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'Success is the norm': the unlikely school where students sweep the Ivy League 'Success is the norm': the unlikely school where students sweep the Ivy League
(35 minutes later)
For the second year running, Elmont Memorial High School, a public school serving a small community of around 33,000 in Long Island, New York, has produced what few schools could ever dream of: a student who has gained admittance to all eight Ivy League schools. For the second year running, Elmont Memorial high school, a public school serving a small community of around 33,000 in Long Island, New York, has produced what few schools could ever dream of: a student who has gained admittance to all eight Ivy League schools.
Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, a 17-year-old Nigerian-American who has spent most of her life in Elmont has been offered a place in each one of the prestigious east coast institutions – Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania. She also was admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and NYU.Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, a 17-year-old Nigerian-American who has spent most of her life in Elmont has been offered a place in each one of the prestigious east coast institutions – Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania. She also was admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and NYU.
Uwamanzu-Nna was at a badminton meetup when she got the news (she checked the application results on her phone). She started running, screaming with joy and crying, she says.Uwamanzu-Nna was at a badminton meetup when she got the news (she checked the application results on her phone). She started running, screaming with joy and crying, she says.
“Someone should have snapped that,” she laughs, referring to the popular video and photo sharing mobile app Snapchat.“Someone should have snapped that,” she laughs, referring to the popular video and photo sharing mobile app Snapchat.
But Uwamanzu is not the only student from Elmont to accomplish this amazing feat. Last year, Harold Ekeh also swept the ivies – and ended up opting for Yale. It is extremely rare for students to get into all eight Ivies – rarer still for two to do so from the same school. So what sets Elmont apart? Are students sprinkled with magic genius dust every morning as they enter the school’s corridors? Some have wondered if there’s something about Elmont high school that is leading to such excellent results. Is there something in the water? The teaching methods? But Uwamanzu-Nna is not the only student from Elmont to accomplish this amazing feat. Last year, Harold Ekeh also swept the Ivies – and ended up opting for Yale. It is extremely rare for students to get into all eight Ivies – rarer still for two to do so from the same school. So what sets Elmont apart? Are students sprinkled with magic genius dust every morning as they enter the school’s corridors? Some have wondered if there’s something about Elmont high school that is leading to such excellent results. Is there something in the water? The teaching methods?
David Spinnato, a first year science research teacher at Elmont Memorial, who has been at the school for fourteen years, says none of his students’ accomplishments should be credited to the teachers: “it’s not about us, it’s all about them.” David Spinnato, a first-year science research teacher at Elmont Memorial, who has been at the school for 14 years, says none of his students’ accomplishments should be credited to the teachers: “It’s not about us, it’s all about them.”
But even if Uwamanzu-Nna’s accomplishments are doubtlessly due to her own hard-work and intellect, the public high school’s record is near immaculate. Elmont Memorial has been the subject of national awards and a case study for academics seeking to understand what makes public schools work well for years. It has a 98% graduation rate, with 98% of its students continuing their education post-high school, more than half of them in four-year colleges. But even if Uwamanzu-Nna’s accomplishments are doubtlessly due to her own hard work and intellect, the public high school’s record is near immaculate. Elmont Memorial has been the subject of national awards and a case study for academics seeking to understand what makes public schools work well for years. It has a 98% graduation rate, with 98% of its students continuing their education post-high school, more than half of them in four-year colleges.
“We work very hard to make sure that every single student in here reaches their fullest potential,” explains Elmont Memorial’s principal, Kevin Dougherty. “Success is the norm here.”“We work very hard to make sure that every single student in here reaches their fullest potential,” explains Elmont Memorial’s principal, Kevin Dougherty. “Success is the norm here.”
Dougherty, who high fives students and shakes their hand as he walks through the institution’s corridors (saying “good afternoon sir” to the students, not the other way round) says the high school’s student body is very “un-hierarchical”, meaning there are no set groups of athletes versus geeks – no cool kids not mixing with uncool kids. All students are taught to be supportive and curious of each other. “It’s ok to be involved in anything you want to be involved in.” Dougherty, who high-fives students and shakes their hand as he walks through the institution’s corridors (saying “good afternoon, Sir” to the students, not the other way round) says the high school’s student body is very “un-hierarchical”, meaning there are no set groups of athletes versus geeks – no cool kids not mixing with uncool kids. All students are taught to be supportive and curious of each other. “It’s OK to be involved in anything you want to be involved in.”
