone in the progress we have made in securing five new school sites that will all be fully operational within Western Queens over the next four years,” said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.

P.S./I.S. 78 is one of 19 new schools that opened this year.

“We are delighted with the new building and know our 'A' school will continue to offer the best education for our students,” said Principal Louis Pavone.