The Highland School opened in the early 1950s as one of three new schools built by the Roslyn Union Free School District as part of a major district project to address the huge influx of students resulting from the postwar baby-boom (the other two schools built as part of the project were the East Hills Elementary School in East Hills and the former Roslyn–Flower Hill Elementary School in Flower Hill).

Like the East Hills Elementary School and the Roslyn–Flower Hill Elementary School in East Hills and Flower Hill, respectively (the other two schools built as part of the project), the Highland School was designed by the Manhattan-based firm of Moore & Hutchins. A small but revolutionary “neighborhood” school, its layout was roughly identical to the layout of the Highland School, featuring 5 classrooms. According to The New York Times, these two schools were amongst the first of their type in this part of New York, and were designed to be “home-like” to make it easier for younger children to adapt to the classroom environment.

The Roslyn Union Free School District closed the school in the 1970s due to declining enrollment numbers. It was soon purchased by the Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, which officially moved into the building in August 1977 from Roslyn Harbor.

Prior to the synagogue purchasing the property, the Village of Roslyn Estates planned to condemn the school for use as a village recreational center. However, this proposal was opposed by residents who feared that it could become a tax burden.

The congregation occupied this building until the early 1990s, when it moved to a former church in Plandome (the official move was in October of 1993). The former school is now the New Church of New York.

The Library of Congress maintains a number of public domain photographs of the school which were taken in 1953, shortly after its opening; these photographs are part of the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection.

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=%22Highland%20school%2C%20Roslyn%22

Sources:

-Roslyn Union Free School District.

-Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore.

-Winslow, Olivia. “New Sanctuary, Fresh Start.” Newsday. September 27, 1993. Page 6.

-Robinson, Angela. “Roslyn Temple Bears Problems With Optimism.” Newsday. November 25, 1977. Page 21Q.

-"Roslyn Sets Hearings on 3 New School Sites.” Newsday. June 11, 1948. Page 39.

-"Roslyn Votes Today on New School Site $.” Newsday. July 7, 1948. Page 36

-"Roslyn Votes Today on 3 New Schools". Newsday. September 13, 1949. Page 25.

-“Nassau News Briefs.” Newsday. April 1, 1949. Page 23.

-“HOME-LIKE SCHOOLS ASKED FOR ROSLYN; Town's Latest Progressive Project Calls for Buildings Like Modern Dwellings.” The New York Times. July 5, 1948. Page 13.

-“4 Sessions Set for Roslyn Kindergarteners.” Newsday. September 7, 1951. Page 29.