Manhasset Secondary School

{{See also|Manhasset Union Free School District#History}}

Though the Manhasset school district gained the authority to operate a high school in 1866, a high school program would not begin until the 1920–21 school year, with the first classes being taught at the Plandome Road School (already in use at that time as an elementary school); two students were graduated from the inaugural class of 1921.{{cite book|url=https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16694coll79/id/64/rec/5|page=11|title=Manhasset Public Schools|publisher=Manhasset Union Free School District|year=1933}} Manhasset students were previously authorized to study at Flushing High School or in Great Neck per inter-district agreements.{{cite book|url=https://greatnecklibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/lucky7.pdf|title=Lucky Seven: A History of the Great Neck Public Schools, Union Free School District No. 7|last=Match|first=Richard|year=1964|location=Great Neck, N.Y.|publisher=Great Neck Public Schools 150th Anniversary Committee|page=27}} After a plot near the Plandome Road School was acquired from the Thompson family in 1934, the current Manhasset High School building, a Works Progress Administration project, began construction in 1935, with the John H. Eisele Company winning the bid for the contract to execute the school's Tudor revival created by architectural firm Tooker & Marsh with associate architect Roger H. Bullard. The building's first year in use was 1935–36, while it was still under construction; students in the 9th grade and below remained at the Plandome Road School for that academic year.{{cite book|title=The Tower|year=1939|publisher=Manhasset High School|url=https://archive.org/download/manhasset-yearbooks-1924-1969/1939.pdf|page=10}} The new building was completed in December 1936, with a dedication ceremony taking place on November 19, 1936. A quickly-growing school population created a need for expansion, and the building has been extended multiple times, with the first new addition coming in 1941.{{cite book|page=195|url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000565006|title=Public Buildings: A Survey of Architecture of Projects Constructed by Federal and Other Governmental Bodies Between the Years 1933 and 1939 with the Assistance of the Works Progress Administration|last1=Short|first1=C. W.|last2=Stanley-Brown|first2=R.}}{{cite news|last=Cronson|first=Andrew|date=2019-07-24|title=Education in Manhasset: Manhasset Secondary School|url=https://manhassetlibrary.org/site/wp-content/uploads/Ed-in-Man-Secondary-school.pdf|work=Manhasset Press|access-date=2022-08-18}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/26/archives/real-estate-notes.html | title=Real Estate Notes | newspaper=The New York Times | date=26 September 1938 }}

Manhasset High School is situated on a hill directly to the east of the opening of Manhasset Bay, in the western part of the Manhasset School District. The school is located near the Manhasset train station, Manhasset Valley Park and the site of the former Plandome Road School (now Mary Jane Davies Green).

Manhasset High School has a 98% four-year graduation rate according to 2017–2021 data, coming in significantly ahead of the New York state average of 86%. In Manhasset's cohort of student entering in 2017, 86% of students were graduated in 2021 with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, 10% with a regular Regents Diploma and 1% with a Local Diploma. 2% remained enrolled for a fifth year while one student dropped out without a diploma.{{Cite web|url=https://data.nysed.gov/gradrate.php?year=2021&instid=800000049069|title=Manhasset UFSD Graduation Rate Data: 4 Year Outcome as of August 2021|date=August 2021|publisher=New York State Education Department}} 26 Advanced Placement (AP) courses were offered at Manhasset in 2020–21, with 522 students sitting for 1,406 exams in that school year, including approximately 75% of 12th grade students. 94% of class of 2021 graduates enrolled in a four-year college, 3% entered a two-year college, the military or another postgraduate program, and 3% did not continue their education beyond high school. Manhasset High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2019.{{Cite web|title=High School Profile 2020–21|publisher=Manhasset UFSD|url=https://www.manhassetschools.org/Page/7359}}

In the U.S. News & World Report 2022 ranking of U.S. high schools, Manhasset High School was ranked 215th nationally, 24th in New York state, 35th in the New York City metropolitan area and 78th on the ranking of STEM schools.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-york/districts/manhasset-union-free-school-district/manhasset-secondary-school-13852|title=Manhasset Secondary School|publisher=U.S. News & World Report}} In Niche's 2022 rankings, Manhasset High School placed 69th in the ranking of best public high schools nationwide, 11th in its ranking of public high schools in New York state, 18th in the New York City metropolitan area and 4th in Nassau County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.niche.com/k12/manhasset-secondary-school-manhasset-ny/rankings/|title=Manhasset Secondary School Rankings|publisher=Niche}}

{{Excerpt|Manhasset Union Free School District|Demographics}}

File:Jim Brown in 1953 yearbook.jpg was a multi-sport athlete at Manhasset High School, where he played on the varsity football, basketball, track, baseball and lacrosse teams.]]

