Smithtown Central School District
| File:SCSD Logo.jpg | |
| Motto | Education is the difference between civilization and chaos. |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | Early 1900s |
| Superintendent | Edward Ehmann |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red and Blue |
| Mascot | Smithtown Bulls |
| Website | http://www.smithtown.k12.ny.us/ |
Smithtown Central School District is a school district in New York which serves residents throughout Smithtown, Nesconset, Ronkonkoma, Hauppauge and Kings Park all of which are communities in the Town of Smithtown. Covering an area of 35 square miles, SCSD serves approximately 11,000 students in nine elementary schools, three 6-8 middle schools, and two high schools. It is the fourth largest school district on Long Island.
Current Schools
Elementary Schools
The Smithtown Central School District currently operates on nine elementary schools. Grades kindergarten to fifth grade served in Smithtown CSD's elementary schools. The regular Smithtown CSD elementary school day lasts 6 hours and 5 minutes. Four or five elementary schools are declared the early elementary schools which run from 9:05AM to 3:10PM. The other five or four elementary schools are declared the late elementary schools which run from 9:35AM to 3:40PM. The following year, the early and late elementary schools switch schedules. Bus service from We Transport Inc. transports students from home to school and back within an hour from school starting and ending. There are no buses serving the elementary schools at later hours.
The elementary schools contain a few clubs for elementary students to join, most before school, some after school. Students receive one teacher throughout the entire day (grades kindergarten to four), except for special classes (i.e. Physical Education, General Music, Art, Library Time). A unique identity of the Smithtown CSD is that fifth graders are slowly transitioned into a middle/high school by being given different teachers for different subjects. This program was first started in the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in the late 1990s.
The elementary schools in the Smithtown CSD are as follows:
- Accompsett Elementary School
- Branch Brook Elementary School
- Dogwood Elementary School
- Mills Pond Elementary School
- Mt. Pleasant Elementary School
- Nesconset Elementary School
- Smithtown Elementary School
- St. James Elementary School
- Tackan Elementary School
Middle Schools
The Smithtown Central School District serves students through three different middle schools. Grades six to eight are served in these middle schools. The regular Smithtown CSD middle school day lasts 6 hours and 41 minutes, from 7:50AM to 2:31PM. Bus service from We Transport Inc. transports students from home to school and back within an hour from school starting and ending. Late buses are available for students staying after school for athletic events or other clubs. These buses are condensed from the normal amount and run at 4:10PM and at 5:10PM.
The middle schools contain a number of clubs for middle school students to join, most after school, with some before school. Middle schools in Smithtown contain several academic contest interschool clubs, such as Mathletes and Science Olympiad. The Mathletes participate in both Math Olympiads and MathCounts. In 2007, the Great Hollow club placed 1st in Suffolk County in the MathCounts competition and 11th in New York State. In 2008, they placed 2nd in the county. The state competition will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2008. There are athletic teams in Smithtown CSD's middle schools. Teams may be joined automatically or require one to audition in a try out. It is not unusual for a Smithtown sports team to go undefeated in a particular season.
Students follow a bell schedule of a 41 minute period, nine period day. There is a four minute transition between periods. The school runs on a quarter system, distributing report cards every ten weeks of the 40 week school year. Progress reports are distributed halfway into the ten week quarter. (Progress reports contain comments that do not go to the final grade of the class as opposed to report cards which contain grades, citizenship markings and comments). The last week of the school year (a 41st week) contains seminars and final exams for these students, including New York State High School Regents Examinations for math and science honors students.
Prior to 1992, the middle schools in the Smithtown CSD were as follows:
- Accompsett Middle School
- Great Hollow Middle School
- Nesaquake Middle School
In 1992, redistricting led to the consolidation of the three middle schools into Smithtown Middle School, a facility housed in the former and now present Smithtown High School East, containing all sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the Smithtown CSD. The student population grew again, which caused Smithtown Middle School to be split again between itself and the newly re-opened Great Hollow Middle School. The population was split again in remaining students in Smithtown Middle School between itself and Nesaquake Middle School. The next year, the remaining population at Smithtown Middle School was transferred to Accompsett Middle School as the building of Smithtown Middle School returned to its prior use as Smithtown High School East.
Smithtown High School
The Smithtown Central School District serves students through the Smithtown High School on two different campuses, the East Campus on St. James and the West Campus in Smithtown. Grades nine to twelve are served in these high schools. The regular Smithtown CSD high school day lasts 6 hours and 35 minutes, from 7:20AM to 1:55PM. Bus service from We Transport Inc. transports students from home to school and back within an hour from school starting and ending. Depending upon the budget passed by the citizens, late buses may be available for students staying after school for athletic events or other clubs. These buses are condensed from the normal amount and run at 4:10PM and at 5:10PM.
The high schools contain many clubs for high school students to join, the great majority after school, and a few before school. High schools in Smithtown contain several academic contest interschool clubs, such as Science Olympiad, Political Awareness Club, DECA, and Academic Quiz Bowl. There may be athletic teams in Smithtown CSD's high schools dependent upon the budget. Teams may be walk-on or require a tryout depending on participation.
Students follow a bell schedule of a 40 minute period, nine period day. There is a four minute transition between periods. The school runs on a quarter system, distributing report cards every ten weeks of the 40 week school year. Progress reports are distributed halfway into the ten week quarter. (Progress reports contain comments that do not go to the final grade of the class as opposed to report cards which contain grades and comments). The last weeks of the school year (a 41st and 42nd week) contains and final exams for these students, including New York State High School Regents Examinations required for graduation.
The high schools in the Smithtown CSD are as follows:
- Eastern Campus (St. James, NY)
- Western Campus (Smithtown, NY)
The nickname for the athletic teams for both high schools is the Smithtown Bulls, a moniker adopted in the 1992 consolidation. Blue is the primary color for the Western Campus with red as the accent. Red is the primary color for the Eastern Campus with blue as the accent. Prior to the consolidation, Smithtown East's teams were known as the Indians and Smithtown West's teams were known as the Knights. Smithtown East's colors were red and white and Smithtown West's colors were blue and gold.
Former Smithtown Schools
New York Avenue Junior High School
The building located at 26 New York Avenue was formerly a junior high school, which served students grades seven through nine. It served the middle-western portion of the Smithtown Central School District. Graduating students of the New York Avenue Junior High School would enter Smithtown High School (West). In its time, the New York Avenue Junior High School operated along with three other junior high schools in the district, Great Hollow Junior High School, Accompsett Intermediate High School and Nesaquake Junior High School. Today it serves its function as the district's central office, adult education programs, and board of education meetings. It is also known as the Joseph M. Barton building.
Smithtown Branch High School
Prior to the opening of Smithtown Central High School building in St. James in 1960, Smithtown High School operated out of the New York Avenue school building. At some point, before the opening of the Lawrence Avenue Elementary school, the New York Avenue building served as a K through 12 school.
Notable Alumni
- Don Roeser- (Blue Oyster Cult guitarist) - better known under his "Buck Dharma" pseudonym...
- Soledad O'Brien- (American television journalist) currently the host of CNN Special Investigations Unit on CNN
- Frank Catalanotto - (Major League Baseball Player) Texas Rangers
- Jai Rodriguez - (TV Personality) Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
- Jim Mecir - (Major League Baseball Player) (Retired) Florida Marlins
- Jodi Picoult - (American author)