Syosset High School

Coordinates: 40°49′50.98″N 73°28′58.49″W / 40.8308278°N 73.4829139°W / 40.8308278; -73.4829139

Syosset High School
Location
Syosset, New York United States
Information
Type	Public school
Motto	"A great place to live, an outstanding place to learn"
Established	1956
School district	Syosset Central School District
Principal	Dr. Giovanni Durante
Faculty	208.4 FTEs[1]
Grades	9th through 12th
Enrollment	2,159 (as of 2014-15)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	10.4:1[1]
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Red, black and white
Mascot	Syosset Braves
Website	https://www.syosseths.com

Syosset High School (SHS), located in Syosset, New York, United States, in Nassau County on Long Island, is the only public high school for residents of the Syosset Central School District. As of 2012, the news magazine Newsweek ranked the high school 42nd best in the US. Syosset High School has been ranked #10 in New York by niche.com as of 2016. ^[2]

As of the 2014-15 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,159 students and 208.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1. There were 78 students (3.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 10 (0.5% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.^[1]

Overview

The school was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1992–1993.^[3] The school district as a whole was the 2002 winner of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award, which honors school districts for excellence in arts education. Syosset was also named a Grammy Signature school^[4] for its music programs in orchestra, band, and chorus. In 2010 it was rated 14th in the country for music education by the National Association for Music Education.^[5] Syosset High School ranked 143rd of 1600+ schools listed in Newsweek's 2010 Best High Schools list.

Eleanor Roosevelt was among the first notable people to make a personal appearance in the auditorium.

In April 2007, the school's Quiz Bowl team won an online national championship.^[6]

Academic departments

Syosset High School's academic departments which house a wide variety of courses:

• Art
• Business Education
• Castle Program
• Driver's Education
• English
• Human Ecology (formerly known as Family and Consumer Sciences)
• Health Education
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Science
• Social Studies
• Special Education
• Technology
• Theater Arts
• World Language

Castle Program

The Castle Program is designed for students (non-special education) who need a different environment in order to succeed. These students typically have a history of poor class and school attendance. They meet in a separate setting with small class sizes and a close-knit team of teachers who focus on "realistic expectations." Participation in this program is voluntary.^[7]

WKWZ

WKWZ, 88.5 FM, is a broadcasting station owned and operated by the Syosset Central School District that operates from 2:30–11:00 pm Monday through Friday. It is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). WPOB broadcasts on the same frequency from 7:00–2:30 from Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, and is the sister station to WKWZ. The General Manager is head of the Syosset Film and Radio department, David Favilla, with all other positions (other than General Manager, Station Supervisor and Chief Engineer) operated by students in the school, with positions such as Station Managers, Music Director, Sports Director, Traffic Director, Program Director, Community News Director, and Organizational Supervisors.

Athletics

• The football team won the 1974 New York State Championship^[8] and the Long Island Championship in 2014.^[9]
• The boys' swim team won the Nassau County Championships in 2003.
• The tennis team won the Nassau County Championships in 2015.
• The boys' lacrosse team won the Long Island Championship in 2008 and 2015.
• The girls' lacrosse team won the Nassau County Championships in 2015.
• Under coach Bart Sessa, the boys' cross country team won ten back-to-back Nassau County titles from 1996 to 2006. The cross country and track and field teams have won eleven back-to-back county titles from 2012 to 2016. On February 5, 2005, athletes Chris Howell, Adam Lampert, Dan Tully and Sean Tully set the national indoor record in the 4 × 800 metres relay in a time of 7:42.22. The same team won national championships at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships and Nike Outdoor Nationals and won the 4 × 800 metres relay at the prestigious Penn Relays on April 29, 2005.^[10][11]
• The boys' soccer team won the Nassau County Championship in 2012.

Notable alumni

Sue Bird

Natalie Portman

• Judd Apatow – screenwriter, director, and producer^[12]
• Jay Bienstock – Emmy award-winning television producer of Survivor, The Apprentice, and The Voice
• Sue Bird – Women's National Basketball Association point guard, three-time Olympic champion, four-time All-Star (Seattle Storm)^[13] (She attended Syosset High School but graduated from Christ the King^[14])
• Jeff T. Blau – CEO of The Related Companies
• Alan S. Blinder – economist, author, and former Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System^[12]
• Elaine Chao – 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor^[12] and 18th United States Secretary of Transportation
• Alan Eichler – theatrical publicist, producer and talent manager^[15]
• Sibel Galindez – actress
• Paul Ginsparg – physicist
• Brooke Gladstone – journalist and media analyst
• Wayne Gladstone – writer and humorist
• Rick Hodes – medical doctor known for work in the developing world^[12]
• Brenda Howard – political activist
• Michael Isikoff – Newsweek journalist^[12]
• Joel Kupferman – environmental lawyer
• Mitchell Lazar – physician-scientist^[16]
• Kenneth Lin – playwright
• Jon Lovett – former Presidential speechwriter for Barack Obama and current podcast host^{[17] [18]}
• Carolyne Mas – singer-songwriter
• Robert Maschio – actor, Scrubs
• Idina Menzel – actress and singer
• David Nesenoff – rabbi, filmmaker, journalist
• Ed Newman – NFL player
• Ivan Orkin – ramen chef and restauranteur featured on Chef's Table
• Jeff Panzer – music video executive
• Adam Pascal – actor and singer
• Michael Pollan (1973) – writer^[12]
• Tracy Pollan – actress^[12]
• Natalie Portman – actress^[12]
• Liz Rosenberg – poet, novelist, children's book author
• Gabe Rotter – novelist, television writer and producer
• Jim Rowinski – NBA player
• Dave Rubin – comedian and television personality
• John C. Russell – playwright^[19]
• Carl Safina – conservationist and author
• Matthew Seamon – Founder of ACORN SEED
• Doug Varone – choreographer
• Barry Weiss – Chairman of BMG Label Group^[12]
• Meg Wolitzer – novelist^[12]
• Lesley Arfin – television writer and author, Girls, Love, Brooklyn 99
• Stephanie Mincone – dancer

References

External links

• Syosset High School website