St. Dominic Elementary School was one of the first Catholic Elementary Schools established on Long Island. In 1914, Monsignor Charles Canivan arrived at St. Dominic Parish and began his thirty year tenure as pastor. Under his direction, St. Dominic Elementary School opened in 1924 under the auspices of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA.
Ours is a faith-centered program that aspires to connect reading, writing, thinking, and listening skills across the subject areas with the use of 21st century technology and the integration of Catholic values into every subject taught.
Today, the elementary school provides a program of academic and social growth for students from 3 years to 10 years of age (Pre K through 5th grade). Our Early Childhood Development program in Pre K 3, Pre K 4, and Kindergarten is a blend of Montessori learning and Academic preparation.
Beginning in first grade our core subjects - Science, Math, ELA, Social Studies - use the Next Generation Learning Standards Guidelines and are approved by the Diocesan Office of Education. STEM and MakerSpace programs allow students to apply their knowledge across curriculum while using their imagination. We administer the Iowa Assessments and CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) tests for basic skills and achievement, as well as New York State Math and ELA Assessments in grade 4. The data from all standardized testing is shared with parents and is used by our faculty to monitor student progress, introduce academic support when needed, and to create challenging curriculum for all students at their own level of readiness.
Our middle school provides a rich academic program and opportunities for social growth for students from 11 to 12 years of age (grades 6-8). Middle school students continue exploring a faith-centered program that promotes active participation in their faith. Our core subjects use the Next Generation Learning Standards Guidelines and are approved by the Diocesan Office of Education. We administer the Iowa Assessments and tests for basic skills and achievement, as well as New York State Math, ELA, and Science Assessments in grades 4, 6 & 8. The data from all standardized testing is shared with parents and is used by our faculty to monitor student progress, introduce academic support when needed, and to create challenging curriculum for all students at their own level of readiness.
Our middle school students have opportunities to take Accelerated Math programs, including Algebra and Geometry. All students progress through a dynamic science program to take Living Environment program in 8th grade. All of these programs offer the New York State Regents exam for High School credit. Our World Language program includes a Spanish progression for the 8th grade FLACS exam as well as options to take a variety of languages such as Mandarin, Latin, Italian, and French using our Rosetta Stone program. All students take STEM courses including Coding, Robotics, and Project Lead The Way.
Saint Dominic High School continues to offer a values-centered, Catholic education to young women and men on Long Island; in fact, Saint Dominic is honored to hold the distinction of being the oldest co-educational Catholic high school in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Saint Dominic is, and always has been, a parish high school. Parishioners proudly refer to their high school as "The Parish Gem." Yet from its earliest days it has also attracted students from communities outside the local area, fulfilling the hope and intent of the founding pastor, Monsignor Charles J.Canivan, to make Saint Dominic Parish an educational center that included a high school of outstanding merit.
At the time of its founding, Saint Dominic was one of only a few schools accessible to young women and men seeking a Catholic secondary education. Today, even with many more schools in the region for students to choose, Saint Dominic continues to draw from a broad geographic area, encompassing more than 64 communities and 58 public school districts in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The key to Saint Dominic's perennial attractiveness and success is simply this: Saint Dominic strives to respond to each student in a personal and caring manner, treating him or her as an individual with unique needs, aspirations, and potential. Saint Dominic begins by helping the students at their level and then seeks to bring them to a higher, better place in their lives intellectually, socially, morally, and spiritually.