Manhasset High School participates in interscholastic athletic competitions as a member of NYSPHSAA Section VIII, competing against other schools from Nassau County. School sports in Nassau County are divided into three seasons (fall, winter and spring); Manhasset High School currently competes in the following sports:

In addition to the varsity sports offered, there are two club sports, crew and ice hockey.{{cite web|url=https://www.manhassetboosterclub.org/club-sports|access-date=2022-08-19|title=Club Sports|publisher=Manhasset Booster Club}}

Manhasset was the first high school on Long Island to introduce lacrosse at the team's founding in 1932. The sport would grow in popularity in the area over the coming decades, with Long Island overtaking Maryland as the top region for high school lacrosse in the United States by the 1960s. Many top college lacrosse players have been recruited from Long Island high schools, including Manhasset. Manhasset High School's chief historical rival in lacrosse is Garden City High School, against whom Manhasset's games are termed the Woodstick Classic, of which at least one has been played each season since 1935, except in 2020 (when the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).{{Cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083576/index.htm|title=They're Not Going To Like It In Maryland|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=1970-05-04|last=Carry|first=Peter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102033022/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083576/index.htm |archive-date=2012-11-02 }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/high-school/boys/a-rivalry-on-pause-no-woodstick-classic-for-first-time-since-1935|title=A Rivalry on Pause: No Woodstick Classic for First Time Since 1935|date=2020-05-18|last=DeJohn|first=Kenny|magazine=USA Lacrosse Magazine}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/05/nyregion/growing-fast-elsewhere-lacrosse-is-still-the-islands-game.html|title=Growing Fast Elsewhere, Lacrosse Is Still the Island's Game|work=The New York Times|date=2005-06-05|last=Beller|first=Peter C.}}

{{Further|Native American mascot controversy}}

The varsity sports teams at Manhasset High School are known as the Indians. The name dates back to at least 1939, when it was used to refer to Manhasset sports teams in the Tower yearbook.{{cite book|title=The Tower|year=1939|publisher=Manhasset High School|url=https://archive.org/download/manhasset-yearbooks-1924-1969/1939.pdf|page=59}} In the prior edition of The Tower, the school's athletic teams are only referred to as "The Orange and Blue", an appellation also used for them in 1939 alongside "Indians".{{cite book|title=The Tower|year=1938|publisher=Manhasset High School|url=https://archive.org/download/manhasset-yearbooks-1924-1969/1938.pdf}} At this point in time, no visual "Indians" name or related iconography appeared on team uniforms, at least as worn in contemporary yearbooks. The 1952 yearbook does not show indications of the team name on any of the team uniforms, but features many stereotypical cartoons throughout.{{cite book|title=The Tower|year=1952|publisher=Manhasset High School|url=https://archive.org/download/manhasset-yearbooks-1924-1969/1952.pdf}} By 1969, a visual depiction of a Plains headdress featured on at least some of the team uniforms.{{cite book|title=The Tower|year=1969|publisher=Manhasset High School|url=https://archive.org/download/manhasset-yearbooks-1924-1969/1969.pdf|page=127}} The Manhasset High School class of 1997 gave as a graduation gift to the school a life-sized wooden statue of a man in a Plains headdress (in the style of a cigar store Indian), which was placed in one of the school's central corridors.{{cite news|title=MHS Class of 1997 Joins Alumni|url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071148/1997-05-26/ed-1/seq-4/|last=Brennan|first=Eileen|work=Manhasset Press|date=1997-06-26}}{{cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/featured/manhasset-mascot/|work=The Manhasset Times|last=Petrucelli|first=Samuele|title=Manhasset High School seniors call to keep mascot, lack of board response 'concerning'|date=2021-06-16}}

In 2001, New York State Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills advised public schools in New York to stop using Indian mascots and team names. However, citing a desire to seek local remedies for problems before giving orders, Mills did not require any particular course of action, issuing a mere suggestion.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/06/nyregion/schools-urged-to-stop-using-indian-names.html|title=Schools Urged To Stop Using Indian Names|work=The New York Times|date=2001-04-06|last=McKinley|first=James C. Jr.}} After consultation with a local focus group, the Manhasset UFSD chose not to make any changes.

