Cold Spring Harbor High School

I consider Cold Spring Harbor to be a very strong high school in terms of academics and athletics. I think this school has prepared me well for college and the math/science departments are especially strong. One of the best schools on Long Island! However, the social environment is very preppy and overly privileged. Not EVERYONE in the district comes from an overly wealthy family (I didn't) but the majority do. There were many reminders that I was one of the 'poorer kids'- in terms of material possessions. There is also a drug problem but it's not CSH-exclusive However, if I still live on Long Island when I raise a family- Cold Spring Harbor would be one of my top choices.. if I can afford it. I graduated in 2007.
--Submitted by a student

I am currently a Sophmore at Cold Spring Harbor High School. Cold Spring Harbor is one of the greatest and most afluent places in New york state and anybody who is lucky enough to attend this school will have a great high school experience and future. People who complain about cold spring harbor are misfits and or misunderstood. Bullying is present in all schools. Theyr arent more drug problems in coldspring harbor than you would find in any other school in the world. Anybody who complains about this school doesnt realize exactly how fortunate they are
--Submitted by a student

Cold Spring Harbor parent with and two alum. This is the best school in NYS. The class size is small, the teachers are great, the school is almost state of the Arts. It cost the parent a lot in taxes to have their kids to go to this school but you get what you pay for Acceptance to the Top Collages. The senior all have the latest and greatest cars and things so you are always keeping up with the Jones. But, that is the price you have to pay for your kids receiving the best chance for the best collages in a small elite school district. If you are looking for extra services or something special forget it because in this school. The parents all have the money to pay for extras privately and they show it off.
--Submitted by a parent

CSH alum. Only thing better than CSHHS education is one at a v good prep school. Social environment can be rigorous, which serves to prepare kids for the outside world. Concerns about security are rather bizarre. This isn't a jail or reform school. CSHHS kids do have some autonomy, but that's preferable for most parents than sentries posted on the school grounds. This isn't the sort of community where stepping off school grounds is akin to lack of safety. CSH is beyond safe, harkening back to an earlier day. When 96% of CHSHS grads go on to college there will be no security officers telling them where to go and not go. Perhaps the concerns are from people from elsewhere than CSH, reflecting fears/values from very different sorts of communities. Simply put: this is not a coddling environment in any way and prepares most kids to thrive in life beyond HS.

it may be a good school, but no kid can get good grades with horrible surroundings, this school has a circle of ongoing badluck and ongoing drug usage, many people are bullied at this mean-girl like school

Great school lots of attention for students. teachers really care don't judge my grammar based on this, I'm not working hard, in a rush.
--Submitted by a student

If the measure of success for a high school is student performance, student and parent involvement and acceptance to the college of your choice, CSH would have to rate A+. This is not to say that CSHHS doesn't have some of the same problems and obstacles as any other school, but when success becomes a staple of the environment that a pupil resides in, it becomes contagious. CSHHS has the highest % of students going on to 4 year colleges on Long Island (95%) and the highest rate of students graduating with Regents diplomas (98%). That is a testament to the teachers, administrators, parents and the students themselves. This school district has not failed to pass a budget in decades and has the highest bond rating of any comparable district in the state. Students are involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities, sports and community service opportunities.
--Submitted by a parent

I could not have picked a better school for my children to attend. Ranked at No. 16 in Newsweek's national rankings, CSHHS provides an extremely competitive academic environment with access to a myriad of honors and AP classes. Teachers are hard working and accessible. Because it is highly rated, the quality of teaching is excellent as the best teachers want to be a part of a successful district. The sports teams are also excellent with numerous State, County and League championships. The fact that it is a smaller school (under 600) means more opportunity for even average athletes to participate and contribute. However, if you are a child who is not athletic or social, it can be a tough environment. A brand new performing arts center is adding a needed boost to the arts programs here. Parents are very involved and parental involvement through school related groups is appreciated.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school. Has a great teacher to student ratio and incredible graduation rate.
--Submitted by Gregg Smith, a parent

I think this school and the teachers in it are amazing. Three of my children went throught the school and now my grand children are there and I can tell you the community has changed. The money id there but the values of parents and the class of people have changed yet the students still do well.
--Submitted by a parent