Top Honors: This Suffolk County School Recipient Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: This Suffolk County School Recipient Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: This Suffolk County School Recipient Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these New York schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Twenty-two schools in the Empire State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teachin…
These NY Liberal Arts Colleges Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says These NY Liberal Arts Colleges Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says
These NY Liberal Arts Colleges Ranked Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says The grades are in, and these colleges are a cut above the rest. Of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the United States, four can be found in Massachusetts, three in New York, and one in Connecticut, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings. They are: No. 1 - Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts No. 2 - Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts No. 4 - Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts (Tied with Pomona College in Claremont, California and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) No. 8 - United States Military …
'Dress Like A Slut': Teacher In Centereach Bullied Disabled Student, $25M Lawsuit Claims 'Dress Like A Slut': Teacher In Centereach Bullied Disabled Student, $25M Lawsuit Claims
'Dress Like A Slut': Teacher In Centereach Bullied Disabled Student, $25M Lawsuit Claims An 18-year-old woman has filed a $25 million lawsuit against a Long Island school district, alleging that her teacher is still on the job despite an internal investigation finding that she subjected the girl to racist and other inappropriate remarks. The suit against the Middle Country Central School District, filed in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Sept. 5, accuses Centereach High School math teacher Jennifer Brunet of multiple “shocking and repugnant acts of misconduct” against senior Isabella Rexach-Moore. The Suffolk County resident, who is Black, receives special education accommodat…
New Principal Announced At This Long Island School New Principal Announced At This Long Island School
New Principal Announced At This Long Island School A Long Island school has appointed a principal just in time for the new school year, school officials announced. On Monday, Sept. 11, the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District announced that Melissa Argaman was appointed as the new principal of Oyster Bay High School. Argaman’s new title was effective Thursday, Sept. 7, and came in the wake of previous principal Sharon Lasher’s retirement, the district said. She originally joined the district in 2021, where she served as Oyster Bay High School’s supervisor of guidance before stepping in as acting principal for the second half …
Best High Schools: Long Island Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Best High Schools: Long Island Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings
Best High Schools: Long Island Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Led by a strong showing downstate, New York is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's brand-new rankings of the nation's best high schools. The rankings were released on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Top-ranked in the Empire State is the High School Math Science and Engineering at CCNY, with a 100-percent graduation rate and college readiness rating of 98.9, placing it at the No. 22 spot nationally. The top five-ranked Long Island high schools are: Jericho High School (13th in NY, 104th nationally) Garden City High School (21st in the state, 199th nationally) Great Neck South H…
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Suffolk County, Report Says These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Suffolk County, Report Says
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Suffolk County, Report Says The grades are in and these Long Island high schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering a number of key areas, the following schools were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Suffolk County” report: No. 1 - Dix Hills: Half Hollow Hills High School West No. 2 - Dix Hills: Half Hollow Hills High School East No. 3 - East Setauket: Ward Melville Senior High School No. 4 - Greenlawn: Harborfields High School No. 5 - Huntington Station: Walt Whitman High School All five high schools earned an overall grade of…
These Suffolk County Schools Honored For Excellent Scholars, Athletes These Suffolk County Schools Honored For Excellent Scholars, Athletes
These Suffolk County Schools Honored For Excellent Scholars, Athletes Just 35 high schools across Long Island were given a special designation for their stellar athletes who double as stellar academics. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association, or NYSPHSAA, announced its 2022-2023 “School of Distinction” list on Thursday, July 27. Out of all 84 schools given the award, 35 were from Long Island. In order to qualify, a high school must have 100 percent of its varsity teams qualify for a “Scholar-Athlete team award,” which designates that the team’s average GPA is greater than or equal to a 90. The schools that made the cut from Suffolk C…
These Suffolk County Schools Among Top 20 In NY, Report Says These Suffolk County Schools Among Top 20 In NY, Report Says
These Suffolk County Schools Among Top 20 In NY, Report Says When it comes to getting a quality education, several New York schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. Of the top 20 best schools in the states, nine can be found on Long Island and two are in Westchester County, according to the website’s 2023 “Best Public Schools in New York,” report.  The following schools were given an overall grade of A+ when considering a number of key areas, such as academics, diversity, and college prep: No. 5 - Nassau County: Jericho Senior High School No. 6 - Nassau County: Great Neck South High School No…
