Essential Elements: Schools-To-Watch
Promoting Excellence in Middle Level Programming for our State’s Young Adolescents
New York State is a member of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, National Schools-to-Watch Program. New York recognized that the criteria outlined by the National Forum closely aligned with the Department’s Seven Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle Level Schools and Programs and the Regents Policy Statement on Middle Level Education. The program, adopted in 2004, and entitled the Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch Program (EE:STW) focuses on school improvement and recognition. EE:STW recognizes schools that demonstrate continuous improvement and excel in the following four domains; academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structure. The program is non competitive and is designed to promote and guide the school improvement process as well as highlight characteristics of high performing schools with middle grades. EE:STW is a vehicle for school reform in as much as it is tenable for any school to use the tools and application kit to guide their school improvement efforts and eventually apply for recognition when they have demonstrated evidence that they are on a trajectory for improvement in these critical domain areas. The State Education Department in partnership with the NY State Middle School Association, New York State Middle Level Liaisons and the NYS United Teachers, as well as other academic associations across the State continue to seek applications. For more information select the National Schools to Watch Program.
Introducing the 2020-2021 New York State Essential Elements Schools to Watch
| 5th Re-Designation (recognized since 2006) | Principal |
| Sayville MS | Joseph Castoro |
| Barker Rd. MS | Shana Cutaia |
| Calkins Rd. MS | Joshua Walker |
| Moravia MS | John Birmingham |
| Twelve Corners MS | James Nunez |
| 4th Re-Designation (recognized since 2009) | Principal |
| A.A. Kingston MS | Dan Cook |
| Jericho MS | Don Gately |
| 3rd Re-Designation (recognized since 2012) | Principal |
| Martha Brown MS | David Dunn |
| Indian Lake MS | David Snide |
| Oceanside MS | Allison Glickman-Rogers |
| Van Wyck JHS | Steven Shucat |
| Longwood JHS | Adam Dewitt |
| Farnsworth MS | Michael Laster |
| 2nd Re-Designation (recognized since 2015) | Principal |
| South Orangetown MS | Chad Corey |
| 1st Re-Designation (recognized since 2018) | Principal |
| Vernon-Verona-Sherrill | Carrie Hodkinson |
| Fieldstone MS | Alex Levine |
A Complete List of Active Essential Elements: Schools-To-Watch (EE:STWs)
Applications and Information
Initial Application for 2021-2022 Word
Initial Application for 2021-2022 PDF
Redesignation Application for 2021-2022 Word
Redesignation Application for 2021-2022 PDF
Schools To Watch/Essential Elements Criteria Crosswalk
Is Your School Ready to Begin the Applicaton Process? 13 Things to Consider