The school district was formed in 2000 from the merger of two local districts, Eastport Union Free School District in Eastport, and South Manor UFSD in Manorville. These two districts, along with several others, participated in a study in the mid-1990s to determine the feasibility of combining the many local districts into one centralized district. Proponents suggested that this would benefit the schools through lower central administration costs, and would allow significantly better programming for students, since a combined district would have a much higher enrollment than any of the individual districts. Further, the area covered in the scope of the study had experienced significant growth, particularly in Manorville, which had doubled the population in a span of only ten years. Finally, neither South Manor UFSD nor East Moriches UFSD had high schools of their own, and were paying costly tuition to send their students to other high schools. Ultimately, only Eastport and South Manor decided to combine to create a new district. The central administration office is located at 149 Dayton Avenue, Manorville, NY 11949. A 2010 survey by Newsday reported that the Eastport-South Manor School District was one of twelve schools on Long Island that was "particularly well-run, with well-developed financial policies, effective internal controls, and well-managed operations". Before the merger, Eastport's mascot was the Duck, paying tribute to the large local duck farming industry, due to which Eastport was commonly referred to as "the duck capital of the world". The mascot of the South Manor school district was the Mustang.
Before the two school districts merged, South Street School and Dayton Avenue School were the two schools of South Manor UFSD, serving grades K-9. Eastport Elementary was known as Eastport High School, but served all thirteen grades in one building. It was the only school in the former Eastport UFSD.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre
The school district is well known for its excellence in stage productions. The theatre facilities include a black box theatre capable of holding 250 audience members, a main stage theatre with nearly 1000 seats, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, a booth, a lighting catwalk, state of the art rigging system, costume building facilities, dressing rooms, an orchestra pit, and a scene shop. Several shows are put on in the Black Box stage. Two shows are put on a year on the Main Stage. While the shows are performed by students, the level of dedication from all members give students the impression they are working professionally. In the fall there is a “5 day play challenge”, and in the spring, a musical. Many students have also received Teeny Awards in various categories for their performances. In addition, many students pursue careers and further education in theatre, and some have even made it to Broadway. Since opening in 2003 the following shows have been put on:
The school is also known for its sports program. The school offers : Lacrosse, Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Track, Tennis, Soccer, Golf, Field Hockey, and Bowling.
Eastport-South Manor teams are regularly recognized by Section XI for its top scholar-athletic teams, with many of the teams given the sportsmanship award.
The gymnasium and football field at Eastport-South Manor are affectionately dubbed 'The Shark Tank'. The student section, also known as 'The Shark Pack', provides an incredible atmosphere at varsity games.
In 2015 the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team were Class B state champions.
In 2016, Boys Varsity Volleyball were Class B State Champions.
In 2019, the girls varsity lacrosse team was the state Class B champion.
Clubs
The Eastport-South Manor school district also provides its students with many extracurricular clubs and activities:
From 2011-2013 at Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School, a committee of students, parents, teachers and administrators met to decide on an appropriate manner in which the community could honor the students that voluntarily enter the military upon their graduation from the high school. The ESM community decided to construct a Wall of Honor as a means to express their gratitude to the courageous alumni serving in the United States Armed Forces. This wall is designed to recognize graduates from the first graduation class to the present. The names of future graduates whom enter the military will also have their names added to the Wall of Honor. In order to support its construction, volunteers raised over $60,000.
