Valley Stream Central High School is a public senior high school (grades 10–12) in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is part of the Valley Stream Central High School District. Candace Hugee has been the Principal since 2023. According to U.S. News & World Report, Central is the top performing High School in the District with the ranking of #103 in New York State compared to North's #138 and South's #131. Central has a graduation rate of above 95% and was recently recognized by New York State for having one of the highest graduation rates among men of color.
| Valley Stream Central High School | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
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135 Fletcher Avenue, , New York 11580-4099 United States | |
| Coordinates | 40°40′28″N 73°42′03″W / 40.67444°N 73.70083°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Opened | 1928 |
| School district | Valley Stream Central High School District |
| Superintendent | Wayne R. Loper |
| NCES School ID | 362952003980[1] |
| Principal | Candace Hugee |
| Faculty | 78.6 FTEs[1] |
| Grades | 10–12 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 1,078 (as of 2022–23)[1] |
| Average class size | 27 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 13.7:1[1] |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Eagle |
| Team name | Eagles |
| USNWR ranking | 103 in New York State |
| Newspaper | The Crier |
| Magnet School | Yes |
| Year-round schedule | Yes |
| Website | Valley Stream Central High School |
As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,078 students and 78.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1. There were 420 students (39.0% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 43 (4.0% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
History
editValley Stream Central High School opened in 1928.[2] The art deco school was designed by Frederic P. Wiedersum, the founder of the Valley Stream-based architectural firm, Frederic P. Wiedersum Associates.[2][3]
Performing arts program
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Valley Stream Central High School is the only school in the Valley Stream Central High School District to house a performing arts program. The program, which is led by the District's "Fine and Performing Arts Department" director Adam Erdos offers students across the District grades 9–12 to take courses such as Theatre Arts, Dance, Voice Theatre, Dance Theatre, Acting, Musical Theatre, and Video Technology.[4] The program is offered to students at Valley Stream North High School, Valley Stream South High School and Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School as well as Central students. To enter the program, one must fill in an application, which is provided on the District's website. Students from the other three schools are at Central for a portion of their day and then are either bussed or walk to their home school for the rest of their academic classes. The Performing Arts Program often puts on Dance Concerts and Showcases at Central's Bert Keller Auditorium, these performances are at night and are open to the public.
Career prep program
editThe Valley Stream Central High School District offers a wide variety of Career Prep Programs to its thousands of students, but similarly to Performing Arts, some of these programs are exclusively offered at Central. For example, Central is the only school in the district to house the Culinary Program and the Cosmetology Program. Other Career Prep Programs that students can take are Business and Technology classes and some Central students are a part of the Nassau County BOCES program, which provides vocational training at a different location.[5]
Notable alumni
edit- Richie Alan, drummer
- The Aquatones, 1950's Doo Wop group
- Fred Armisen, actor and comedian
- Bruce Blakeman, politician and lawyer
- Sonia Blangiardo, producer, director
- Stephen Boyd, NFL football player[6]
- Michael Brandon, actor
- Jim Breuer (born 1967, class of 1985) stand-up comedian and actor who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 1998[7]
- Steve Buscemi, actor and film director
- Conrad Cardinal, Major League Baseball player[8]
- Patricia Charbonneau, actress
- Connie Dierking, NBA basketball player, Univ. of Cincinnati[9]
- Fern Fitzgerald dancer (Broadway) and actress (Dallas, Seinfeld)
- Michael J. Garcia, Associate Judge, New York State Court of Appeals
- Tom Gorman, MLB baseball player
- George Grasso, former NYPD First Deputy Police Commissioner and Judge
- Steve Hytner, actor
- Martin Kove, actor
- Phil LaPorta, football player for Penn State and NFL New Orleans Saints
- Les Moonves, television executive & former CEO of CBS
- Victor Ochi, NFL football player[10]
- Steve Orich Broadway orchestrator and composer
- Vincent Penna, actor and voice talent
- Dick Poillon (1920–1994), American football halfback who played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins[11]
- Edward J. Renehan Jr., Writer and publisher
- Martin Rosen, writer, producer, director
- Greg Smith, Bassist / Vocalist (Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Rainbow)
- Dom Starsia, lacrosse coach
References
edit- ^ a b c d e School data for Valley Stream Central High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "They Don't Build 'Em Like They Used To: A Public School Art Deco Gem in Valley Stream – Scouting NY". April 13, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Mepham High stands the test of time". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Valley Stream Central High School District Resources | Performing Arts". vschsd.org. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "Valley Stream Central High School District Programs | Academic Programs". vschsd.org. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ Bellissimo, Tony (August 2, 2012). "Boyd finds second career in coaching". Long Island Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ Weiner, Iris. "Jim Breuer comes home", Long Island Herald, September 24, 2009. Accessed March 29, 2024. "Breuer’s uniquely dazed look combined with his goofy humor used to make his teachers at Valley Stream Central High School laugh… followed by the writing of detention slips. If he could talk to the teachers who helped him to graduation in 1985, he would give them one big fat, 'Told you so!'"
- ^ "Conrad Cardinal #34". mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Travers, Bill (March 1, 1970). "Stardom Waits Best Courtmen on Dream Team". New York Daily News. p. 163. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Smollins, Mike (September 29, 2016). "Central H.S. alumnus one step closer to NFL". Long Island Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ 2022 Nassau County High School Hall of Fame Inductees, Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Accessed February 4, 2024. "Three-sport star at Valley Stream Central in the 1930s. played basketball and baseball but excelled in football. he ran, passed, punted, kicked field goals and ran back punts and kickoffs."
External links
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