These LI School Districts Among Top 20 In America For Best Teachers, Report Says These LI School Districts Among Top 20 In America For Best Teachers, Report Says
These LI School Districts Among Top 20 In America For Best Teachers, Report Says They’re arguably the most crucial component of any student’s academic career - the unsung heroes in our society - and some of the very best teachers in the country can be found right here in New York, according to a new report. Seven school districts in the state made the top 20 on Niche’s 2023 “Districts with the best teachers in America” report. The community and school ranking website looks at a number of key areas, such as academics, diversity, college prep, and sports, and assigns each category a letter grade. The following New York school districts were given an A+ in the “teachers” …
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Harvard University is under federal scrutiny for its preferential treatment of donor and legacy candidates, reports say.  The US Department of Education announced this week it had opened an investigation into the prestigious Massachusetts university's admissions practices for undergraduate applicants, according to Harvard's newspaper, the Crimson.    Related: End Of 'Legacy': Wesleyan University Halts Admissions Perk The investigation will seek to determine if the legacy or donor admissions discriminate on the basis of race, the Crimson reported. If so, the university m…
Lindenhurst Superintendent Resigns Abruptly Just One Year After Starting Lindenhurst Superintendent Resigns Abruptly Just One Year After Starting
Lindenhurst Superintendent Resigns Abruptly Just One Year After Starting Only a year after being appointed to the position, a Long Island superintendent resigned in a surprising and vague announcement. At a special meeting on Monday, July 17, the Lindenhurst Board of Education announced that it accepted the resignation of Superintendent of Schools Anthony Davidson, who had only been appointed to the position the summer before. He will serve on special assignment until Monday, July 31. However, in his place, the board appointed Vincent Caravana to serve as the district’s Acting Superintendent through Davidson’s last day, and will be the interim superintendent…
New Principal Named In East Islip New Principal Named In East Islip
New Principal Named In East Islip A Long Island school has appointed its new principal, school officials announced. On Thursday, June 29, East Islip Middle School announced the appointment of Michael Hansen as its new principal in the wake of previous principal Bill Brennen’s retirement, officials at East Islip Union Free School District announced. Hansen previously was the district’s science and math director, and before that served as East Islip High School’s assistant principal. He spent the 22 years prior to his time at East Islip at the Connetquot School District, where he was a science teacher and then dean of stu…
'I'm A Lucky Guy': Smithtown Students Sell Bracelets, Raise Money For Teacher Battling Cancer 'I'm A Lucky Guy': Smithtown Students Sell Bracelets, Raise Money For Teacher Battling Cancer
'I'm A Lucky Guy': Smithtown Students Sell Bracelets, Raise Money For Teacher Battling Cancer Two kindhearted students organized a fundraiser on behalf of their teacher, who had been out sick with cancer, raising hundreds for a cancer center in his honor. Rick Iurka, a social studies teacher at Nesaquake Middle School who left his classes in April 2023 to battle cancer, surprised students by making an appearance at the school’s “Moving Up Day” (a day to celebrate eighth graders ‘moving up’ to high school) – only to be surprised himself. Students Gracyn Catalanotto and Morgan DeBello, who had previously had Iurka as their seventh-grade teacher, came up with an idea to raise money f…
This Suffolk County School District Ranks Among Top 10 In New York, Report Says This Suffolk County School District Ranks Among Top 10 In New York, Report Says
This Suffolk County School District Ranks Among Top 10 In New York, Report Says When it comes to quality education, students on Long Island are in good hands, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. Of the top 10 best school districts in New York, nine can be found right here on Long Island, according to the website’s 2023 “Best School Districts In New York” report.  They are: Great Neck Public Schools at No. 1 Jericho Union Free School District at No. 2 Syosset Central School District at No. 3 Roslyn Union Free School District at No. 4 Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District at No. 6 Herricks Union Free School District at No. 7 Half Hollow…
Families Rally To Support Long Island School Torched In Blaze Families Rally To Support Long Island School Torched In Blaze
Families Rally To Support Long Island School Torched In Blaze “I can speak firsthand to the way that Harmony and its staff have been there to support my daughter and myself during the most difficult times of our lives.” When Harmony Heights Residential and Day School went up in flames during the early hours of Monday, May 15, families and supporters of the therapeutic school wasted no time before springing into action. Earlier Report: Schoolhouse Blaze: East Norwich's Harmony Heights Catches Fire The school, which has been in operation for nearly 50 years, aims to provide an education to students who suffer from conditions such as depression, e…
New Mascot Ban Guidance: Long Island Schools May Lose Funding 'As Last Resort' For Defiance New Mascot Ban Guidance: Long Island Schools May Lose Funding 'As Last Resort' For Defiance
New Mascot Ban Guidance: Long Island Schools May Lose Funding 'As Last Resort' For Defiance Official guidelines regarding a Native American mascot ban that affects a dozen Long Island schools warned that districts that do not comply could face a variety of consequences, but losing funding will be a ‘last resort,’ education officials said. The New York State Department of Education (NYSED) released its guidelines regarding the  Board of Regents' April 2023 decision to ban the use of Indigenous names, logos, and mascots by public schools, including what local schools will face as consequences and what will not need to be changed. Earlier Report: Native American Mascot Ban Pr…
