Commack Union Free School District
Schools
Primary schools
The primary schools in the Commack School District are Indian Hollow, Rolling Hills, North Ridge, and Wood Park. They serve students in grades K–2. The school day for these schools last from around 9:20 AM to 3:20 PM although one should check with the specific schools for exact times. The students have one teacher throughout the day except for special classes like music, art, and physical education and special services like speech, physical, or occupational therapy.
Intermediate schools
The intermediate schools are Burr and Sawmill. They serve students in grades 3–5. Their school day is from 8:50 AM to 3:05 PM. The two buildings are identical in their structure and design. Both schools have at least ten clubs that meet while school is not in session. The children have one teacher for the whole day except for special classes like music, art and physical education. There are many special services available like Physical Speech and Occupational Therapy, social workers, psychologists and a gifted and talented program. There is also an English as a second language program. In fourth grade, the students begin to learn a musical instrument. They are given lessons once a week and participate in the school's band or orchestra. There is a chorus for students who are interested in singing. Each fifth grade class in both schools takes a two-day trip to Camp Mariah in Fishkill, NY towards the end of the year.
Middle school
The Commack Middle School serves students in grades 6–8. The school day lasts from 7:50 AM to 2:38 PM. Commack Middle School is the first school with multiple classes held in different rooms, unlike in the intermediate and primary schools. Each period is 41 minutes for the exception of 9th period (43 minutes). The students have 9 periods per day, each with a different teacher. Each child is required to take Math, English, Science, Social Studies, a foreign language, and Physical Education all year for the entire three years. They are also required to take Art, Family and Consumer Science, Technology and Health for a quarter of each year. There are 65 clubs and 20 sports teams for students.
High school
The Commack High School serves students in grades 9–12. The school day lasts from 7:30 AM to 2:25 PM. The students have nine periods per day, each with a different teacher. The classes are forty minutes in length with 5 minutes of walking time in between them. Each student is required to meet the requirements for a New York State Regents diploma unless there are special circumstances. They are also required to complete 15 CSIP (Community Service Involvement Program) credits their first three years and 20 their senior year. These can be fulfilled by participating in sports and clubs or by doing volunteer work inside or out of school. Commack High School is an International Baccalaureate School, and students pursuing an IB diploma are subject to a more stringent of requirements. As of 2018 there were 15 honor societies, 52 clubs and 21 sports teams for students.
As of the 2019-2020 school year, the total enrollment was 2,187 students and 168 teachers. The student to teacher ratio was 13:1.
In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked Commack High School the best high school in Suffolk County, the third best on Long Island, the 18th best in New York state, and the 95th best in the country. As of 2018, Commack High School was unranked in New York State.
List of current and former schools
School name | Current type | Geography | Former name | Former type | Year opened | Year closed | Building status | Disposition |
Current schools | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commack High School | High school | North | Commack High School North | N/A | 1962 | N/A | Active | N/A |
Commack Middle School | Middle school | South | Commack High School South | High school | 1968 | N/A | Active | N/A |
Burr Intermediate School | Intermediate school | North | Burr Junior High School | Middle school | 1972 | N/A | Active | N/A |
John Mandracchia Sawmill Intermediate School | Intermediate school | South | John Mandracchia Sawmill Junior High School | Middle school | 1972 | N/A | Active | N/A |
Indian Hollow Primary School | Primary school | North | Indian Hollow School | Elementary school | 1964 | N/A | Active | N/A |
North Ridge Primary School | Primary school | North | North Ridge Elementary School | Elementary school | 1962 | N/A | Active | N/A |
Rolling Hills Primary School | Primary school | South | Rolling Hills School | Elementary school | 1965 | N/A | Active | N/A |
Wood Park Primary School | Primary school | South | Wood Park School | Elementary school | 1961 | N/A | Active | N/A |
Hubbs Administration Center | Administrative building | North | Grace L. Hubbs School | Elementary school | 1964 | 1976 | Repurposed | Now Hubbs Administration Center |
