Newark Public Schools Celebrates Official Opening of New Media High School

NEWARK, N.J. – Newark Public Schools administrators, partners, teachers, and students celebrated the official opening of New Media High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in one of the school’s studios on Thursday. While the event marked the district’s newest high school opening, it also anticipated a bright future for the school and its students.

“We’re extremely excited for this moment,” said Superintendent León. “Eventually, we will move to our home, the former Dayton Street School, which will be just a few feet from the Lionsgate and Great Point Studios production facility. New Media High School opens doors for students who want to turn their creativity into careers. By connecting rigorous instruction with industry-standard tools and real-world experiences, we are preparing Newark’s young people to become the writers, directors, producers, and innovators who will shape the future of media and entertainment.”

New Media High School welcomed more than 100 ninth-graders when classes began on September 8, becoming the 12th school opened under Superintendent León’s leadership since 2018. Its programs focus on content creation, video media production, and entertainment management, with partnerships designed to connect classroom learning to professional opportunities.

Many members of the school’s inaugural ninth-grade class were at the event recording video and conducting interviews, skills they learned during the school’s summer bridge program.

“Students are already working, getting their hands on equipment, immersing themselves in the TV and film industry,” said Principal Steven Oliver, a Newark native and Arts High School graduate. “I am a proud product of Newark Public Schools. I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and there’s no other place in the world that I’d rather be than right here with my students and my community.”

The district’s partners noted that New Media High School opened amid a booming television and film production era in New Jersey.

“The film market in New Jersey is exploding,” said Karen Williams, Executive Director of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a national nonprofit that is Hollywood’s most influential philanthropic and collaborative organization. “The time is now. You have to start looking at building a pipeline of talent, starting in high school, possibly in middle school. We need to introduce these young people, this talent, to what it means to be a cinematographer, what it means to be an editor.” EIF serves as New Media High School’s higher learning institution.

Christine O’Shea-Daly, vice president of Great Point Studios, highlighted the studio's development progress and the company’s commitment to connecting students with production opportunities. She said the studios are scheduled to open in July 2027.

“Great things are going to come out of this school,” O’Shea Daly said. “Anything we can do, we’re here.” Great Point Studios is New Media High School’s professional organization.

Both Williams and O’Shea Daly said they had secured opportunities for New Media High School students to visit television and film production sets soon.

Also working with New Media High School is the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which will support work-based experiences; Newark Business Hub, which will help students develop entrepreneurship skills; Cobblestone Multimedia, which is providing after-school programming; and Smashcut, whose learning platform supports the school’s media education.

N.J. State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz emphasized the importance of connecting students with the industry growing in their own community, s she and other elected officials attended the ceremony.

“When we broke ground for Lionsgate, I remember turning around and telling [NJPAC President and CEO] John Schreiber at that moment, ‘This is the ideal location for a school,” Senator Ruiz said. “We will have an industry here that will require expertise.”

Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin encouraged students to pursue their ambitions while remaining connected to the community and people who helped them succeed.

“Whatever it is you’re set out to achieve, always remember what your zip code is, how you got started, and who helped you there,” Assemblywoman Pintor Marin said.

Newark Central Ward Council Member Amina Bey welcomed the school’s founding students to their temporary home in the Central Ward and celebrated the opportunities the new school will provide to develop the skills they need for success in the entertainment industry.

“To now be able to have a school to teach our children to do those things, to create a brand new career pathway for them, this is momentous,” Bey said.

South Ward Council Member Patrick Council expressed enthusiasm for the school’s eventual move to the Dayton Street location and its role in the neighborhood’s growth in the South Ward.

“I’m excited for the students here and looking forward to the first graduating class in 2030,” Council said. “I know that is going to be very, very special.”

Dr. Maria Ortiz, assistant superintendent for the high schools, called on the educators, partners, and community leaders in attendance to help students obtain the mentorships and practical experiences they need to succeed.

“We need to do it collectively, we need to do it together,” Ortiz said. “Thank you all for your commitment and thank you all for the responsibility to give back to the class of 2030 and those who come beyond.”

“Every new school expands the possibilities available to Newark’s children,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “New Media High School gives students another pathway to pursue their talents, prepare for college and careers, and contribute to an industry that is growing right here in Newark. We thank our partners for supporting this investment in our students’ futures.”

The celebration also included the presentation of a time capsule containing a star pin that Superintendent León gives to the district’s principals. It also represented the school’s mascot, the school’s Stars Pledge, student and staff rosters, a student press badge, and the ceremony invitation. Students will contribute additional artifacts before the capsule is sealed and brought to the school’s permanent home. Joining in the celebration was Board of Education Co-Vice President Helena Vinhas and Board Member Quamid Childs.