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Excellent

#174 of 4,739 schools in NY

Top 4% in state

Ward Melville Senior High School

High School · THREE VILLAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

380 OLD TOWN RD, East Setauket, NY 11733

Enrollment

1,492

Student-Teacher

10.7:1

Score

8.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In East Setauket

#1 of 8

public schools

New York high schools

#33 of 1,160

In district

#1 of 8

THREE VILLAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

School environment

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Ward Melville Senior High School

Ward Melville Senior High School is a public high school in East Setauket, NY, part of the THREE VILLAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The school serves approximately 1,492 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 96.3th percentile among NY schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 98% proficiency in math and 95% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $174,931, where 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.9Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-1.75 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics9.4Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency97%
Reading/ELA Proficiency92%
Overall Proficiency95%
Expected (poverty-adj.)71%
vs. Expected+24.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
College Readiness9.7Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation54.6%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.6Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$36,530

Ward Melville Senior High School — Students at Ward Melville Senior High School score 94% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 71%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

14.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 97.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 95.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from NY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
98%
ELA
98%
2021*
Math
97%
ELA
92%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.9/10.

How Ward Melville Senior High School Compares

See how Ward Melville Senior High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
96th percentile in NY
Academic
9.4/10
9.4/10
Growth
5.9/10
Above average
Environment
9.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
15%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
139 teachers

Location

380 OLD TOWN RD, East Setauket, NY 11733

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ward Melville Senior High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. EARL L VANDERMEULEN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Port Jefferson), with a very similar rating. Another option is CENTEREACH HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.7/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Centereach), a more accessible option. Additionally, COMSEWOGUE HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Port Jefferson Station), a more accessible option. For more schools in East Setauket, see our East Setauket schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.1 mi
School Distance Rating
NORWOOD AVENUE SCHOOL Port Jefferson Station 0.3 mi 6.7
ARROWHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL East Setauket 0.5 mi 8.6
EARL L VANDERMEULEN HIGH SCHOOL Port Jefferson 1.7 mi 8.6
PORT JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Port Jefferson 1.7 mi 8.0
TERRYVILLE ROAD SCHOOL Port Jefferson Station 1.4 mi 7.2
JOHN F KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL Port Jefferson Station 1.4 mi 4.7
BOYLE ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Port Jefferson Station 1.7 mi 8.3
MINNESAUKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL East Setauket 1.7 mi 7.7
NASSAKEAG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL East Setauket 1.7 mi 7.2
PORT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Port Jefferson 2.3 mi 6.3
CLINTON AVENUE SCHOOL Port Jefferson Station 2.0 mi 5.3
NORTH COLEMAN ROAD SCHOOL Centereach 2.7 mi 5.2
COMSEWOGUE HIGH SCHOOL Port Jefferson Station 2.1 mi 6.6
HAWKINS PATH SCHOOL Selden 2.7 mi 8.0
SELDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL Centereach 2.8 mi 3.9
CENTEREACH HIGH SCHOOL Centereach 2.9 mi 6.7
SETAUKET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL East Setauket 2.6 mi 8.2
DAWNWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL Centereach 3.0 mi 4.6
ROBERT CUSHMAN MURPHY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL East Setauket 2.5 mi 6.1
NEWFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Selden 3.1 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 11733 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$174,931

Median Home Value

$653,100

Median Rent

$2,386/mo

Population

17,403

College Educated

62.9%

Homeownership

84.8%

Avg Commute

29.9 min

Poverty Rate

4.6%

Median Age

44.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Ward Melville Senior High School has a median household income of $174,931. It is a well-educated community where 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $653,100, with a median rent of $2,386/month. The local poverty rate of 4.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BETHPAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Bethpage, NY 8.7
BREWSTER HIGH SCHOOL Brewster, NY 8.7
EAST HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL East Hampton, NY 8.6
GEORGE W HEWLETT HIGH SCHOOL Hewlett, NY 8.6
GREAT NECK SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL Great Neck, NY 8.6
HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL EAST Dix Hills, NY 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ward Melville Senior High School

What grades does Ward Melville Senior High School serve?

Ward Melville Senior High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Ward Melville Senior High School?

Ward Melville Senior High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,492 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward Melville Senior High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Ward Melville Senior High School is 10.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ward Melville Senior High School rank in NY?

Ward Melville Senior High School is ranked #174 out of 4,739 schools in NY.

What is Ward Melville Senior High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ward Melville Senior High School has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ward Melville Senior High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ward Melville Senior High School has 97.5% math proficiency and 95.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Ward Melville Senior High School a charter school?

No, Ward Melville Senior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ward Melville Senior High School a Title I school?

No, Ward Melville Senior High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ward Melville Senior High School?

14.5% of students at Ward Melville Senior High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (3/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,492
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
139
Free/Reduced Lunch
14.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Suffolk County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

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