Student Turned Politician: 18-Year-Old Elected To West Islip School Board Student Turned Politician: 18-Year-Old Elected To West Islip School Board
Student Turned Politician: 18-Year-Old Elected To West Islip School Board A New York high school senior is going from the classroom to the boardroom - the school boardroom that is. Long Island’s Quinn Bedell, an 18-year-old senior at West Islip High School, was elected to the West Islip Board of Education as a write-in candidate in the election held Tuesday, May 16. “I would like to thank the West Islip community for choosing me to be a trustee on the Board of Education. I am truly honored,” Bedell wrote on Facebook Wednesday, May 17. “I could not have done this without the overwhelming support of this community. I am forever grateful to every one of you and I p…
These Long Island School Districts Rank Among Top 10 In America, Report Says These Long Island School Districts Rank Among Top 10 In America, Report Says
These Long Island School Districts Rank Among Top 10 In America, Report Says When it comes to quality education, students on Long Island are in good company, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. Four local school districts were ranked among the top 10 in the country as part of the website’s 2023 “Best School Districts In America” report. They are: Great Neck Public Schools at No. 3 Jericho Union Free School District at No. 4 Syosset Central School District at No. 5 Roslyn Union Free School District at No. 6 Each district was given an overall grade of A+, earning top marks in the categories of academics, teachers, college prep, administration, …
Best Music Education: East Islip Among 60 Long Island Districts Recognized For Excellence Best Music Education: East Islip Among 60 Long Island Districts Recognized For Excellence
Best Music Education: East Islip Among 60 Long Island Districts Recognized For Excellence Out of just 830 districts across the nation, 60 local districts have been selected as the stars of the show. Dozens of Long Island districts have been awarded by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for having the Best Community For Music Education (BCME). The program, which is now in its 24th year, recognizes “outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders and their support for music education as part of a well-rounded education for all children,” according to the website. Only 830 school districts and 78 schools across 43 st…
Native American Mascot Ban Prompts Change, Anger Among Long Island Schools Native American Mascot Ban Prompts Change, Anger Among Long Island Schools
Native American Mascot Ban Prompts Change, Anger Among Long Island Schools For at least ten Long Island school districts, a big change is underway. The New York State Board of Regents voted on Tuesday, April 18 to ban the use of Native American names, mascots, or logos by public schools across the state of New York. The ruling, which is an addition to the existing Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, will require school districts to make a commitment to the rule by the end of this school year. The amendment states that “the use of Native American mascots” could create a hostile environment for students, thus putting it in violation of the Digni…
School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents
School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents More than 50 school districts across New York reported receiving swatting threats of an active shooter. The districts reporting the incidents on Tuesday, April 4 were located on Long Island, in Central New York, the Southern Tier, and the North Country, authorities said.  "I want to reassure parents that their children are safe at school - swatting threats are false and intended to cause panic and scare students, teachers, and families," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Tuesday. On Thursday, March 30, numerous school districts reported receiving swatting calls of…
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say Authorities are investigating numerous incidents of schools in New York state receiving swatting calls claiming there is an active shooter in the building, state police said.  The threatening calls were received by schools on Thursday morning, March 30, and have all been found to be false, state police announced.  The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school. All of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the th…
Wash Your Hands: Over 80 Students Sickened By Suspected Norovirus Outbreak At Babylon School Wash Your Hands: Over 80 Students Sickened By Suspected Norovirus Outbreak At Babylon School
Wash Your Hands: Over 80 Students Sickened By Suspected Norovirus Outbreak At Babylon School Dozens of students at a Long Island high school were sickened by a suspected outbreak of norovirus, health officials confirmed. More than 80 students were reported absent at Babylon High School on Friday, March 17, after suffering a gastrointestinal illness, according to Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott. Within hours, officials from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services visited the campus to inspect the kitchen and food services area. They found no indication that the outbreak originated in the school’s cafeteria, according to the department. Lab testing h…
'Potential Threat' Leads To Closure Of Patchogue-Medford High School 'Potential Threat' Leads To Closure Of Patchogue-Medford High School
'Potential Threat' Leads To Closure Of Patchogue-Medford High School A potential threat has led to the closure of a Long Island high school on Monday, March 13. Patchogue-Medford School District Schools Superintendent Dr. Donna Jones said that on Sunday evening, March 12, the district received a message concerning an unsubstantiated threat against Patchogue-Medford High School.  "No other schools in the district were mentioned," Jones noted. Suffolk County Police then opened an investigation.  "While this threat is still unsubstantiated, out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with law enforcement, we decided to close the hi…
