District overview
Longwood Central School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Longwood funded, and who decides?
Longwood is a large Suffolk County district (about 8,900 students). Its budget is mostly paid by local property taxes (about 52%) and New York State aid (about 42%). An elected seven-member Board of Education, plus a non-voting student member, adopts a budget, and residents vote on it every May. A state tax cap limits how fast the levy can grow.
Property taxes about 52%
The 2026-27 tax levy is about $169.0 million, up 2.84% from $164.3 million.
State aid about 42%
Estimated at $137.8 million, up from $132.4 million the year before.
Voters decide the budget
The 2026-27 budget passed 1,074 to 451 on May 19, 2026. If it fails, the district must use a contingent budget with no levy increase.
Board elected at large
Three-year terms; two seats were filled in May 2026 and three terms end in 2027.
The district notes rental housing growth and tax breaks (PILOTs) as pressures on its tax base; the documents do not measure their size.
Where the district stands
Up 3.49% from $315 million in 2025-26.
Estimated increase for an average home assessed at 2,452: $216.22.
Projected 2026-27, up 0.69% from 8,818.
Context: $326 million divided by 8,879 students. It includes transportation, benefits, debt and capital transfers, so it overstates classroom spending.
Of this, $12.6 million is unassigned; most of the rest is restricted reserves.
District-posted results.
Context: agendas and minutes are only in BoardDocs, which could not be collected.
Major projects
2024 Capital Improvement Project
Under construction; first pieces completeVoters approved a bond-funded program on May 21, 2024: roofing, parking lots, bathrooms and doors, flooring, cafeterias, elementary STEAM labs and courts, a middle school music suite and activity court, security upgrades, and new career and technical education space. The CTE Center at the high school opened Sept. 25, 2026.
- Voters approve the capital project
- Construction begins on the CTE Center (district news)
- CTE Center ribbon cutting
Funding
Proposition 1: $158 million (about 74.9% state aid, $17.2 million reserves, $22.5 million taxpayers); Proposition 2: $35 million
Amounts are from the 2024 bond presentation and brochure.
Coram Elementary community park
Funded, announced Aug. 2026A $2.265 million state investment will build a public park on part of the Coram Elementary grounds with an inclusive playground, pavilion, sports court and parking, separated from the school.
- Funding and plan announced
Funding
New York State
$2.265 million
2026-27 school improvement plans
Plans filed for 2026-27Coram Elementary, Longwood Junior High and Longwood Middle School have state-required improvement plans focused on English learners, math in grades 5-6, coaching and restorative practices. District debriefs are planned Sept. 2026, Nov. 2026, Feb. 2027 and May 2027.
- Plan actions begin (September 2026 and ongoing)
Funding
Not stated in the plans
2027-28 budget cycle
Board vote May 18, 2027Per the district calendar, the budget hearing is May 6, 2027 and the budget vote and board election is May 18, 2027.
- Budget hearing
- Budget vote and board election
Funding
Local taxes and state aid
Recent news
Built from documents on the district's own website (budget book, budget presentation, newsletter, audit reports, improvement plans, capital project materials and news posts). Items marked verified appear in a collected district document; calculations and outside figures are context.
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