As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,640 students and 109.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.0:1. There were 620 students (37.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 153 (9.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
Its school newspaper is known as the "Elmont Phoenix". Elmont High School's mascot is the Spartan. Its school colors are green and white. The school's current principal is Marya Baker. Elmont High School is part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District.
In 2005, Elmont High School was recognized as having the largest number of African American high school students scoring a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement examinations in the country.[citation needed]
Elmont HS was also recognized by the College Board as having the largest number of African American students attaining a 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement U.S. History exam in the country.[5]
Elmont Memorial from 1995–2006 had a 97% graduation rate, and in 2004 achieved a 100% graduation rate, a first in the Sewanhaka Central District.[citation needed]
Elmont Memorial also won the 2013 District Sports Night. This is the first time the school has won since 1997.
Faculty and staff
In August 2022, Principal Dougherty went on a sabbatical leave for unknown reasons and returned on October 11, 2022.[6] Principal Dougherty resigned as Principal at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.[7]
Academics
(adapted from the Sewanhaka Central High School District Catalog of Courses)
Levels of Study
Students may pursue one of two levels of study:
Advanced: This is an accelerated program of instruction in which students are expected to maintain a grade point average of at least 85% to continue to the next advanced course in the sequence.
Regents: Students pursue courses in the curriculum prescribed by the New York State Department of Education.
Grades 7 and 8
Students are organized into "teams" including the Lions (Regular), Hurricanes (Regular), and Direwolves (Advanced). Teams are composed of students and core teachers in math, science, English, and social studies. This allows for the individual attention necessary for success at an early stage in secondary education.
During the junior high school years, students pursue studies in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Music, Physical Education, Art, Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Education, Woodshop and Language Enrichment, as well as vocational studies. High school credit is awarded to eighth graders that pursue advanced coursework in science, mathematics, foreign language, and music.
Teams include Advanced and Regular students. The regular team is divided into two separate teams based on students' last name.
Grades 9-12
High school coursework is designed to fulfill requirements necessary for students interested in attending two-year colleges, four-year colleges, vocational schools, nursing programs, etc. Students receive either a Regents Diploma or Advanced Regents Diploma upon graduation.
Music
The school has several performing arts groups, and credit is given for students in these groups. They include (note that there are separate groups at each school level):
Orchestra (at the High School or Junior High School level)
Concert Band (at the High School, 9th Grade, and Junior High School levels)
Concert Choir (at the High School and Junior High School levels)
Jazz Band
Jazz Choir
String Ensemble
Marching Band
Students perform each year during the Winter and Spring Concerts, local events, and music competitions. Some students participate in their respective musical groups at the All-District, All-County, Long Island Invitational, and All-State levels, or join the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Students may also pursue coursework in Music Theory.
Elmont High School's football team were district champions for three years. The mascot of EMHS is the Spartans. Sports are offered at the Junior High, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels and include:
Basketball
Soccer
Baseball
Riflery
Football
Softball
Lacrosse
Gymnastics (District)
Swimming (District)
Wrestling
Volleyball
Track
Golf (District)
Gymnastics
Bowling (District)
Track and Field
Cheerleading (Junior High [7th and 8th grade], Junior Varsity [9th and 10th grade], and Varsity [11th and 12th grade])
Weight Lifting
Students from all five schools in the Sewanhaka Central High School District participate in District Sports Night, a competition between schools.
^"CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department". Journal Inquirer. November 16, 2006. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2006. The award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve.
^Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
^Fischler, Marcelle S. "Long Island Journal; Battling Stereotypes With High Test Scores", The New York Times, February 20, 2005. Accessed December 16, 2020. "Elmont had the largest number of black students in the country to score so high on the exam, according to the College Board, which administers the A.P. program.... Trevor Packer, the executive director of the College Board's Advanced Placement program, said Elmont 'leads Long Island in having a greater number of African-American students scoring three or higher across all their A.P. subjects.'"
