West Hempstead High School opened its doors in 1953. The school was built on a large plot of land that had been a farm. (The farmhouse still stands today near the school's parking lot.) Each year, about 900 students fill the halls of the school building. Students can participate in advanced placement courses and various clubs, sport teams and extracurricular activities. Professional football player and College Football Hall of Famer Donald McPherson attended West Hempstead High School, where he was a two-sport All-American Athlete in football and track.