The New School Year Is Almost Here!
There is something special about this time of year. Over the past several days, it has been wonderful to see so many students and families back on our campuses for summer orientations, playground visits, building tours, athletic practices, and other transition activities. From our youngest learners getting their first look at Washington Drive to our seniors coming in for their last yearbook photos at Harborfields High School, the excitement is building throughout the district. I cannot wait to officially welcome everyone back for what promises to be another outstanding school year!
Excellence by Design: From Vision to Action
I am pleased to share the 2026–2027 Board of Education Goals. These goals continue to be organized around the three pillars of Innovation, Curriculum, and Finance and provide an ambitious roadmap for our work in the year ahead.
A major focus this year will be bringing our newly adopted Mission Statement to life through the development of a Harborfields Portrait of a Graduate, defining the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and competencies we want every student to possess when they leave our schools. The goals also emphasize responsible innovation, student voice, college and career readiness, stronger student supports, continued growth in STEM and humanities, and expanded real-world learning opportunities.
As we enter the fifth and final year of our current Five-Year Strategic Plan, we will also begin working together to shape the future direction of Harborfields. Click the image below to view the complete 2026–2027 Board of Education Goals.
Building for the Future
If you have driven past our schools this summer, you have seen just how much work has taken place across the district. At Harborfields High School, projects include the renovation of 21 classrooms, auditorium improvements and a dramatic new façade, hallway ceiling replacement, exterior and sidewalk repairs, and the completion of air conditioning in the South Gym. Although the work on the exterior of the auditorium is not yet complete, here is a rendering of what it will look like.
Oldfield Middle School also underwent significant improvements, including classroom renovations, a new track, parking lot repairs, security gates, masonry work, and window replacement. Work at TJL has included classroom renovations, door replacement, and masonry repairs, while new doors have also been installed at Washington Drive.
I am incredibly grateful to our facilities, custodial, maintenance, technology, security, clerical, and administrative teams for the extraordinary work taking place behind the scenes to ensure our schools are ready for September.
Putting the U.S. News Rankings in Perspective
Many families may have seen the recently released U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings reported in the news. While rankings can provide one lens into school performance, this year’s results for New York schools require some important context.
The New York State Education Department did not authorize the College Board to provide Advanced Placement data to U.S. News & World Report. As a result, the publication calculated its College Readiness and College Curriculum measures for New York schools using International Baccalaureate data rather than AP data. Because Harborfields High School does not offer the IB program, one of our greatest academic strengths, our Advanced Placement program, was not reflected in the ranking. This is especially significant because College Readiness accounts for 40% of the overall methodology. As a result, this year’s ranking was significantly flawed.
Rest assured, our college readiness and college curriculum remain incredibly strong. Last year alone, Harborfields High School students sat for 1,115 AP exams across 28 courses, with 84% earning a score of 3 or higher. Our students also have access to nearly 30 dual-enrollment courses through our college partnerships, and Harborfields High School earned Platinum recognition on the AP School Honor Roll, the College Board’s highest distinction.
While it is disappointing that these accomplishments were not included in this year’s ranking, we know that no single rating can capture the full Harborfields experience. Academic achievement is only one part of our story. Character, kindness, creativity, wellness, belonging, civic engagement, athletics, the arts, career and technical education, and the relationships our students build along the way are equally important parts of a Harborfields education. We are grateful to our amazing staff and families for your ongoing support of our incredible students as One Harborfields Family!
We’re Ready!
There is so much to be excited about as we begin 2026–2027. Our buildings are being transformed, our programs continue to grow, and our goals point toward an exciting future.
I hope everyone enjoys the final days of summer. We cannot wait to welcome our students and families back to school!
| Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family |
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