'With A Heavy Heart': Smithtown School District Hiring Armed Security Guards (Poll) 'With A Heavy Heart': Smithtown School District Hiring Armed Security Guards (Poll)
'With A Heavy Heart': Smithtown School District Hiring Armed Security Guards (Poll) Students and teachers in a Long Island school district will soon be protected by armed security guards. In a message to parents Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Smithtown Central School District announced that its Board of Education had begun searching for a security firm to add armed guards to all 12 of its schools. The guards will patrol the exterior perimeters and will not be posted inside the buildings. “While our security enhancements related to staffing, infrastructure, training, and operational protocols have evolved and improved over time, we have come to the stark realization that there is…
School District Reassigns Superintendent In Westchester After Federal Subpoena School District Reassigns Superintendent In Westchester After Federal Subpoena
School District Reassigns Superintendent In Westchester After Federal Subpoena A superintendent in New York is no longer in charge of her school district, which is currently under investigation by federal officials.  On Monday night, Feb. 13 in Westchester County, the Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education voted to "administratively reassign" Superintendent Waveline Bennett-Conroy and instead appoint Veronica (Kim) Smith as the district's Acting Superintendent of Schools, district officials announced. The vote came after news broke on Friday, Feb. 10 that Mount Vernon Schools were under investigation by the United States Att…
'Diverse' Snowman Post Lands NY School District In Hot Water 'Diverse' Snowman Post Lands NY School District In Hot Water
'Diverse' Snowman Post Lands NY School District In Hot Water A school district in New York is apologizing after a Facebook post about a snowman sparked allegations of racism. In a now-deleted post on Tuesday, Jan. 31, Greene County’s Coxsackie-Athens Central School District included a photo of three students standing next to a noticeably dirty snowman. The caption reads, “Today’s CE Fourth Grade Playground Fun! This snowman is just as diverse as our students!” The Coxsackie-Athens Central School District apologized over a Facebook post about a "diverse" snowman that sparked allegations of racism.Coxsackie-Athens Central School District It didn’t…
LI Street Named For KKK Leader Renamed After Student Push: 'History Finally Set Right' LI Street Named For KKK Leader Renamed After Student Push: 'History Finally Set Right'
LI Street Named For KKK Leader Renamed After Student Push: 'History Finally Set Right' Persistence has finally paid off for a group of high school students who called for the renaming of a Long Island street named after a controversial figure. Dozens of community members gathered in Hempstead in the village of Malverne on Thursday, Jan. 26, to watch as officials unveiled the new Acorn Way, the Malverne School District announced on Facebook.  It marked the culmination of years of hard work by several students at Malverne High School who pushed for the renaming after learning that the street’s original namesake, Paul Lindner, was a Ku Klux Klan leader in addition to being …
NY School District Asks Hochul Not To Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine For Students NY School District Asks Hochul Not To Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine For Students
NY School District Asks Hochul Not To Mandate Covid-19 Vaccine For Students A school district in the Hudson Valley has sent a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asking her not to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for public school students.  The letter, sent on Monday, Jan. 23 by the Brewster Central School District's Board of Education in Putnam County, was sent in the wake of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending that the COVID vaccine be received by all children younger than 18.  School officials also recognized that there may be proposed legislation that would mandate the vaccine for all New York public school students…
These Long Island High School Seniors Named Regeneron Scholars These Long Island High School Seniors Named Regeneron Scholars
These Long Island High School Seniors Named Regeneron Scholars Thirty-eight high school seniors on Long Island are among the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023, regarded as the nation’s oldest and most prestigious scholastic science and math competition, the Society for Science announced on Tuesday, Jan. 10.The 300 will be awarded $2,000 each and their schools will be awarded $2,000 for each enrolled scholar. The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,949 applications from 627 high schools across 48 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and four other countries.  The following Long Island students we…
Here's Where New York Ranks Among States With Best Public School Systems, Forbes Says Here's Where New York Ranks Among States With Best Public School Systems, Forbes Says
Here's Where New York Ranks Among States With Best Public School Systems, Forbes Says New York ranks in the top half of states with the best public school systems, according to a report from Forbes.  The state ranks 22nd in the nation for its public schools, according to the news outlet. The schools in the state benefit from the cultural diversity of places like New York City, which is "widely deemed the cultural capital of the world," the Forbes report said.  One advantage that this cultural diversity brings is the number of languages that are spoken in the city, which total as many as 800, according to Forbes.  Click here to read the full report from Forbe…