Huntington district plans to phase out Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School

The Huntington school district will phase out its intermediate magnet school, a move officials said will give all students greater access to "high-quality programs" while helping the district save money on transportation costs.

The Woodhull Intermediate School and the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School, which enroll students in grades 4 to 6, will offer the same educational programming to incoming fourth graders starting in the 2026-27 school year, officials said. The magnet school, which was reopened in 2013 with a specialized focus on science, technology, engineering and math, will be renamed Jack Abrams Intermediate School, officials said.

Flower Hill and Washington primary school students entering fourth grade will go to Jack Abrams, while Southdown and Jefferson primary school students will go to Woodhull, according to the district.

Students will be allowed to remain in their existing buildings and parents may request that younger siblings attend the same school, officials said.

"We explored a range of possibilities, each involving adjustments to grade configurations and school structures, always guided by one central question: How can we use this moment not just to comply with requirements, but to elevate the learning experience for all students?” Superintendent Beth McCoy said in a statement.

Mandated programming

McCoy said the district is required by the state to offer the same bilingual programming at both intermediate schools.

The Huntington district's student population is 58% Hispanic, 31% white and 6% Black, according to state figures from the 2023-24 school year. English language learners made up 26% of the student population that year.

In the 2023-24 school year, out of 422 students enrolled at Woodhull, 70% were Hispanic, 18% were white, 5% were Black and 3% were Asian or Native Hawaiian. A third were English language learners, according to state figures.

A total of 432 students attended Jack Abrams that same year. Hispanic and white students each represented 44% of the enrollment. Black students made up 7% of the population, while 2% were Asian or Native Hawaiian. A fifth, or 20%, were English language learners, state figures showed.

Woodhull currently has 445 students, while Jack Abrams has 452 students enrolled, according to district officials.

The restructuring plan calls for both schools to offer identical dual language programs. For instance, sixth graders will be required to take two core classes, science and social studies, in Spanish, according to a presentation of the plan. The support will continue through upper grade levels.

Legis. Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station) called the district's dual language program a "gem" and said the expansion of programming will be a good thing for the community.

"Any time you're expanding opportunities for all children to learn… you're improving outcomes for children and that's a very positive thing," Sanin said.

All fourth graders will also engage in project-based learning, where they will have opportunities to participate in activities such as engineering design, creating a website and designing a mini food truck with a menu.

Students in grades 5 and 6 will participate in initiatives such as Innovation Lab, designed to "help students explore ideas, develop creative projects and learn” through hands-on experiences. In addition, fifth and sixth graders will participate in  the Learners Who Lead program, which aims to develop social, emotional and leadership skills through activities, according to the district’s plan.

Qualifying students can also join classes in areas such as genetics and forensics, and clubs like the Math Olympiad and Lego League.

Officials estimate the changes will reduce the number of buses and routes needed, saving the district $581,360.14 in the 2028-29 school year.

"At the heart of these changes is a simple but powerful goal: to build a stronger future for every student, in every classroom,” McCoy said. "We are proud of the work that’s been done, and even more excited for what lies ahead.”