*This option saves the most money and is therefore better financially. It will allow the inevitable cuts in staff, programs and services to be less deep by up to $400,000.

*It will not effect the quality of education any student receives; and, in fact, data shows it may actually lead to better academic performance. Sixth graders will benefit enormously from an extra year in elementary school as is evidenced by numerous studies and data which show moving kids to a middle school setting too early has resulted in lower test scores, lower achievement, greater disciplinary issues and less on time high school graduation rates, among other concerns. 

*From a sense community connectedness, having all of the town's 7th and 8th graders in the same school will build a better united community. In a couple of years time all of the future 7th and 8th graders of West Islip will have a feeling of attachment to one school...together. No more intra-town sense of seperation for the students, and their parents.