Northport High School - Facility

Facility

The main part of the school began construction in 1963, opening for the 1966-67 school year on September 7, 1966. A few years later, the L wing began construction and opened for the 1969-70 school year on September 3, 1969. A unique feature of the school building is the large open area, called the Commons, that visitors enter into immediately from the main entrance. The Commons acts as a hub for the entire school. Both the large and small cafeteria, faculty dining room, library and auditorium are located directly off the Commons, from which students may visit The Tiger's Den (school store) and access almost all of the schools wings. There is a balcony on the north side, providing access to the school's administrative offices and counseling center. The Commons is also a favorite hangout of NHS students who congregate there before and after school, during lunch and free periods. In each corner lies the "wells," partially enclosed recessed areas where students can catch up on work, socialize or relax. The largest well has been designated for the senior class through decades of tradition, leaving the two smaller wells for the junior and sophomore classes. As part of an extensive grade restructuring of the entire Northport-East Northport Union Free School District in 1988, the 9th grade was reassigned from each of the junior high schools (as they were called at the time) to the high school. This created two incoming classes that year, including freshmen for the first time. Since there was no existing well for the new freshman class and one could not be constructed, the high school built the freshman benches instead. The benches are commonly called the "bus stop" due to its close appearance to an actual bus stop with benches.

A smaller (Little) theater frequently used by drama classes is located just beyond the commons to the northeast, as are two gyms (large and small) to the southwest. The small gym contains a rock climbing wall and an archery court. Beyond the library on the east side of the building (in the L wing) is another, albeit considerably smaller open area, known as the Small Commons, possessing only islands of lockers.

In 2003, the school underwent construction and expanded. The new K-wing added family and consumer science classrooms on the first floor where the student-run preschool is located and additional regular classrooms on the second floor. The existing A-wing saw a new dance room. Additionally, in the A Wing photography labs, car care classrooms, music administrative office, music classroom, music computer lab, and an orchestra room were added. The PE (Physical Education) Wing also saw renovations. The old weight room was remade into two health infusion classrooms, and a section was added onto the Small Gym. A new weight room was built off of the small gym. A part of the exiting L wing also underwent renovations. Construction was complete for the 2004-05 school year.