Garden City Public Schools

Garden City High School seniors Sarah Phinney and John Crouchley were named among the top 10 winners out of 1,372 entries and finalists in the Junior Scientists and Young Explorers Meta competition. JYEM is a global platform that invites high school and college students to submit original research across disciplines including the humanities, social sciences, engineering, life sciences and natural sciences.

The students were joined by GCHS junior Taylor Maguire, an International Science and Engineering Fair finalist who competed at the international fair in spring 2025 and was also recognized among the top finalists in this year’s JYEM.

For the 2025 competition, all three students submitted original research papers, essays and videos, earning recognition among 1,372 submissions worldwide. The JYEM editorial board conducted a rigorous triple-blind peer review to evaluate entries, ensuring the highest academic standards. ISEF honorees from across Long Island were among the top 10 winners, demonstrating the highly selective nature of the competition.

John’s research focused on air bearing technology, an innovative alternative to traditional ball and magnetic bearings. By using a cushion of pressurized air instead of physical contact, air bearings reduced friction, wear, vibration and energy use while increasing efficiency and lifespan. John is developing and testing a prototype to compare air bearings with conventional designs, with potential applications in wind turbines, flywheel energy storage and other high-performance systems.

Sarah’s project focused on strengthening crop resistance to the mosaic virus through protein modeling, using it to predict how mutations in DNA polymerase delta might affect viral replication. Her protein structure research was mentored by Garden City High School science teacher Dr. Meredith Foley.

“Last year, John and Sarah were 2025 NYSSEF round 2 finalists and Taylor was an ISEF finalist and first in her category at LISEF,” said Dr. Steven Gordon, science research teacher at GCHS. “Their selection as JYEM finalists confirms the consistent high quality of their work.”

The district is proud of John, Sarah and Taylor’s dedication and scientific achievements.

Garden City High School has been ranked No. 2 on Long Island, No. 16 in New York State and No. 147 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 annual list of nearly 18,000 public high schools across the country, released on Aug. 19. These 2025 rankings reflect an improvement over the school’s already outstanding 2024 standings, placing Garden City High School among only 11 Long Island schools in the top 50 in New York State.

The 2025 “Best High Schools” edition evaluated schools based on college readiness, curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiencies and performance, underserved student success, and graduation rates. Garden City High School excelled across the board: 92% of students took at least one AP exam, 81% passed an AP exam, 99% are proficient in math and reading, 98% are proficient in science and the school has a 100% graduation rate, earning an outstanding overall score of 99.18 out of 100.

“This ranking affirms the sustained commitment to excellence that defines Garden City High School, reflecting the dedication of our staff, the talents of our students, the support of our community and our ever-striving push to keep getting better,” said Garden City High School Principal Mr. Kevin Steingruebner.

“I am so proud of our students, teachers and staff for their commitment to excellence,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. “This recognition is a reflection of their hard work and the strong sense of community that makes Garden City a place where every student can grow and succeed.”

Two Garden City High School students — Tessa Frascogna and Xinxin (Tina) Tu — have been named among the 40 students recognized by the Long Island Arts Alliance for the 2026 school year. Each year, 20 students are honored as scholar artists and 20 as merit award winners for their exceptional achievements in the arts across five disciplines: visual arts, music, theater, dance and media arts.

The scholar artist awards celebrate high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in both academics and the arts. Recipients are nominated by their schools and will be featured monthly in Newsday, highlighting their outstanding accomplishments, creative journeys, academic pursuits and future goals.

Tessa earned recognition as a scholar artist in dance, while Tina was named a scholar artist in visual arts, celebrating their dedication and talent to the arts on Long Island. They will be honored at the 2026 Scholar Artist Awards Ceremony in spring of 2026.

The district is proud of Tessa and Tina’s hard work and outstanding contributions to the arts.

On Sept. 2, 2025, the Garden City School District welcomed students and staff back for the start of the new academic year. The return to school marked an exciting time with new opportunities for learning and growth. The start of this year brings several districtwide initiatives and significant facility improvements. Some highlights include the launch of the Lunch for Every Learner program, a new football field and bleachers at Garden City High School, an upgraded parking lot at Stewart School and air conditioning updates throughout the primary, elementary and middle schools.

