Southdown School Continues its Long Tradition
In the early 1950’s the Huntington School District purchased an eight acre parcel of land located at the northwest corner of Southdown and Browns Roads a short walk from Huntington Harbor. In 1954 the district erected Southdown Elementary School and added an additional wing to the structure in 1958.
At one time or another, Southdown has housed students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Today it educates youngsters in grades K-3. Last year it operated at 90 percent of its functional capacity of 430 students.
According to a long range planning study completed by Western Suffolk BOCES late last winter, Southdown contains 20 rooms of greater than 550 square feet and a 21st just under that size. Of these rooms, 19 are now utilized for regular classroom instruction and two others are used for support programs.
Smaller instructional spaces are also used to support ESL, reading, math, academic intervention programs, speech, occupational and physical therapy and a social worker and psychologist. The gym, which contains a stage, can double as an auditorium. There is a complete cafeteria, which serves breakfast and lunch. The library-media center is equipped with books and computers.
Southdown is located just down the road from the Gold Coast estate known as Coindre Hall, which is now operated as a Suffolk County park. Gold Star Battalion Beach is also just a short walk away.
The grounds surrounding the building include many garden areas, some with benches and tables. There are also two playground areas and spacious athletic fields. The school has been well maintained through the years and the one story structure has a classic red brick appearance. Southdown is nearly identical to Washington and Flower Hill schools and was built at the same time.
Today, Principal Michelle Marino provides Southdown Primary School with educational leadership and guidance. With an energetic faculty and staff, a supportive group of parents and enthusiastic students, Southdown appears poised to thrive for years to come.
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office