Four Long Island schools named National Blue Ribbon winners

Four Long Island schools were named National Blue Ribbon winners for their academic excellence by the U.S. Department of Education on Friday.

Federal education officials honored the four as "exemplary high performing schools," which is one of two categories for the award. The other category is for closing achievement gaps among students.

The Long Island schools honored were Ward Melville Senior High School in East Setauket, Lloyd Harbor School, Lynbrook Senior High School and Valley Stream Central High School. They are among 20 schools recognized statewide and 297 across the country.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the winners during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour.

“I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams,” Cardona said. 

William Bernhard, principal of Ward Melville High School in the Three Village district, said this was the first time the school received the honor. He credited the school's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program, which has been recognized both statewide and nationally. He also noted that the school's Science Olympiad team ranked first in the state, with one student placing first in cybersecurity in the national Science Olympiad competition. 

"It's a great school. Great kids, great families and a great staff," Bernhard said of Ward Melville High School, which has about 1,500 students.

Winners of the Blue Ribbon receive a flag they can fly in front of the school and are honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Lynbrook Senior High School, which has about 890 students, also had received the award in 1990, said Principal Matthew Sarosy.

"The relationship is great in the building and with the community in terms of academics," he said. "We have partnerships with colleges for both AP and honors courses."

Lynbrook Superintendent Melissa Burak added, "We try to give kids the proper experiences so they can follow their passions in the real world."

Officials at the Valley Stream Central High School District, which serves about 1,000 students, said the federal education officials examine, among other things, state assessments or nationally normed tests.

“I am so proud of the work the staff at Central has put into creating such an outstanding learning environment,” Superintendent Wayne Loper said. “This achievement comes on top of many at Central, and is a direct result of the dedication our students, teachers and families have shown.”

High school Principal Joseph Pompilio added, “The honor is a testament to our hardworking faculty and students. The Blue Ribbon award magnifies central’s excellence in teaching and learning.”

The Blue Ribbon application process can be arduous. Jill Gierasch, superintendent of the Cold Spring Harbor school district, said the district put a committee together and spent months preparing the 21-page document nominating Lloyd Harbor School.

She pointed to the elementary school's work with mathematics and literacy, its professional development for teachers, and data collection. She also praised the school's efforts to help students' emotional well-being as an important part of academic success.

"You can't have one without the other," she said of the work at the school, which has 373 students.

By Craig Schneider

craig.schneider@newsday.com@Scraigo

Craig Schneider is a Long Island native and Stony Brook University alumnus. He joined Newsday as a general assignment reporter in January 2018 after 20 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.