It hardly went unnoticed that Westbury was conspicuously absent from a recent Newsday article "11 LI school districts tagged as substandard." That's one list our staff and students have been working exceptionally hard at not making, and, as such, it is cause for great celebration in our community.

This is terrific news for all of us to share, especially for our children, who work hard each day at exceeding the educational goals expected of them. It also affirms the academic progress Westbury's students continue to make at every grade. The New York State Education Department recently reported that all of our schools meet the state's academic requirements and that Westbury is in "good academic standing," offering further proof that our students are indeed succeeding and will be prepared to compete in today's complex world.

Westbury High School's graduation rates continue to rise and at 84 percent we eclipse both the state and national averages. Even better news is that 90 percent of our graduates continue their education by attending two- and four-year colleges. Among the higher learning institutions attended by our students include such widely respected schools as Cornell, St. John's, United States Naval Academy, Hofstra, Johnson & Wales, Howard and Yale, to name a few.

Recognition of Westbury Middle School by the University at Albany as a "Best Practices" school proves that the school is on the right path, while test performance in English Language Arts and math continue to show great improvement. In grades three through eight, the percentage of students scoring a "3" or a "4" on the English Language Arts test rose from 60 percent in 2006 to 72 percent in 2007. On the math test for the same grades, scoring a "3" or "4" increased from 63 percent to 82 percent over the same time. Remarkable accomplishments indeed!

And we are the only Long Island school district using an innovative teaching technique in its elementary school curriculum like Westbury's Game Builders Academy, a nationally recognized program that has proven to be a highly effective tool in teaching children math, science, literacy, art and technology. Similarly, outstanding programs and curriculum like marine sciences, additional advanced placement courses, Junior Navy ROTC, technology and a full-day kindergarten, rival those of surrounding districts, affording our students the opportunity to grow academically and socially. As a longtime educator and administrator, I know what works, and what we are doing in our schools is producing solid results.

Much is expected of our students and certainly the complexities of the world around them are much greater than when most of us attended public school. Given the kinds of curriculum and enrichment programs that stimulate the minds and create a lifetime of learners, our children, in turn, rise to the occasion and continue to exceed our expectations, making the academic strides the entire community can be proud of. And, in Westbury, we have much to be proud of in the accomplishments our students demonstrate each and every day.

Dr. Pless M. Dickerson
President, Westbury Board of Education