Earlier in the year, The Washington Post released its annual list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. Yet again, Plainedge High School ranked among America’s top high schools, which only ranks the top 2,300 out of more than 60,000 high schools. 
The list is based on the amount of AP tests taken in relation to the size of the student body. Although one could assume that Plainedge’s success came from AP tests, the strength of academics runs even deeper.
Plainedge High School’s principal Robert Amster offered his take on the success of Plainedge, and why it is different than the surrounding districts.
“Plainedge is just a school district, and a small one at that. It’s not united by a town or a zip code like Massapequa or Bethpage,” said Amster on one of the reasons why Plainedge is unique. “The community, students and educators accept the school as the center of the town. The school plays an important role in bringing Plainedge together as a community and not just as a school district.”
Amster enjoys that Plainedge is the community center, especially when it comes to sporting events, clubs and Robotics. He even gets to sit-in on weekly Quiz Bowl meetings.
“The school is the center of people’s lives,” he said. “There is a sense of responsibility for the school to strive to keep the community together, and it has been successful so far.”
When asked if he would have done anything differently, Amster furthered displayed his Plainedge pride.
“I would not change a thing. I came to Plainedge in 2001 and I found a professional home,” he said.