As of 2020, Manhasset teams used a mixture of an "M with a feather" logo and an "Indian head" logo, usually rendered as a color variant of the Washington Redskins logo. In 2020, a petition demanding that Manhasset cease to use the "Indians" name and mascot was created on Change.org by Manhasset resident and Manhasset High School alumna Jo Trigg, garnering over 3,000 signatures. At the request of the school district, which sought to measure input originating from local residents only, the Manhasset Justice Initiative (MJI), a local social justice activism group, created a similar petition with signing restricted to Manhasset-affiliated individuals. Montaukett activist Sadanyah FlowingWater and Shinnecock tribe member Jeremy Dennis called for the school to end its use of the "Indian" mascot.{{cite news|work=The Manhasset Times|last=Weldon|first=Rose|url=https://theislandnow.com/news-98/manhasset-should-change-mascot-shinnecock-member/|title=Manhasset should change mascot: Montaukett, Shinnecock members|date=2020-08-27}} With the school facing criticism regarding its team name and mascot, then-Superintendent Vincent Butera discussed the team mascot with MJI activists as well as FlowingWater and a Navajo nation member. FlowingWater asked the district to "seriously consider" removing the mascot at that time, citing the logo's similarity with that of the Washington Redskins. Butera announced that a public hearing would be held on the issue at the October 22, 2020 school board meeting. Butera also promised that the school would abandon the Redskins-like logo in favor of the "M with a feather", saying, "The fact is the Redskin depiction is offensive, it's offensive for a number of reasons. There's much more consensus on that [than on changing the team name]. Any depiction of Indians as Redskins is offensive."{{cite news|url=https://manhassetpress.com/manhasset-under-pressure-to-change-mascot/|title=Manhasset Under Pressure to Change Mascot|last=Schaden|first=Marco|work=Manhasset Press|date=2020-10-22}}

At the October 22 board meeting, also attended by speakers from the local Montaukett, Shinnecock, Ungechauk, Setalcott and Matinecock nations, Manhasset residents, students and alumni voiced their opinions on the team name and mascot. Opponents of the name and logo expressed shame and embarrassment at being associated with Manhasset High School and its athletic programs, also pointing the NCAA's decision to discontinue the use of indigenous group-related names without the approval of local tribes. A small but vocal minority of meeting participants – only five of 29 Manhasset-affiliated commentators voiced support for the mascot – pointed to the name as a point of pride and respect for Manhasset's school traditions and indigenous history, proudly identifying as a "Manhasset Indian" (even though not descended from peoples indigenous to Manhasset and its environs). Some interlocutors also pointed out the awkwardness of the use of the term "Indian" to refer to not only the indigenous peoples of the Americas (and consequently the sports teams) but also members of Manhasset's Indian-American community. Sandi Brewster-Walker, executive director of the Montaukett nation, called for use of the mascot to be put "on hold" until local community members could be educated properly on the history and customs of local indigenous peoples, pointing out that the imagery said to honor local tribes was in reality connected with nations originating from west of the Mississippi river.{{cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/featured/manhasset-board-of-education-eyes-mascot/|title=Manhasset Board of Education eyes mascot|date=2020-10-23|work=The Manhasset Times|last=Weldon|first=Rose}}{{cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/manhasset-107/manhasset-school-district-to-form-committee-to-review-use-of-indian-mascot/|title=Manhasset school district to form committee to review use of Indian mascot|date=2021-01-08|last=Weldon|first=Rose}}

