The Herricks Union Free School District is a school district located in western Nassau County

Nassau County, New York

Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...

 on Long Island

Long Island

Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...

, in New York State. The district lies within the Greater New Hyde Park area and serves a number of communities including Herricks

Herricks, New York

Herricks is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 4,295 at the 2010 census.Herricks is a community in the southern part of Town of North Hempstead.-Geography:...

, Garden City Park

Garden City Park, New York

Garden City Park is a Town in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 7,806 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Garden City Park is located at ....

, Manhasset Hills

Manhasset Hills, New York

Manhasset Hills is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 3,592 at the 2010 census. Manhasset Hills is an unincorporated area of the Town of North Hempstead...

, Searingtown

Searingtown, New York

Searingtown is a census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Village of Roslyn...

, North Hills

North Hills, New York

North Hills is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 5,075 at the 2010 census.The Village of North Hills is located in the Town of North Hempstead.-Geography:North Hills is located at ....

, Williston Park

Williston Park, New York

Williston Park is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 7,287 at the 2010 census.The Village of Williston Park is in the Town of North Hempstead.-Geography:...

 and Albertson

Albertson, New York

Albertson is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 5,182 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...

.

History

The school in Herricks was established in 1813, making it one of the oldest in Nassau County. It was named for Herricks Path, a path that existed as early as 1659. By 1898, the Herricks School was one of Nassau County's last single-room schools

One-room school

One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...

.

The Herricks Community Center just south of the High School once also served as the middle school.

Herricks High School stands on Watermelon Hill. The land near the area was a burial ground for the Pearsall family starting in the 17th century, but the burial grounds were later removed.

The High School opened in 1958 and had its first graduating class in 1960.

Known as the "Herricks Prayer Case, Engel v. Vitale

Engel v. Vitale

Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 , was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that determined that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and require its recitation in public schools....

," in 1959 the Herricks School District a.k.a. Union Free School District #9 was sued by five district property owners. "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country." was recited as a daily procedure on the recommendation of the NY State Board of Regents. This case was decided by the U. S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...

, which ruled the prayer unconstitutional in 1962.

Schools

• Herricks High School
  Herricks High School
  Herricks High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school with 1450 students, accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and the Middle States Association. The school is located in New Hyde Park, New York, 20 miles east of Manhattan. Dr. Jack Bierwirth, son of an ambassador in the...
  
  
• Herricks Middle School
  Herricks Middle School
  Herricks Middle School is an intermediate school in Albertson, New York. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Education named Herricks Middle School a recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award, the department's most prestigious honor....
  
  
• Denton Ave. Elementary School
• Center Street Elementary School
• Searingtown Elementary School
• The Herricks Community Center
  Community centre
  Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
  
  (1925),(1948) is also part of the school district.