Former schools | ||||||||
Greenmeadows Junior High School | Closed | South | N/A | Junior high school | 1963 | 1979 | Sold | Sold to Suffolk Jewish Community Center |
John F. Kennedy Junior High School | Closed | North | N/A | Junior high school | 1964 | 1981 | Demolished | Land sold and demolished. Now Longmeadow Estates. |
Cedar Road School | Closed | North | N/A | Elementary school | 1960 | 1988 | Leased | Leased to AHRC and Commack Special Services Corp |
Circle Hill School | Closed | North | N/A | Elementary school | 1963 | 1981 | Demolished | Land sold and demolished. Now housing developments. |
Green Fields School | Closed | South | N/A | Elementary school | 1961 | 1982 | Sold | Sold to WM/YWHA |
Grace L. Hubbs School | Administrative building | North | N/A | Elementary school | 1964 | 1976 | Repurposed | Now Hubbs Administration Center |
Long Acres School | Closed | North | N/A | Elementary school | 1963 | 1980 | Leased | Leased to Kiddie Care Early Learning Center |
Marion Carll School | Closed | South | N/A | Elementary school | 1924 | 1974 | Demolished | Sold to NY Tech; since demolished |
Old Farms School | Closed | South | N/A | Elementary school | 1963 | 1988 | Leased | Leased to Suffolk Day Care Center |
Sagtikos School | Closed | South | N/A | Elementary school | 1965 | 1981 | Leased | Now Building Blocks Preschool |
Smith's Lane School | Closed | South | N/A | Elementary school | 1958 | 1979 | Leased | Leased to UCP |
South Ridge School | Closed | South | N/A | Elementary school | 1963 | 1976 | Demolished | Burned, demolished and land sold to homes |
Winnicomac School | Closed | North | N/A | Elementary school | 1958 | 1983 | Sold | Now Sappo Intermediate School and Tree of Life Preschool |
Board of education
Position | Name |
President | Justin Varughese |
Vice President | Steven Hartman |
Trustee | William Hender |
Trustee | Susan Hermer |
Trustee | Gus Hueber |
Academics
Commack Middle School was awarded first place in the Long Island Regional Middle School Science Bowl academic competition at Brookhaven National Laboratory on April 14, 2007, and went on to take seventh place in the academic competition in the National Middle School Science Bowl that same year. The Commack Middle School also won the Long Island Regional Middle School Science Bowl in March of 2012, March of 2014, and March of 2016.
Commack High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon school of excellence in 2021.
The Suffolk County Reading Council has recognized the Commack School District's elementary schools for their achievements in the area of literacy.
Demographics
The tables below describe the school district's demographic data for the last three school years that have been made available by the New York State Education Department.
Gender | Number of students (2018–2019) | Number of students (2019–2020) | Number of students (2020–2021) |
Female | 2,882 (48%) | 2,857 (49%) | 2,782 (49%) |
Male | 3,099 (52%) | 3,018 (51%) | 2,937 (51%) |
Ethnicity | Number of students (2018–2019) | Number of students (2019–2020) | Number of students (2020–2021) |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 10 (0%) | 13 (0%) | 13 (0%) |
Black or African American | 72 (1%) | 91 (2%) | 105 (2%) |
Hispanic or Latino | 524 (9%) | 582 (10%) | 604 (11%) |
Asian or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 532 (9%) | 563 (10%) | 592 (10%) |
White | 4,727 (79%) | 4,508 (77%) | 4,277 (75%) |
Multiracial | 116 (2%) | 118 (2%) | 128 (2%) |
Title | Number of students (2018–2019) | Number of students (2019–2020) | Number of students (2020–2021) |
English language learners | 65 (1%) | 76 (1%) | 81 (1%) |
Students with disabilities | 1,089 (18%) | 1,029 (18%) | 1,030 (18%) |
Economically disadvantaged | 781 (13%) | 755 (13%) | 750 (13%) |
Migrant | - | - | - |
Homeless | 10 (0%) | 11 (0%) | 6 (0%) |
Foster care | - | - | - |
Parent in armed forces | - | - | - |
Notable alumni
- Carly Aquilino, standup comedian and TV personality (Girl Code)
- Dave Cohen, college football coach
- Bob Costas, sportscaster
- Don DeMola, MLB pitcher, Montreal Expos
- Courtney Galiano, dancer
- Adam Gertler, TV personality (FX Movie Download) and chef (Gertler's Wurst)
- Pete Harnisch, Major League Baseball player
- Jennifer Iacopelli, author
- Tom Mendoza, business executive, namesake of Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame
- Tim Miller (Bizzle), professional Fortnite player for FaZe Clan
- Dianne Moritz, author
- Steve Morrison, co-host of Preston and Steve radio show
- Rosie O'Donnell, entertainer
- Samantha Prahalis, WNBA basketball player
- Ashley Reyes, actress and star of Walker
- Ruth Ann Swenson, opera singer
References
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