Both Half Hollow Hills High Schools Recognized As Reward Schools

New York State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia has announced that both high schools in the Half Hollow Hills Central School District have been identified as high achieving Reward Schools. High School East and High School West are two out of the 155 New York schools being honored with this recognition for having high academic achievement in the state, without significant gaps in student achievement among subgroups.

Commissioner Elia said, “These schools serve as models to others in the state to inspire them to achieve a high level of accomplishment and improvement.”

To be identified as a Reward School, a school must:

• Be among the top 20 percent of schools in the state for English language arts (ELA) and math performance for both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years or be among the top ten percent of schools in terms of gains in ELA and math performance in the 2016-17 school year;
• Have made adequate yearly progress for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years for all groups of students on all measures for which the school is accountable, including the requirement that 95 percent of all groups participate in the English language arts and mathematics assessments; and
• Not have unacceptably large gaps in student performance on an accountability measure between students who are members of an accountability group (e.g., low-income students) and students who are not members of that group.

“The teachers and administrators at these Reward schools work hard each day to raise the bar and give their students opportunities to achieve their dreams,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “The proof is in the results these schools have obtained and I am thrilled to celebrate their success.”

High schools must have graduation rates above 80 percent to be a high-achieving school and the percentage of students in the school who graduate with a Regents diploma with advanced designation or a Career and Technical Endorsement (CTE) must exceed the State average. Additionally, high schools must demonstrate that their graduation rate for students who entered the school performing below proficient in ELA or math exceeds the State average. Each Reward School will receive a certificate of recognition from the Commissioner.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers, and their dedication to performing at the highest level,” said Dr. Patrick Harrigan, superintendent of schools at Half Hollow Hills. “This honor also acknowledges our commitment to equity and excellence, ensuring that all students have opportunities to succeed academically.”

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of more than 8,000 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The District is committed to providing students opportunities to excel in academics, athletics, and the arts.