The East Williston School District’s scores for proficiency in math and English for third to eighth-grade students were the first and second highest, respectively, in Nassau County for the 2021-2022 school year, according to the school district. 

The tests, administered yearly except for 2020 due to COVID-19, measure proficiency in math and English for students in grades three to eight who take the tests throughout New York. Participation numbers fluctuate between districts and scores are calculated from students who participate.

East Williston had an overall math assessment passing percentage of 87%, good enough to tie for the top spot in the county alongside Jericho. 

For the rest of the North Shore, Herricks and North Shore were tied at third with a passing percentage of 85%, Manhassett at fifth with 82%, Great Neck at sixth with 81%, Roslyn at eighth with 79%, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park tied at 12th with 74%, Floral Park-Bellerose tied at 15th with 70%, Sewanhaka tied at 19th with 69% and Mineola tied at 31st with 58%. 

Port Washington did not qualify for the assessment percentages due to low sampling numbers. Students who took the state algebra Regents Exam did not participate in proficiency tests. 

East Williston and Herricks tied in English with an 83% passing percentage, putting them only behind Jericho, which had 88%. 

For English, Manhasset ranked fourth with 82%, Great Neck ranked fifth with 80%, North Shore ranked sixth with 78%, Roslyn tied at eighth with 74%, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park tied at ninth with 70%, Floral Park-Bellerose tied at 14th with 68%, Port Washington tied at 19th with 65%, Sewanhaka tied at 24th with 62% and Mineola 45th with 50%. 

Edward Kemnitzer, East Williston’s assistant superintendent for instruction and personnel, said the district’s performance is impressive considering the circumstances students and teachers were dealing with in recent years. 

“When you look at what our students have done the past two years and these stats, you start to realize that no matter how big a deficit may be, when you put the right people in the right place, we can overcome anything,” Kemnitzer said during the Nov. 21 Board of Education meeting.