New York City Schools observing Eid al-Adha holiday for first time

New York City public schools were scheduled to close Thursday for their first time

New York City public schools were scheduled to close Thursday for their first time recognizing the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. 

The district, which serves about 1.1 million students, was due to become the largest school system in the United States to shut down for the observance. Local Muslims welcomed the move as a symbol of the community’s acceptance and shift toward inclusion.

New York City has an estimated 600,000 to 1 million Muslim residents, and between 10 and 12 percent of its public school students identify as Muslim.