Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Named National Blue Ribbon School

Five Long Island high schools, including Earl L. Vandermeulen in Port Jefferson, were among the 342 nationwide to be named National Blue Ribbon Schools on Thursday.

The local schools to make the list are:

• Earl L. Vandermeulen High School
• Bayport‐Blue Point High School
• Garden City High School
• Herricks High School
• Massapequa High School

The five high schools were among 13 public schools in New York to receive the honor.

"National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a press release. "You are visionaries, innovators and leaders. You have much to teach us: some of you personalize student learning, others engage parents and communities in the work and life of your local schools and still others develop strong and forward-thinking leaders from among your teaching staff."

“This distinction is a result of the value our community places on education and our schools,” Port Jefferson Superintendent Paul Casciano said. “Our tradition of excellence is sustained through the tireless efforts of our staff, teachers, administrators, parents, and entire school-community of the Port Jefferson School District.”

Annually, the school boasts numerous AP Scholars, National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, who all demonstrate exceptional college-level achievement through their performance on national qualifying exams, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students.

“Our students, staff, parents and community members are to be commended for their collective efforts in achieving this honor,” Principal Christine Austen said. “The Blue Ribbon distinction recognizes our efforts to support our students academically, emotionally and socially and we will continue to build upon our success in the future.”

The National Blue Ribbon School Program was created in 1982 to bring public attention to the best schools in the country and to facilitate communication and sharing of best practices within and among schools. Port Jefferson Middle School is celebrating its 30th anniversary of Blue Ribbon status. It was known as Port Jefferson Junior High School in 1987 when it received the honor.

Last year, two Long Island schools – Harborfields High School in Greenlawn and Syosset High School in Syosset– earned the Blue Ribbon distinction.

Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District