On January 7, 2021, Butera announced that the Manhasset School District would act on a suggestion from Brewster-Walker and form a committee comprising students, community members and representatives from local indigenous nations to review the school's use of Native imagery and symbols. With no committee conclusions delivered five months after that announcement, a group of 35 graduating Manhasset High School seniors wrote a letter to the board of education accusing the school of covertly phasing out the old mascot without consultation with the community. By this time, in line with Butera's 2020 promise, the "Indian head" logo had been replaced by the "M with a feather" on team uniforms and in a number of locations around the school. The proponents of the Indians mascot wrote of "Rumors of a new image" corroborated by "clear changes [which] have been made around the building" and demanded the school "immediately stop proceeding with the backdoor termination of our Indian image and rather speak with the proud Manhasset community before any changes are made." Then-Athletic Director James Amen reiterated that no such change had been made, defending both the shift to the "M with a feather" logo and the retention of the "Indians" nickname: "From time to time, some of the decals on the helmets change. It’s just stylistic changes. It’s not a redskin. It’s not a red-faced Indian which I think people get upset with. I know some people object to the red face, but we don’t have that. In my mind, we treat the Indian logo with respect and dignity. I don’t see as though we’re doing anything disgraceful when you have Indians across the jersey, or you have an M with a feather." Claiming to "represent this culture with the utmost respect", the seniors also called for an "Indian Appreciation Day" dedicated to indigenous leaders teaching about their heritage. The letter's authors wrote "Manhasset is an Indian tribe. Manhasset is our home. And we are the Indians." The MJI responded in a statement that "by claiming '[they] are the Indians,' [the letter's authors] are claiming that [they] have the shared experience of the hardship the native communities faced and paying homage to a caricature that doesn’t accurately represent [those communities]."

Manhasset teams continued to use the "Indians" name (as well as uniforms in some cases reading simply "Manhasset") and "M with a feather" logo as their identity through the 2021–22 season and no announcement of any decision made by a committee to review the use of indigenous symbols and imagery has been made as of August 19, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.manhassetschools.org/domain/627|title=Manhasset UFSD Athletics|publisher=Manhasset UFSD}}{{cite news|url=https://theisland360.com/manhasset-107/brothers-and-sisters-times-4-a-quartet-of-manhasset-lacrosse-families-have-double-the-state-championship-glory/|title=Brothers and sisters times 4: A quartet of Manhasset lacrosse families have double the state championship glory|work=The Manhasset Times|last=Lewis|first=Michael J.}} Meanwhile, in upstate New York, the Cambridge Central School District in Cambridge, New York was ordered by State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa to cease use of a similar "Indians" name and mascot by the end of the 2021–22 school year, as she found it inhibited a "a safe and supportive environment" for students; local opponents of the change are contesting the decision. In 2021, a bill was introduced in the New York State Legislature which would force non-Native schools with indigenous-based team names to abandon their mascot by the 2024–25 school year, but it did not receive a floor vote during the 2021–22 legislative session.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/29/nyregion/native-american-mascot-cambridge.html|title=Facing a Ban, a School District Fights to Keep 'Indian' Nickname|last=Kilgannon|first=Corey|date=2022-01-29}}{{Cite act|type=Bill|legislature=New York State Senate|title=Bill A5443E/S1549E, Prohibits public schools from using a native name, logo, or mascot|year=2021}}

On November 17, 2022, the New York State Department of Education issued a memo prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by schools without approval from a recognized tribe and stating that any district not in compliance by the end of the 2022–23 school year may risk being found in willful violation of the Dignity for All Students Act, with penalties including the potential removal of school officers and withholding of funds.{{Cite press release|url=http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/main/indigenous-native-american-mascot-memo.pdf|title=Re: Use of Native American Mascots|date=2022-11-17|last=Baldwin|first=James N.|publisher=New York State Education Department|access-date=2022-12-07}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/19/1137904447/native-american-mascots-new-york-schools|last=Heyward|first=Giulia|date=2022-11-19|access-date=2022-12-07|title=New York tells schools to drop Native American mascots|work=NPR}}

In order to comply with New York state law, the Manhasset Union Free School District voted in 2023 to discontinue use of the Indians name and associated imagery after the 2023–24 school year and launched a community consultation to determine what name should be adopted.{{Cite press release|last=Passi|first=Guarav|url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1704445053/manhassetschoolsorg/aoc22mhinyy2zp412auv/080223_august_1_superintendent_message.pdf|title=Regarding New Team Name|publisher=Manhasset Union Free School District|date=2023-08-01|access-date=2024-08-03}} On June 11, 2024, Superintendent Guarav Passi announced that, after consultation with the community, no new mascot would be adopted, and that the teams would be identified simply as Manhasset or 'Set.{{Cite press release|last=Passi|first=Guarav|url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1718200390/manhassetschoolsorg/z7jtrtm7fbbvvcxitltk/061224_Letter_61124.pdf|title=Message from the Superintendent|publisher=Manhasset Union Free School District|date=2024-06-11|access-date=2024-08-03}}

Students must pass at least one class in the arts in order to receive a Regents Diploma from Manhasset High School. Manhasset Secondary School has many offerings, both curricular and extracurricular, in the musical, theatrical and visual arts.

