South Country Central School District
| South Country Central School District | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| , Suffolk County, New York United States | |
| Coordinates | 40°45′44″N 72°57′42″W / 40.76222°N 72.96167°W |
| District information | |
| Type | Public School District |
| Motto | "a tradition of quality... a future of excellence." |
| Grades | K-12 (till 2015), pre K-12 (2015 to present) |
| President | Cheryl A. Felice |
| Vice-president | E. Anne Hayes |
| Superintendent |
|
| Schools | 7 |
| Other information | |
| District Offices |
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| Website | www |
The South Country Central School District is a district of approximately 16 square miles (41 km2) located in southern Brookhaven Town, in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The district serves the entirety of the Village of Bellport and the hamlets of North Bellport and Brookhaven, along with parts of East Patchogue, Shirley, Yaphank, and Medford.[1]
History
Bellport High School Fire
On March 8, 1963, at 1:55 pm, fire broke out in the auditorium at the original Bellport High School (now Bellport Middle School). Nine–hundred students were evacuated from class at the time, and over forty students, faculty, and firefighters were sent to the hospital. The Bellport community rallied and assisted the Bellport Fire Department in putting out the fire. Miraculously, there were no fatalities. This is in part due to a makeshift tarpaulin chute put together and a combined effort from firefighters, students, faculty, and the community alike.[2]
Temporary Closure Due To Racial Tension
On January 16, 1970, the district had to close Bellport High School for a day due to racial tensions. There were repeated fights between White and Black students both inside and out of the High School and also a sit-in protest. The New York Times interviewed assistant principal Robert Gardner, and the story made the January 17, 1970, issue.[3] In an attempt to ease tensions, and have interaction between White and Black students, the High School hired several Black staff members.[3]
Schools
The following is a table of all the current schools used by the South Country Central School District[4]
| School name | Type of school | Address | Grades | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellport High School | High School | 205 Beaver Dam Road Brookhaven, NY | 9-12 | 7:09 am to 1:55 pm |
| Bellport Middle School | Middle School | 5 Kreamer St
Bellport, NY |
6-8 | 7:54 am to 2:34 pm |
| Frank P. Long Intermediate School | Intermediate School | 599 Brookhaven Ave Bellport, NY | 4-5 | 8:20 am to 2:40 pm |
| Brookhaven Elementary School | Elementary School | 101 Fireplace Neck Rd Brookhaven, NY | K-3 | 9:20 am to 3:20 pm |
| Verne W. Critz Elementary School | Elementary School | 185 N Dunton Ave
East Patchogue, NY |
K-3 | 9:20 am to 3:20 pm |
| Kreamer Elementary School | Elementary School | 37 Kreamer St
Bellport, NY |
K-3 | 9:20 am to 3:20 pm |
| South Haven Early Childhood Center | Preschool | 2714 Montauk Hwy Brookhaven, NY | Pre-K | 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm |
References
- ^ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 census - school district reference map: Suffolk County, NY (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 4 (PDF p. 5/6). Retrieved June 19, 2025. - Text list
- ^ "Bellport High School Fire". screanews.us. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Salpukas, Agis (January 17, 1970). "Racial Disorders Force Bellport High School to Close for Day". The New York Times. p. 32. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ "Home - South Country Central School District". southcountry.org. August 7, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.