Barack Obama Elementary School

Barack Obama Elementary School, located at 176 William Street in Hempstead, New York, serves students in grades 1 through 6 as part of the Hempstead Union Free School District. The school has a student–teacher ratio of approximately 20 : 1, which is higher than many New York state averages.

In recent assessment data, the school shows approximately 27% proficiency in math and 26% proficiency in reading/language arts, both well below state averages. The student body is largely Hispanic (about 86%) with African-American students making up roughly 11%. Around 82% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-need community.

Students typically progress to Hempstead High School, which has produced alumni such as professional athletes and community leaders (for example, NFL coach Johnny Holland). For housing, three-bedroom rental properties in the Hempstead/Long Island area generally cost in the range of US $2,500–3,500 per month, depending on location, condition and amenities. While Barack Obama Elementary offers a community-based setting and full grade span through Grade 6, the academic proficiency data suggest families may want to engage with the school’s intervention plans and compare neighbourhood options when choosing this zone.

In October 2025, Barack Obama Elementary held a “Family Learning & Community Wellness Night,” where students, parents and local service organisations gathered for bilingual workshops on math games, reading strategies and mindfulness practices, highlighting the school’s drive toward engagement and whole-child support.

1. What academic supports exist for students who are behind grade level?

A. The school offers “Homework Hub” sessions after school, small-group reading and math intervention blocks, and monitors progress through periodic assessments. Families should ask how often reassessments occur and how students move into enrichment groups.

2. What programs and resources does the school provide for multilingual learners and their families?

A. With a majority Hispanic student body and significant bilingual population, the school offers bilingual family-workshops, translation support and targeted ESL/ENL services to help families engage and support learning at home.

3. How active is parent and community engagement at the school?

A. Barack Obama Elementary hosts regular family nights, martial-arts or wellness events, and offers volunteer classroom roles. Because of community needs, parent-school communication is a strong focus.

4. What extracurricular or enrichment options exist for students?

A. The school has clubs in art, reading buddies, after-school homework help and occasional STEM or wellness-themed events, for families looking for deeper enrichment it’s helpful to ask about availability, wait-lists and staffing.

5. What should families relocating into this attendance zone know about housing and relocation costs?

A. Three-bedroom rentals in the Hempstead/Long Island region typically run US $2,500–3,500/month, but this varies widely. Families should evaluate commute, neighbourhood safety and condition of the home, and consider budgeting for supplemental tutoring or enrichment given the school’s current academic data.