Smithtown High School West Named Reward School

Smithtown High School West was recently named a New York State Reward School by the State Education Department for the 2015-2016 school year.

Each year, the State Education Department identifies schools statewide that meet the criteria as high performing schools or schools that have made the most progress without significant gaps in student achievement.

This year, Smithtown High School West was one of 185 schools that received this prestigious designation.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition,” Smithtown High School West Principal John Coady said. “It is a validation of the hard work of our outstanding teachers and staff, as well as the great efforts our students put into academics."

To be identified as a Reward School, a school must be among the top 20 percent of schools statewide for English language arts and math performance for both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years or be among the top 10 percent of schools in terms of gains in ELA and math performance in the 2015-2016 school year.

A school must also have made adequate yearly progress for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years on all measures for which the school is accountable, including the requirement that 95 percent of all groups participated in the ELA and math assessments.

Finally, to be named a Reward School, a school must not have unacceptable gaps in student performance.

Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District