West Hempstead Secondary School has been named a school of excellence by New York State Public High School Athletic Association for the athletic program’s academic success.
Twenty of the high school’s varsity programs in the 2025-26 school year met the eligibility requirements, and the school was one of 237 in the state to receive the honor. To qualify, 75 percent of a school’s varsity teams must earn a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award, which requires that at least three-quarters of a team’s roster carry grade point averages of 90 or above.
For West Hempstead Superintendent of Schools Dan Rehman, the award isn’t just about the athletes. “Being named a School of Excellence by NYSPHSAA is a tribute to our students, coaches and staff, who consistently represent West Hempstead with sportsmanship and pride,” Rehman said. “It’s a proud moment for our entire community.”
According to the association’s website, this is the fifth time — and the second consecutive year — that the high school has received the award.
For Principal Joseph Pumo, it is a result of the high expectations that the school, parents and coaches have for its student to excel academically as well as athletically.
“It’s about communication and putting systems in place to make sure that coaches are aware of how their student athletes are doing in the classrooms,” Pumo said. “It starts with high expectations, and then communication between the coaches, the teachers and the families.”
Pumo added that he hopes students recognize how important it is to put academics first, and how vital it is for them to prioritize their education while managing their time.
“It’s a testament to the work that the teachers and coaches are doing with the students to really prioritize that they are student athletes,” he said, “and the importance of maintaining your studies is paramount compared to being able to compete in interscholastic athletics.”
Other area high schools, including Malverne and Lynbrook, also qualified for the award this year.
NYSPHSAA’s School of Excellence program began in 2016. According to its website, athletes who average 90 or higher in their schoolwork receive pins for the honor.
Dawn Sachs, director of physical education, health and athletics for the West Hempstead school district, said she considers the honor a group accomplishment, and hopes the student athletes’ classmates will be inspired by their accomplishments.
“It’s important to see that we do have student athletes that are committed to doing both and succeeding in both,” Sachs said, “while they also continue to grow as people.”
She also would like to see the program reach even higher levels. If all of a high school’s teams have average GPAs of at least 90, the school meets the requirements for the School of Distinction designation. Only 118 schools in the state qualified for that distinction this past school year.
“I’m 100 percent, 100 percent of the time,” Sachs said, “so I think striving to get all of our teams to be recognized for having these types of successes is probably where I’d like to build upon next.”