There are four separate curricular instrumental ensembles (Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, Concert Band and Symphonic Wind Ensemble) and three curricular choral groups (Symphonic Choir, Women's Choir and Men's Choir), as well as keyboard and music theory classes on offer.{{cite book |url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1734373000/manhassetschoolsorg/ove6bs0qwv6o6rduv5lb/2526MHSCourseCatalog.pdf |title=Manhasset High School Course Catalog 2025–2026 |publisher=Manhasset UFSD |year=2025 |format=PDF}} In addition, Manhasset has five extracurricular vocal ensembles: Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Select Ensemble, Kinsmen (an extracurricular men's choir), the Long Island Sounds and the Shirley Tempos (two a cappella groups). Manhasset's musical ensembles compete and regularly win awards at NYSSMA Majors and other competitions.{{cite web|url=http://manhasset-hs-choir.org/manhasset-hs-choir.org/Choirs.html|title=Choirs|publisher=Manhasset HS Choir}}{{Cite web|title=@manhassetchoirs on Instagram|url=https://instagram.com/manhassetchoirs}}{{Cite twitter|user=ManhassetUFSD|title=This spring, student-musicians from across the district traveled to be adjudicated in a variety of festivals. This included the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival and Music in the Parks. The ensembles earned top awards at these events. Learn more at http://manhassetschools.org!|number=1537888746493779968}} Manhasset music students are regularly among the selectees for NMEA All-County, NYSSMA All-State and NAfME All-Eastern and All-National honor ensembles.{{Cite tweet|user=ManhassetUFSD|number=1202246899509743616|title=The Manhasset UFSD is proud to announce that 130 students were selected to perform in NMEA All-County ensembles grades 5-12. This is a testament to our terrific students and music faculty and the support they receive throughout the year! @NassauMusicEd @ManhassetArts}}{{Cite news|url=https://manhassetpress.com/manhasset-hails-all-state-musicians/|work=Manhasset Press|title=Manhasset Hails All-State Musicians|date=2021-10-15}}{{Cite news|url=https://theislandnow.com/community-news/all-state-musicians-named-in-manhasset/|title=All-State Musicians Named in Manhasset|work=The Manhasset Times|date=2020-10-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://nafme.org/programs/all-national-honor-ensembles/nafme-all-national-honor-ensembles-past-years/|title=NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles – Past Years|publisher=National Association for Music Education|access-date=2022-08-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/graduations/2021-li-high-school-students-achievements-in-science-music-k07321|work=Newsday|last=Weinberg|first=Judy|date=2021-06-10|title=2021 LI high school students' achievements in science, music and more}}

The theatre program at Manhasset High School stages two major productions each school year: a fall musical and a spring straight play, as well as additional shows performed by the repertory companies and other groups.{{cite web|url=https://www.manhassetschools.org/Page/286|title=Manhasset High School Theater History, 1975–present|year=2014|publisher=Manhasset UFSD}} The school offers a "Theatre in Action" course for credit as well as three levels of repertory company performance courses.

In fine art, Manhasset High School offers 23 possible course options, including AP Studio Art and AP Art History. Manhasset's fine art classes include drawing, painting, architectural drawing, computer graphics, photography and 3D design.

• Danny Barnes, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and current coach
• Ted Bessell, actor
• Jim Brown, former National Football League (NFL) player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame
• John C. Coffee, Adolf A. Berle Professor of Law at Columbia Law School
• John Gagliardi, former professional lacrosse player
• Nancy E. Gary, physician, government policy advisor and medical school professor and dean
• Dan Gurney, professional racecar driver
• Ken Howard, actor
• Theo Katzman, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer
• Barbara Prey, watercolor painter
• Stephen A. Lesser, architect who worked on the Faneuil Hall Marketplace
• Ira Sorkin, attorney, best known for defending Bernard Madoff

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Category:Manhasset, New York

Category:Public high schools in New York (state)

Category:Schools in Nassau County, New York

Category:Public middle schools in New York (state)

Category:1920 establishments in New York (state)

Category:Educational institutions established in 1920