History

Did You Know?

P.S. 243, now known as The Weeksville School, has deep roots in the historic free Black community of Weeksville. Originally established in1839 as "Colored School No. 2," it was one of four schools founded by Black educators. Integrated after the Civil War, it’s recognized as one of the first successfully integrated schools in Brooklyn. Over the years,it underwent several name changes and ownership transfers, eventually being sold to Bethel AME Church in 1978. Though the original building was slated for affordable housing redevelopment,today P.S. 243 operates from a nearby campus and partners with the Weeksville Heritage Center.