Like most suburban districts of our size, there has been a steady increase in the student population beginning about 6 or 7 years ago as the older members of the community retire and relocate, selling their houses to younger families with children. The current student population of the district is a little over 3200 children. The students attend one of three K-5 neighborhood elementary schools. Forest Lake and Mandalay are relatively equal in size with about 400 students in each. Wantagh Elementary School, the oldest of the three is about double the size.
All students then enter the middle and secondary school complex.
Wantagh does qualify as a high tax, low wealth district and has fought for many years to attain greater amounts of state aid. We do get some Title I and Title III monies. The school district has a five-member Board of Education who makes policy. The Middle School Assistant Principal also heads the home and careers and art departments and one of the Assistant Principals at the high school chairs the music department. The Wantagh School District prides itself on the strong bonds it holds with the community of which it is such a vital part.