Nearly 400 Harborfields Students Take PSAT In School-Day First

GREENLAWN, NY — Nearly 400 Harborfields High School students took the PSAT during the regular school day for the first time Wednesday, Oct. 14, as part of a district initiative to make college-readiness testing more accessible.

The Harborfields Central School District administered the exam to 397 sophomores and juniors at no cost to families, eliminating the expense, transportation challenges and weekend commitments that can prevent students from participating.

Subscribe

The change led to a significant increase in participation. According to the district, 70 percent more students took the PSAT than in October 2025. This year's participation also surpassed the previous high of 310 students in October 2023 by 28 percent.

"By offering the PSAT to all tenth and eleventh grade students during the regular school day at no cost to families, we are removing barriers to participation and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to benefit from this important experience," Superintendent Dr. Rory J. Manning said.

The PSAT allows students to gain experience with standardized testing, identify academic strengths and better prepare for future educational opportunities. For eligible juniors, the PSAT/NMSQT also serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

While sophomores and juniors spent the first portion of the school day taking the exam, ninth graders followed their regular schedules. Seniors attended regular classes, participated in college and postsecondary planning activities, and completed other training.

Transportation, meals and other school services continued as usual.

The initiative, approved by the Harborfields Board of Education, was administered with support from Pupil Personnel Services and school and district leadership.

District officials said the effort aligns with Harborfields' guiding vision, "Each Child, Each Day, One Harborfields Family," by expanding access to opportunities that support students' academic futures.

"At Harborfields, we believe that every student deserves access to opportunities that help them explore their potential and prepare for a successful future," Manning said. "This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to equity, access, and creating meaningful opportunities for every student to succeed."