South Salem Elementary School

outstanding teachers and the Principal is very good and quite accessible. We have two happy kids here and we have high standards!!! Better than our experience at the neighboring town's school before we moved.
—Submitted by a parent

While aesthetically this school is nice, that is where it ends. This school is managed by a busybody principle who meddles in your private affairs. Not to mention, they invaded my privacy by releasing my contact information despite numerous requests, both in writing and telephonically, not to. I got a phone call from someone trying to hustle me into joining the HSA. Telling me they wanted money from me. When I mentioned I wasn't interested in joining, the person became irate. They put my child on a bus, despite me informing them I pick up the child myself. They had to search all the buses to find my child. This school is also built on a landfill. When asked, they conveniently do not know what you are talking about. Thanks to the internet, that information is public. Also, there is no air conditioning. The classrooms are sweltering. They say they can't afford it and suggest dressing your child appropriately and providing bottles of water for them. The list goes on and on. Its a gang type of mentality at this school, you are either one of them or you are ostracized. The principle is very chummy with the interim superintendent, so if any issues arise, you are on your own.
—Submitted by a parent

My three childern are in Salem, and have all been receiving an excellent education. In recent years, they loved their teachers, and get involved in a variety of topics.
—Submitted by a parent

Salem has a fantastic set of teachers.. Two of my children have been there for at least two years and have been positively influenced by the teachers and extracurricular activities. The school has significant local community involvement and encourages the student body to follow suit. A number of parents are heavily involved and the HSA has done an outstanding job of adding to the experience. I look forward to additional years of positive experiences.

The school itself has good facilities, a single gym/auditorium and a separate cafeteria. There is a separate playground for kindergarten. a basketball court and playground for older children, two separate baseball fields and a small garden area. The library is of good size and there are separate art and music rooms. Class size currently varies between 18 and 24, with grade having 3 to 4 teachers. Class equipment includes computers in every class, digital projectors, classroom books and equipment appropriate to the grade. Classes are separated into K-1 in the lower area and 2-5 in the upper area. The teachers tend to be very involved with the children, and all grades are expected to do some homework. The amount of homework varies among the teachers, and some are known for being a bit excessive. All grades also have long-term projects, and the school tends to emphasize academics over sports.

We are thrilled with this school and the district, teachers and administration. We feel it has the services of a private school, the teachers and leadership is excellent, the school and programs are great. Our kids were in the Manhasset School District and we like this better both in terms of education and how happy our kids are. It is more diverse than the Manhasset School which was too WASPy.
—Submitted by a parent

Salem is new so the building's atmosphere is optomistic and bright. It is the best elementary school in Port Washington; one of the best school districts in the country (should be for the taxes we pay). The teachers are mostly very good and the bad ones get weeded out. The music instruction is incredible and the students encouraged to achieve high marks. Taxes could be lowered by not having so many special ed. teachers and counselors who don't do much. When I went to school, the teachers taught for an entire day; corrected homeworks at home and were paid less for it. We were just as smart if not smarter with only 1 teacher and not all of these 'specialists'. The public library in town is a great resource which gets ignored once kids go to school. The HSA should not be a full time fundraiser for stay at home
—Submitted by a parent

There is diversity in the school, as there is in Port Washington. I have one child currently at Salem and one graduated Salem and who is now in middle school. Both are doing extremely well. The school's teachers are excellent and caring. Both of my boys scored 4's (highest possible grades) on their State exams; clearly they are doing the right thing at Salem.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is terrible. There is very l ittle diversity and the student sense of entitlement is rampant. The staff is not cohesive or unified and the principal is a wet noodle who has absolutelyno concept on how to manage his school.
—Submitted by a parent

My family is very happy with South Salem. It is a warm, nurturing envrionment.
—Submitted by a parent

I always feel very welcome to voice my opinions and to get involved. The teachers are top notch, they go above and beyond what would be expected. The school is clean with many many materials for students at different levels.Parental involvement is high but at a healthy level. They do not make educational decisions but help the educators bring ideas to life when needed.
—Submitted by a teacher