78 Long Island high schools named Schools of Distinction or Excellence
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School was among the local schools named a 2025-26 School of Distinction by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Pictured here is the school’s girls varsity volleyball team, which last season won the Long Island Class AAA championship. Credit: Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District
Seventy-eight Long Island high schools have been recognized for academic achievement among varsity athletic programs by being named a 2025-26 School of Distinction or Excellence by the New York State Public School Athletic Association.
The School of Distinction designation requires 100% of a school’s varsity teams earn the association’s Scholar-Athlete Team Award, while the School of Excellence designation requires at least 75% of a school’s varsity teams meet that criteria. For a team to earn the Scholar-Athlete award, the average grade-point average of the top 75% of its roster must be at least 90%.
This year, 118 schools statewide earned the School of Distinction Award, while 237 schools earned the School of Excellence Award. The awards recognize schools that have demonstrated an "exceptional commitment to academic achievement,” according to the association.
“The commitment demonstrated by our member schools to academic excellence continues to be one of the greatest strengths of educational-based athletics,” Robert Zayas, the association’s executive director, said in a statement. “These awards recognize entire school communities that value success in the classroom as much as success in competition.”
Long Island’s high schools named Schools of Distinction are Babylon, Bellport, Bethpage, Carle Place, Center Moriches, Cold Spring Harbor, Connetquot in Bohemia, Elwood, Farmingdale, General Douglas MacArthur in Levittown, Great Neck South, Greenport, Harborfields in Greenlawn, Jericho, John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, Manhasset, Massapequa, Mattituck, Miller Place, New Hyde Park, Northport, Oyster Bay, Patchogue-Medford, Pierson in Sag Harbor, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Earl L. Vandermeulen in Port Jefferson, Oceanside, Riverhead Charter School, Rocky Point, Sayville, Shelter Island, Shoreham-Wading River, South Side in Rockville Centre, Southold, Syosset, Walt Whitman in Huntington Station, Wantagh and The Wheatley School in Old Westbury.
Long Island’s high schools named School of Excellence are Bayport-Blue Point, Centereach, Commack, Comsewogue in Port Jefferson Station, Deer Park, Division Avenue in Levittown, East Hampton, East Rockaway, Eastport-South Manor, Floral Park, Freeport, Garden City, Great Neck North, H. Frank Carey in Franklin Square, Half Hollow Hills East in Dix Hills, Half Hollow Hills West in Dix Hills, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Herricks, Hicksville, Huntington, Island Trees, Islip, Lynbrook, Malverne, Mineola, Mount Sinai, Newfield in Selden, North Babylon, Paul D. Schreiber in Port Washington, Plainedge, Riverhead, Sachem East in Farmingville, Sachem North in Lake Ronkonkoma, Southampton, Ward Melville in East Setauket, West Babylon, West Hempstead, West Islip and Westhampton Beach.
GARDEN CITY
New principal
Lauren Quezada is the new principal of the Homestead School. She replaced Suzanne Viscovich, who retired.
Quezada served the past year as principal of Floral Park-Bellerose School. Before that, she served as an assistant principal at Stratford Road Elementary School in Garden City.
"Garden City has a strong tradition of excellence, and I am excited to build meaningful relationships with students, staff and families while helping every child feel seen, supported and inspired to learn each day," Quezada said in a statement.
GLEN COVE
New principal
Rebecca Carfora has been appointed principal of Landing Elementary School in the Glen Cove School District.
Carfora, who replaced Liza Carfora (no relation), most recently served three years as an instructional literacy coach at Landing and the district’s Connolly Elementary School. Before that, she taught English language arts for seven years at the district’s Robert M. Finley Middle School.
“Over the past three years, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication of our staff, the resilience of our students, and the strong partnerships we share with our families," Carfora said in a statement. "I am proud to help lead this community as we create a shared vision for our students together."
DIX HILLS
New principal
Lana Long Louis has been named principal of Vanderbilt Elementary School in the Half Hollow Hills Central School District. She replaced Martin Boettcher, who retired.
Louis served the past four years as an assistant principal at Vanderbilt.
“Vanderbilt Elementary School is a vibrant learning community rooted in collaboration, inclusivity and a shared commitment to student success,” Louis said in a statement. “Together, we will build on our strong foundation and ensure every child feels valued, supported and empowered to reach their full potential.”
ISLIP TERRACE
New principal
Tom Sallee is the new principal of Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School in the East Islip School District. He replaced Janet Jones, who is now the district’s director of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), multitiered system of supports and accountability.
Sallee was previously principal of Stoneham Central Middle School in Massachusetts since 2022. Before that, he was an assistant principal, a history teacher and a curriculum leader at schools in Massachusetts.
“I look forward to learning in detail about the strengths and traditions of the school and community and helping to create a school where all of our students can thrive," Sallee said in a statement.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
