Garden City Public Schools

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.”

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.

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

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.  

At its Aug. 12 business meeting, the Garden City Board of Education appointed Ms. Allison Robb as Stratford School’s new assistant principal.

Ms. Robb joins Garden City from the Bethpage Union Free School District, where she served for two years as principal of the Extended School Year program. In that role, she oversaw staffing for teachers, teaching assistants, aides and monitors, coordinated class placements, ensured compliance with IEP goals and maintained close communication with service providers.

In addition, Ms. Robb led Bethpage’s Golden Eagles Summer Academy, where she developed and staffed a program that provided students with access to grade-level content and enrichment opportunities. She also served as an administrative intern, creating resources for districtwide initiatives, and was a leader in professional development for staff, developing and facilitating courses in areas such as having a responsive classroom, optimizing elementary instruction and creative math strategies for teachers.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the families and staff of Stratford this year,” said Ms. Robb. “I’m excited to build relationships within the school community as we begin to collaborate in the coming weeks.”

Superintendent Dr. Kusum Sinha shared, “We are excited to welcome Ms. Robb to Garden City. Her background reflects her deep commitment to student success, and she brings both a wealth of expertise and a genuine passion for cultivating an inclusive, supportive and enriching learning environment for all.”

The district looks forward to Ms. Robb’s leadership at Stratford School.

In preparation for the 2025-2026 school year, the Garden City Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 1.

During the meeting, newly elected trustees Debra Cupani and Erin Debrich were officially sworn into office along with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha and District Clerk Dana DiCapua. The board of education re-elected Joseph Sileo as president and elected Kristen Pappas as vice president for the 2025-2026 school year.

The district is excited to begin a new year of learning, growth and continued success.

At its business meeting on July 1, the Garden City Public Schools Board of Education proudly appointed Akira Byng-Regan as the district’s new coordinator of music and arts, effective July 1, 2025.

Ms. Byng-Regan brings more than 15 years of experience in arts education and instructional leadership to the Garden City School District. Most recently, Ms. Byng-Regan served in the Roosevelt School District as lead music teacher and choral director at Roosevelt Middle and High School, as well as director of Roosevelt Performing Arts. In these roles, she has overseen all choral ensembles for grades 7–12, managed high school productions, directed the districtwide musical and led curriculum projects and initiatives.

Ms. Byng-Regan has also played a central role in expanding arts programs, coordinating departmentwide professional development and managing planning, staffing, budgeting and logistics for district performances.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Byng-Regan to our school community and look forward to the expertise, creativity and vision she will bring to our music and arts programs,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. “Her leadership will enrich opportunities for students and help continue to elevate the district’s commitment to the arts.”

The Garden City Public Schools community is excited to welcome Ms. Byng-Regan into her new role and is confident that her goals will uphold and further the district’s success.