Sanford H Calhoun High School

Sanford H Calhoun High School is a regular public school in Merrick, New York, enrolling 1,217 students across grades 9 through 12. It earns a composite score of 8.9/10 — an Excellent rating — anchored by a 9.7/10 academic score that places it among the strongest in the state. The numbers make the case plainly.

Calhoun ranks #17 among 1,160 New York high schools and #104 among all 4,742 public schools statewide, outperforming 98% of New York schools regardless of level. In Merrick, it holds the top spot among all seven public schools in the area. These aren't one-year spikes; they represent a sustained level of performance that few schools in New York can approach.

A student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1 gives students consistent, direct access to instruction. Growth scores come in at 6.8/10 — solid, but below the academic ceiling — which often signals a school drawing already high-achieving students rather than one generating outsized year-over-year gains. That gap is worth noting for families who want to know how much a school moves the needle, not just where its students start.

For those focused primarily on academic outcomes, Calhoun sits near the top of any New York high school shortlist.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1, Sanford H Calhoun High School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.