The facts and figures below were culled from the February 15, 2013 NCCSS Conference. This is the first in a two-part piece, entitled, "Did You Know: Facts and Figures About Long Island."
Did You Know?
Long Island – The Numbers:
- Long Island hosts a population of 2,832,882. If we were a state, Long Island would rank 33rd between Kansas and Arkansas.
- With 2,370 people per square mile, we would rank first in the country if we were a state.
- If Long Island were a state, we would be ranked first in the high school completion rate for public schools.
- We represent 17% of the student population in NYS
- On Long Island, there are 450,000 students out of 2.8 million statewide
- Over 20% of students on LI qualify for Free/Reduced lunch, proving that we have a diverse population.
- Long Island outperforms every other region in NYS on every measure
- Although it has been reported that New York is 37th in the country’s high school completion rate, here are some facts for you:
- Washington Post “Challenge Index” indicated that 50 of 115 of high schools on Long Island were among the top schools in the country. These schools were in the top 8.0% out of 24,544 schools.
- Intel Competition - Long Island ranked first, with two students in the finals.
- Siemans Research Competition – If we were a state, we would be ranked third in the number of semifinalists.
- 197 Long Island students were on the 2012 National Merit Semifinalists list.
- Seven Long Island school districts won the “National AP District of the Year Award.”
- 54% of Long Island students earn a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, vs. 38% for rest of New York State.
More Facts on Long Island’s
Schools and Students:
- Over 40% of Long Island students are enrolled in districts that fall below the state wealth average (41.7%).
- With regard to Long Island residents’ funding of educational services across the state, the Rockefeller Institute (2011) reported that “downstate suburbs” provide 27.4% of NYS receipts, yet only 17.7% of state expenditures are directed to our region.
- LI schools enroll 17% of the students, but only get 12% of school state aid
- NYC receives $129 in new education aid per student
- NYS receives $119 in new education aid per student
- LI receives $66 in new education aid per student!
- A Long Island Education Coalition budget survey showed that over 3,000 jobs have been eliminated between 2010 and 2013. Class sizes have increased on the Island. In addition, career and technology classes and inter-scholastic programs have been reduced.
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