Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Hempstead’s public schools outscore 87% of New York districts
Math proficiency in Hempstead’s districts is 73%, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Hempstead, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.
From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 71% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Hempstead’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 429 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Hempstead’s, its schools beat 80%, lower than their 87% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 64% and math 73% across its districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓
Charters enroll a large share of students
Charter schools located in Hempstead enroll 5,430 students, against the district’s 7,727. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓
Spending and class size
Bellmore-Merrick Central High spends $32,828 per student and Sewanhaka Central High $28,186, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Hempstead’s grade
A: better than 87% of New York school districts, #69 of 755 New York towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hempstead, with each school’s own grade.
Parts of Hempstead (8%, 7%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 5%, 5%, 4%, 4%, 4%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 2%, 2% and 2% of its land) are served by Oceanside Union Free, Lawrence Union Free, East Meadow Union Free, Uniondale Union Free, Freeport Union Free, Levittown Union Free, Merrick Union Free, Garden City Union Free, Elmont Union Free, Wantagh Union Free, Baldwin Union Free, Seaford Union Free, Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free, North Bellmore Union Free, Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, Bellmore Union Free, Hempstead Union Free, Rockville Centre Union Free, West Hempstead Union Free and Franklin Square Union Free instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Hempstead
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Hempstead vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the New York towns that share Hempstead’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Hempstead | A | Bellmore-Merrick Central High 7–12 · Sewanhaka Central High 7–12 · Valley Stream Central High 7–12 |
| Oyster Bay | — | — |
| New York | — | New York City |
| North Hempstead | A | Great Neck Union Free PK–12 · Sewanhaka Central High 7–12 |
| Lawrence | C+ | Lawrence Union Free |
| Garden City | A+ | Garden City Union Free |
| Valley Stream | A− | Valley Stream Union Free School District 30 PK–6 · Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 PK–6 · Valley Stream Union Free School District 24 K–6 |
| Atlantic Beach | C+ | Lawrence Union Free |
Every school in Hempstead
220 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New York’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (County of Nassau/Correctional Center and Nassau Co Juvenile Detention Center). 1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about Hempstead’s schools
Are Hempstead’s schools good?
By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Hempstead children attend outscore 87% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #69 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 80%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Hempstead in?
Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, which runs grades 7–12 and enrolls 5,283 students in 5 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Hempstead are served by Oceanside Union Free, Lawrence Union Free, East Meadow Union Free, Uniondale Union Free, Freeport Union Free, Levittown Union Free, Merrick Union Free, Garden City Union Free, Elmont Union Free, Wantagh Union Free, Baldwin Union Free, Seaford Union Free, Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free, North Bellmore Union Free, Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, Bellmore Union Free, Hempstead Union Free, Rockville Centre Union Free, West Hempstead Union Free and Franklin Square Union Free.
What is Hempstead’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Sewanhaka Central High School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.
How much does Hempstead spend per student?
$32,828 in Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, $28,186 in Sewanhaka Central High School District and $30,358 in Valley Stream Central High School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Hempstead?
Yes: Kellenberg Memorial High School (Catholic, grades 6–12, 2,692 students), Hebrew Academy of Five Towns & Rockaway (religious, grades PK–12, 1,265 students), Sacred Heart Academy (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 677 students), Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island (religious · all-boys, grades PK–8, 562 students), St. William the Abbot School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 461 students), Hanc - Middle & High School (religious, grades 7–12, 422 students), Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School -Boys (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 387 students), St. Anne's School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 368 students), Stella K. Abraham H.S. for Girls (religious · all-girls, grades 9–12, 354 students), Our Lady of Victory School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 339 students), The Brandeis School (religious, grades K, 336 students), St. Martin de Porres Marianist School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 334 students), The Waldorf School of Garden City (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 290 students), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Regional School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 275 students), Crescent School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 270 students), Our Lady of Lourdes School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 267 students), Haftr Middle School (religious, grades 6–8, 262 students), Martin de Porres (special education, grades , 213 students), The Children's Learning Center (special education, grades PK, 207 students), Freeport Christian Academy & Daycare (religious, grades PK–12, 195 students), Mesivta Ateres Yaakov (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 194 students), Rambam Mesivta Maimonides HS (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 180 students), Hamza Academy (religious, grades PK–7, 172 students), Grace Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 143 students), Lawrence Woodmere Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 121 students), Hebrew Academy for Special Children (special education, grades PK, 118 students), Yeshivath Gesher (religious, grades PK–2, 108 students), Mesivta Netzach Hatorah (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 87 students), Woodward Childrens Center (special education, grades 8–12, 82 students), Progressive School of Long Island (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 63 students), Cheder at the Ohel (religious · all-boys, grades K–8, 55 students), De la Salle School (catholic · all-boys, grades 5–8, 53 students), Yeshiva Kol Torah-Five Towns-Far Roc (religious · all-boys, grades 9–11, 49 students), Mesivta Toras Moshe (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 49 students), Kulanu Academy (special education, grades , 48 students), Rosa Lee Young Childhood Center (nonsectarian, grades PK, 45 students), Bais Yaakov of the Five Towns (religious · all-girls, grades PK–1, 42 students), The Elija School (special education, grades , 24 students), Ivdu Long Island (religious, grades , 22 students), Long Island Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 10 students), Community Academic Prep (nonsectarian, grades 11, 3 students) and Yeshiva of South Shore (religious · all-boys, grades 2, 1 students). Hempstead also has 4 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Hempstead families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hempstead → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New York. Stars are from neighbors.