South Side High School makes Niche.com's top 100 schools in the state

South Side High School was ranked at No. 63 out of the top 100 public high schools in New York State by Niche.com, a school and neighborhood ranking website.

Niche ranks schools based on a number of factors, including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT and ACT scores and teacher quality.

Mark Masin, president of the Rockville Centre Board of Education was pleased to hear about the recognition.

“I think it’s certainly a testament to our students as well as our central and building administration,” he said. “The board has a small part that they play as well and our community.”

But he also acknowledged that it’s not the job of school officials to make it onto lists.

“It’s always good to receive some recognition but we’re in it for the education of our children,” he noted. “Lists are all well and good but the proof is in our grad rates and ability to educate our kids to greatest levels of achievement.”

In September, the high school was chosen as one of eight high schools to receive ‘Gold’ recognition as a School of Opportunity by the National Education Policy Center, in partnership with the University of Colorado School of Education. The Schools of Opportunity Project conducted a national search, to recognize high schools that have “demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to equity and excellence by giving all students the opportunity to succeed.”

South Side was singled out for the creation and maintenance of a healthy school culture, broadening and enriching school curriculum, the variety of assessments used to respond to student needs, and exemplary professional development. The selection committee was especially impressed that all South Side students have to complete at least one IB class.

As a result, South Side was featured in a series of recent articles by the Washington Post.