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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