Are Smithtown schools bad?

My DH and I bought our house over a year ago, at the time everyone kept saying this was a good district. Now all I keep hearing and reading about is how bad this district is regarding specifically budget cuts and drug use. Our neighbor scared the nonense out of DH claiming he wants to use an alternate address to put his child in another nearby district. Our house wasn't cheap, but needs a ton of work. DH wants to sell for something smaller, but in better shape. Thoughts? I do get plenty of other "advice" that it's this bad all over Long Island regarding those specific issues. Commack seems more stable. Just curious, and really didn't want to have to pack up again but DH never liked our house so this doesn't help.

Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

There are problems in every district but to think Smithtown could be considered bad, I think that's insane TBH.

Message edited 3/25/2012 10:55:30 PM.

Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

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Ok, thanks. Hey, just looking for more info. DH isn't exactly happy here so it fueled him a bit to hear how our neighbor talks and he is from the area in addition to the recent lockdown at high school West due to a shooting threat. I personally, was trying to justify to him that in fact, it is the same problem everywhere. So thanks for the info. I'm not personally saying they are bad, but when I google topics regarding the district there are a lot of sour grapes, but again, can be anywhere. I'm sure he just wants what is best for our kids.

Message edited 3/25/2012 11:24:40 PM.

Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

It's a good district.

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I personally wouldn't ever buy in Smithtown SD but I wouldn't move either now if you already settled into a home.

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Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

Every district s dealing with budget cuts so you will never escape that

And drug use.....it's everywhere and IMO the better districts where the kids have money you see the serious drugs being used. In the poorer districts kids don't have the money to buy a lot of the drugs

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Message edited 3/26/2012 7:23:47 AM.

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Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

Kelly9904, our kids are the same age, my oldest will start Kindergarten in 2013.

I totally agree with all that is said... I was basically trying to convey all this to DH, but now I have more info to share. He doesn't know many people out here, this one neighbor is actually nice to us so I guess he puts a lot of trust in his word. I on the other hand being from a neighboring town, don't share the neighbor's view point. I think just admitting there is a problem that needs to be solved is the first step. It's a shame this is happening at the rate it is regardless of where on the island you live. I also agree with the poster that said family preparation is so important. I know there were drug and alcohol use in my high school and I joined SADD before I got into athletics, and I was the type that was way too busy to be bothered with that junk. Even now I'm as boring as they come, I don't drink and never touched a cigarette (my mom was a heavy smoker and I hated her smoking). I mean for all the "bad" kids on dope, you have probably more future leaders willing to take a stand against what ruins lives and communities. Thank you all for helping me articulate to DH what I was feeling.

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drugs are everywhere there is no hiding it rich, poor and middle class.

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I'm in Nassau, but I think smith town schools are good. Yes there may be a drug problem right now but things can be very different 5 years from now.

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Drugs are EVERYWHERE! And you find it most in the affluent areas. Smithtown is the one who is trying to address the problem rather than sweeping it under the rug like Jericho or Syosset.

Personally, I like a SD that is open about the problem and that actually tries to make everyone more aware. Awareness is the key to tackling these issues, IMO.

DH and I were initially looking in Smithtown to purchase a home. We decided to stay in Eastern Nassau instead.

So, no- I do not think Smithtown schools are bad.

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DH and I live in Smithtown/Smithtown SD.I am a teacher and work in a nearby district, which also has a drug problem. Heroin use among teenagers is on the rise in almost every district. I agree with all the pp, Smithtown in trying to do something about their problem. I have to applaud Smithtown because the district I work in, hasn't done very much

While I don't have children in the district, I have heard good things about their curriculum and educators. They have a wider variety of classes offered, compared to the district I work in.

Budgets cuts are happening all over the state. Budget cuts are something that you can not escape at this point in time. Evey district is down sizing.

I am shocked to hear the pp view's on why they would never buy in Smithtown. I have always thought of Smithtown SD as a desirable school district...

Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

Central Office Address:
26 New York Avenue
Smithtown NY, 11787
District Superintendent: Charles A. Planz

Spending Per Student: $14,494
General Education Spending: $87,701,442
Special Education Spending: $24,551,782
Percent Spent On Instruction: 75.1%
Average Teacher Salary: $62,547

Student Dropout Rate: 0.3%
Students Receiving Reduced/Free Lunch: 3%
Students With Limited English Skills: 0.6%
Graduates Receiving Regents Diplomas: 91%
Graduates Receiving Advanced Diplomas: 57%

What I look at, typically, is the last section and I advise people who want to know 'how' a district is to do the same. Everyone's opinions are just that, opinions, but statistics speak for themselves...

With 91% of graduates receiving Regents Diplomas and similar numbers for those going on to four year Colleges - and almost 60% receiving Advanced Diplomas - scholastically, what more could a person ask for? Take a look at the drop out rate which is a fraction of 1% - so far less than even 1%! And you'll see similar low numbers for students receiving reduced/free lunches which they put as a way of determining the percent of poverty rate in the district, etc. because being eligible for that program means you have to have a household income considered to be living in poverty or eligible for welfare. I was told this is why they will post that information.

I've looked on the same website at other districts where more than 50% were receiving free/reduced lunch, and more than 12% of students were dropping out all-together, which is practically unheard of today because we look to "get" the student through no matter what. Then, I've seen other districts on the same statistical site where less than 50% of students are receiving Regents or Advanced degrees - yet the spending per student is much higher in those districts, and the teacher salaries are, on average, more than $10,000 higher than, say, Smithtown, for comparison.

LongIslandSchools.com

I don't want to put the districts that I searched and got poor results from on 'blast' so I'll just post the link, above, and everyone can search for themselves and see what really determines a 'bad' district. But I will include some results from one but will leave the district name as anonymous - it is on Long Island:

Spending Per Student: $18,200
General Education Spending: $89,785,469
Special Education Spending: $11,452,784
Percent Spent On Instruction: 80.2%
Average Teacher Salary: $68,295
Student Dropout Rate: 34.6%
Students Receiving Reduced/Free Lunch: 82.1%
Students With Limited English Skills: 17.7%
Graduates Receiving Regents Diplomas: 64%
Graduates Receiving Advanced Diplomas: 2%


That being said, Newsday, which posted the original drug article did what they do best: shock value to sell papers. If they had posted "Drug Problem in Cypress Hills, East New York, Brooklyn" everyone would have just shrugged their shoulders and moved on - no one would be shocked about that. But you take one girl from a district that is very highly rated and a community of nice homes with nice people and write a story about her personal struggle with drugs in order to paint a larger picture and it will drop jaws and raise eyebrows - and SELL PAPERS. It is a business for them. As someone who has been in Newsday, I know how they twist facts, I know how they exaggerate reality, and how they will sometimes just print false information... or take a situation that is 1-2% of the general population and write it in a way that makes the reader think it represents everything on a whole.

Hope this helps and that the statistical website is informative.

Message edited 3/30/2012 1:02:59 PM.

Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

Re: Are Smithtown schools bad?

I don't see the correlation of a school being worse just because there may be a greater percentage of kids receiving free lunches or having limited English.


That seems a little... ignorant.

Smithtown SD is good with lots of resources. I would never call it bad.

Message edited 3/30/2012 3:03:14 PM.

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Posted by cncforever

I don't see the correlation of a school being worse just because there may be a greater percentage of kids receiving free lunches or having limited English.


That seems a little... ignorant.

Smithtown SD is good with lots of resources. I would never call it bad.

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I agree with the other posters that Smithtown is a good school district. There are drug problems everywhere and I applaud Smithtown for how they are handling it. The budget cuts are hitting just about every district on LI due to a state imposed 2% tax cap. Have your husband attend a board of education meeting or other meeting to see what goes on in the district.