The Island Trees School District was formed as a Common School District in 1902 (a common school district could only operate as a K-8 school district).

The original District 26 one-room schoolhouse was located on Hempstead Tpke. on 3/4 of an acre of ground and was built in 1902 for $1,500. The little white building housed three generations of students. There were 25 seats set up in rows where students sat depending upon their grade. A coal stove provided heat during the winter months. Children brought their own lunch and drinking water was supplied by a well which was "inspected several times each year."

It was the only school in the district until the Farmedge School was built in 1950. The Farmedge School was later renamed the Stephen E. Karopczyc School. Unfortunately the one-room school burned down in 1953.

Mr. William E. Peake was the teacher in 1906 and was responsible for the education of 31 students in grades one through six. Mr. Peake agreed to leave his teaching position in Long Eddy, NY, and teach in Island Trees for $500 per year and room and board for $4 a week.

Mrs. Geneva Gallow was employed as the district's only teacher in 1937. She served as the last teacher in the one-room schoolhouse until 1950. In 1947 Mrs. Gallow was interviewed for a story in the Nassau Daily Review Star. She stated in the interview, "There is no janitor. I take care of the building." Mrs. Gallow not only cleaned the school, she also started the fire every morning. The grades ran from one to six except in 1947 when there was no third or fifth grade. Mrs. Gallow explained, "It just happened that there weren't any children for them." Mrs. Gallow went on to explain, "I like teaching here very much. I've had opportunities to move on, but I'm happy. The community is peaceful and I like it."

The small farming community of Island Trees, with the one-room schoolhouse, grew from 23 children in 1947 to 5,852 children in 1963.