During last year’s beginning of school “pep rally”, the student crowd went wild when the marching band came on to the field, he recalls.During last year’s beginning of school “pep rally”, the student crowd went wild when the marching band came on to the field, he recalls.
High performing schools like Elmont are often found in affluent suburbs, like New Trier in the Chicago suburbs, where the families are privileged and the student body is majority white. but that is not the case at Elmont. High-performing schools like Elmont are often found in affluent suburbs, such as New Trier in the Chicago suburbs, where the families are privileged and the student body is majority white. But that is not the case at Elmont.
Out of a total student body of just under 2,000, 75% is African-American, 12% is Hispanic, 8% is Asian and just 1% is white. Out of a total student body of just under 2,000, 75% is African American, 12% is Hispanic, 8% is Asian and just 1% is white.
But Elmont’s demographics do not lineup with the demographics of the community, where at least one-fifth of the population is white. This suggests that despite the high school’s performance, many of Elmont’s white children are choosing to attent private schools (Elmont is the only public school in the area). They may want to reconsider. But Elmont’s demographics do not line up with the demographics of the community, where at least one-fifth of the population is white. This suggests that despite the high school’s performance, many of Elmont’s white children are choosing to attent private schools (Elmont is the only public school in the area). They may want to reconsider.
“When people look at the demographics of our school, they make assumptions about it, and about the community it is in. But this community doesn’t fit the stereotype. It is a hard-working community with a strong middle-class,” Dougherty says, explaining he accepted the job at this school precisely because of how invested and committed parents and the community seemed to be in their local public education. “When people look at the demographics of our school, they make assumptions about it, and about the community it is in. But this community doesn’t fit the stereotype. It is a hard-working community with a strong middle class,” Dougherty says, explaining he accepted the job at this school precisely because of how invested and committed parents and the community seemed to be in their local public education.
Still, not all of Elmont’s students fall-into the middle class: 45% of the kids qualify for free or reduced price lunches. Still, not all of Elmont’s students fall into the middle class: 45% of the kids qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
Dougherty highlights the advantages of being in a multicultural environment at school, thanks to the many different backgrounds of its pupils. “It is good they are not in a homogenous environment. We are preparing them to go out into a world that is very diverse.”Dougherty highlights the advantages of being in a multicultural environment at school, thanks to the many different backgrounds of its pupils. “It is good they are not in a homogenous environment. We are preparing them to go out into a world that is very diverse.”
For Uwamanzu-Nna, whose father is a physical therapist who originally emigrated to the United States because of his work, coming into contact with teachers like Spinnato, and his science research teacher colleague Michelle Flannory, meant expanding her horizons and learning to “academically have an open mind”.For Uwamanzu-Nna, whose father is a physical therapist who originally emigrated to the United States because of his work, coming into contact with teachers like Spinnato, and his science research teacher colleague Michelle Flannory, meant expanding her horizons and learning to “academically have an open mind”.
What she ended up being most passionate about was perhaps slightly unexpected. Cement and concrete have been the subject of her research for the last three years.What she ended up being most passionate about was perhaps slightly unexpected. Cement and concrete have been the subject of her research for the last three years.
“Cement is the most consumed material after water! Do you understand the carbon dioxide emissions it produces? Nobody knows how important it is,” she exclaims. “And water shouldn’t even be considered because we need water to survive.”“Cement is the most consumed material after water! Do you understand the carbon dioxide emissions it produces? Nobody knows how important it is,” she exclaims. “And water shouldn’t even be considered because we need water to survive.”
The subjects the enfant prodige hopes to study in college? Bio-chemistry and environmental science. “We have to find sustainable solutions for the future,” she says. The subjects the enfant prodigy hopes to study in college? Biochemistry and environmental science. “We have to find sustainable solutions for the future,” she says.
As for which school Uwamanzu-Nna will choose come time to make a decision, she says she’s not sure yet “All of those schools are known for their invaluable learning environment. I just wanted to get into one of them,” she says. She will pick the one that makes her “feel right” when she walks onto their campus; she intends to visit them all by the end of the month. As for which school Uwamanzu-Nna will choose come the time to make a decision, she says she’s not sure yet. “All of those schools are known for their invaluable learning environment. I just wanted to get into one of them,” she says. She will pick the one that makes her “feel right” when she walks on to their campus; she intends to visit them all by the end of the month.