Massapequa High School

Massapequa High School is a public high school located in Massapequa, in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The Main Campus serves students in grades 10 through 12, while the separate Ames Campus serves 9th-grade students.

Massapequa High School – Main Campus
Address
4925 Merrick Road Massapequa , New York 11758 United States
Coordinates	40°40′04″N 73°27′12″W
Information
Established	1955
School district	Massapequa Union Free School District
NCES School ID	361863001688[1]
Principal	Barbara Lowell
Faculty	150.7 FTEs[1]
Grades	10–12
Enrollment	1,496 (as of 2021–22)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	9.9:1[1]
Color(s)	Navy blue and gold
Team name	Chiefs
Website	Massapequa Public Schools

History

Massapequa High School's first graduating class, the class of 1956, remained at the elementary school located at Hicksville Road for its freshman year and then spent the next two years at what was to become East Lake Junior High School (now known as East Lake Elementary School). Massapequa High School opened in its own location on Merrick Road in September 1955.^{[citation needed]}

Berner High School opened in 1962 to relieve the growing population of Massapequa High School. In 1987, after a decline in district enrollment, Berner High School closed as a high school and became Berner Middle School, serving 6th–8th grade students in the district.^[2]

Massapequa High School underwent an expansion in the northeast corner of the school, with construction of a new wing with eight classrooms completed in September 2007. The school's football and baseball fields, as well as the track, were redone during the spring and summer of 2017; this resulted in the school's tennis courts being relocated towards the south entrance.^{[citation needed]}

Ames Campus

Massapequa High School – Ames Campus
Address
198 Baltimore Avenue Massapequa , New York 11758 United States
Coordinates	40°41′06″N 73°27′52″W
Information
School district	Massapequa Union Free School District
NCES School ID	361863003506[1]
Principal	Tania Willman
Grades	9
Enrollment	475
Color(s)	Navy blue and gold
Team name	Chiefs
Website	Massapequa Public Schools

Students in the 9th grade attend the Ames Campus, which is separate from the main campus and is adjacent to Lockhart Elementary School.^[3]

Student demographics

As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,496 students and 150.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1. There were 98 students (6.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 20 (1.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.^[1]

Mascot

The "Chief" mascot and the town's name is in reference to the Massapequa Tribe, which lived on Long Island before the arrival of European settlers in the 1600s.^[4]

In 2023, the New York State Board of Regents issued guidance that banned the use of Native American mascots, team names, and logos being displayed in public schools mascot. Districts that fail to comply with this requirement by June 30th, 2025 face losing state aid. The Board of Regents cited research from the American Psychological Organization that continued usage of Native American-related symbols and imagery has a negative effect on all students.^[5]

In March 2025, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Board of Regents, dismissing a lawsuit by four Long Island districts including Massapequa that challenged the state ban.^[6] In April 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social that he supports the preservation of the mascot. Trump urged Linda McMahon, the Secretary of Education, to intervene on behalf of the district.^[4]

Notable alumni

• Ted Alflen (born 1946), former pro football player^[7]
• Brian Baldinger (born 1959), former pro football player^[8]
• Gary Baldinger (born 1963), former pro football player^[9]
• Rich Baldinger (born 1959), former pro football player^[10]
• Alec Baldwin (born 1958, class of 1976), actor, member of the Baldwin family^{[citation needed]}
• Billy Baldwin (born 1963, class of 1981), actor, member of the Baldwin family^{[citation needed]}
• Phil Baroni (born 1976), wrestler, professional Mixed Martial Artist, formerly with the UFC^[11]
• Matt Bennett (born 1991, class of 2008), actor/singer^[12]
• Hope Breslin (born 1999, class of 2017), professional soccer player^[13]
• Joey Buttafuoco (born 1956, class of 1974), auto body shop owner best known for having had an affair with a 17-year-old girl who later shot his wife^[14]
• Mary Jo Buttafuoco (born 1955, class of 1974), motivational speaker, and ex-wife of Joey Buttafuoco^[14]
• Candy Darling (1944–1974), transgender Andy Warhol superstar^{[citation needed]}
• Albert DeMeo, son of Gambino mobster Roy Demeo.^[15]
• Jennifer DeSena, attorney and the 38th Town Supervisor of North Hempstead, New York.^[16]
• Kathy Fleming (born 1967, class of 1985), former pro runner.^[17]
• Jessica Hahn (born 1959, class of 1977), Playboy model, actor, focus of Jim Bakker scandal.^[14]
• Rex Heuermann (born 1964, class of 1981), accused Gilgo Beach serial killer.
• Anthony Ingrassia (1944–1995), playwright, producer and director^[18]
• Ron Kovic (born 1946, class of 1964), American activist.^[19]
• Brian Kilmeade (born 1964, class of 1982), television host and author^[20]
• Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954, class of 1972), comedian.^[21]
• Brian Setzer (born 1959, class of 1977), musician^[14]
• Casey Stern (born 1978, class of 1996) SiriusXM radio personality^{[citation needed]}
• Christie Welsh, (born 1981), former professional soccer player.^[22]