“Our schools are filled with energy, creativity and a sense of community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. “We’re proud to offer new programs, enhanced facilities and opportunities for every student to thrive. The 2025-2026 school year promises to be one of learning, achievement and success.”

The new football field is expected to be ready in the coming weeks, joining other exciting updates across the district. The Garden City community looks forward to a year filled with growth, engagement and success.

From Aug. 19–21, Garden City Public Schools hosted its new teacher orientation, welcoming the district’s newest educators. Throughout the program, attendees explored the district’s mission and values, learned about the teaching goals and experiences the district strives to provide students, and received important information on policies and procedures.

Nanine McLaughlin, assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development, greeted the group and introduced them to key district leaders, followed by a welcome from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. The orientation also included workshops, school tours, bus tours and opportunities for new staff to meet with their building principals and coordinators at their respective schools.

“We are thrilled to welcome such a talented group of educators to Garden City,” said Dr. Sinha. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on our students and community.”

The district is excited to welcome:

Sean Brady – English teacher, Garden City High School

Ildiko Brancaccio – reading teacher, Homestead School

Zachary Downing – special education teacher, Garden City High School

Danielle Dunne – business teacher, Garden City High School

John Esposito – music teacher, Garden City Middle School

Elissa Frein – speech pathologist, Hemlock School

Amanda Lee – physical education teacher, Locust School and Hemlock School

Autumn Majorana – science teacher, Garden City Middle School

Olivia Maynard – social studies teacher, Garden City Middle School

Christina Nugent – special education teacher, Stewart School

Elizabeth O'Callahan – special education teacher, Stratford School

Brigid Olson – special education teacher, Stratford School

Shannon Roberts – special education teacher, Garden City High School

Gabriella Schettino – elementary education teacher, Hemlock Sch

Garden City Public Schools officially welcomed back staff for the 2025–2026 school year during Superintendent’s Conference Day, held on Aug. 27 at Garden City High School. The program opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha, followed by a performance of the national anthem by junior Madeline Power.

Dr. Sinha then delivered her annual address, sharing her excitement for the year ahead and reflecting on the immense pride shown by the district’s staff, families and community. She expressed gratitude to the many groups whose ongoing support contributes to the district’s success, including the board of education, PTA and SEPTA, the Booster Club, Friends of Garden City organizations, the Garden City Police Department as well as the grounds, transportation and clerical staff.

Board of Education Vice President Ms. Kristen Pappas spoke next, highlighting how every student and classroom brings unique needs and opportunities, making the start of the school year especially inspiring. She encouraged educators to embrace innovation and creativity in their teaching. PTA President Dr. Chrisann Newransky and SEPTA Co-President Ms. Kiersten Cunningham Cook also addressed staff, reaffirming their commitment to supporting teachers and expressing deep appreciation for the ways educators nurture students’ growth and success.

The morning continued with a special recognition of 51 employees who have served the district for 20 to 35 years. Dr. Sinha honored their dedication, while assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development Ms. Nanine McLaughlin proudly introduced the 46 new faculty and staff members joining Garden City this year.

Madeline Power then returned to the stage with a performance of “Part of Your World,” chosen to inspire staff to carry curiosity, hope and kindness into the school year.

The afternoon featured a series of workshops and training sessions designed to prepare staff for the year ahead. Topics included student data privacy and safety, presented by director of technology and innovation Lauren Maguire; safety awareness, led by Keith Macias and Lou LeBlanc; and behavioral awareness training with FBI behavioral unit coordinator Craig Minsky. Staff also participated in collaborative meetings and visits to their respective schools.

We are excited to let you know that you can now begin pre-ordering your child’s school meals for the first week of September. To place an order, please log in to PaySchool Central and click on the “Preorder Meals” icon in the sidebar.  Information on how to login to Payschools Central can be found at the FOOD SERVICES page.

The cut-off time to order meals for the first day of school is Friday, August 29th, at 7:00 a.m. You may also pre-order meals for the entire month of September if you wish.

We encourage you to place your orders early to ensure you don't miss the deadline.