These Middle Schools Ranked Top 5 In Suffolk County, Report Says

The grades are in and these middle schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche.

A classroom.
Photo Credit: *Canva/Chinnapong*

Michael Mashburn

11/02/2024 8:30 a.m.

After considering a number of key areas, the following schools were ranked in the website’s 2025 “Best Schools in Suffolk County” report:

No. 1 - Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills
No. 2 - West Hollow Middle School in Melville
No. 3 - Paul J. Gelinas Junior High School in East Setauket
No. 4 - Oldfield Middle School in Greenlawn
No. 5 - Port Jefferson Middle School

Candlewood, West Hollow, and Gelinas all hold overall grades of A+, while Oldfield and Port Jefferson have A ratings.

All five schools garnered A’s in the academics category, and A+’s for teachers.

In the diversity category, Candlewood and West Hollow have A grades, Oldfield boasts a B+, and Gelinas and Port Jefferson hold B’s.

Students at each school also enjoy a lower student-teacher ratio than the national average of 17 to one. The best, eight to one, was found at Port Jefferson Middle School.

Looking at math scores, students at Port Jefferson fared the best on standardized exams, with 82-percent scoring at or above proficiency.

View the complete ranking on Niche’s website.

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