Highly-rated schools in Wheatley Heights
North Shore and South Shore hamlets along Long Island are notable for their beaches and waterfront views. Sometimes, that leaves home buyers scratching their heads regarding the advantages of living in communities in the middle of the island. Wheatley Heights doesn't quite fit this paradigm because the public school system here is one of the best. According to Niche, in categories ranging from academics to teachers, clubs and activities and college prep, Half Hollow Hills Central School District scores A-pluses across the board.
Learning through the A-plus-rated Half Hollow Hills district
It's important to note that Wheatley Heights is a small community. There are no schools within the boundaries of the community; most are located in nearby Dix Hills, including Ostego Elementary School, Paumanok Elementary School, Vanderbilt Elementary School, Candlewood Middle School and Half Hollow Hills High School East and West.
FamiliesConsider some of these rankings: Paumanok, Ostego and Vanderbilt are the number two, three and four primary schools in the county, according to Niche. In terms of test scores, on a scale from one to 10, GreatSchools gives Vanderbilt a 10, Ostego gets an eight, and Paumanok receives a nine. The number-one middle school in Suffolk County is Candlewood, and West Hollow ranks fourth. GreatSchools gives Candlewood and West Hollow Middle School a nine for test scores. Half Hollow Hills West is the top public high school in the county, while East comes in second place. Both get an eight from GreatSchools for test scores. All of these schools are about a seven-to-15-minute drive from Wheatley Heights.
Post-war ranches and Cape Cods
Many Suffolk County hamlets experienced a housing boom after World War II. Wheatley Heights stayed rural for about another decade or so. Most houses — typically ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals and Cape Cods — were built in the 1960s and 1970s. There are a few newer homes and some condos within the community as well. The median price is around $600,000, which is similar to neighboring Deer Park but higher than the national median. The CAP Index crime score is 3 out of 10, as compared to the national score of 4.
Shopping in Farmingdale
While some communities are known for their bustling restaurants, bars and boutiques, it's the opposite for Wheatley Heights. This is the place people go to when they crave peace and quiet. It is a quick drive to Farmingdale, where there are shops and brand-name chain stores like Target, BJ's Wholesale Club and the Home Depot. Just east of the hamlet is the ShopRite of Deer Park.
Wheatley Heights has no notable restaurants or coffee shops, but residents can grab a slice at Little Joe's Pizza. It's in a tidy shopping strip with a deli, wine and spirits shop, dry cleaners and hair and nail salon. Across the street rests the Martin A. Kessler Veterans of Foreign Wars Association, which hosts community events, like seasonal festivals featuring food, crafts and local vendors.
Exploring Adventure Park
The Adventure Park at Long Island, located in Wheatley Heights, is an aerial ropes course with over 200 bridges, ladders and platforms. It's a popular destination for families, grownups and anyone who enjoys adventure. Butterfly Park is a hilly, wooded oasis with a pond. There are a few smaller parks throughout the hamlet, including Kevin Ver Pault Memorial Park and Hermann Griem Park, which have baseball fields, tennis courts and playgrounds.
Travel via the LIRR and LIE
One of the biggest advantages of living in a mid-island community, says Todd Yovino, licensed real estate broker and owner at Island Advantage Realty, is the ease of travel. Wheatley Heights is about halfway between the Long Island Expressway and Southern State Parkway. The closest Long Island Rail Road train station is Farmingdale, which offers a few express routes to Grand Central and Penn Station in under an hour. There are a lot of hamlets on Long Island that are closer to Manhattan, but that doesn't necessarily mean your commute is shorter. "If you save just 15 minutes on your way to work," says Yovino, "by the end of the month, that adds up a lot."
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Rainone
