Graduation day is going to be extra special at a school near New York City. Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, located in Long Island, is getting ready to graduate nearly 500 students this weekend. Among them are 30 pairs of twins!
A Unique Bond Shared Since Childhood
Many of these twins have grown up together, attending the same schools since kindergarten. Their families met through a local twins club, and some even go on holidays together.
It’s not just about sharing the same birthday — these students have formed deep friendships and shared many important moments.
As graduation day comes closer, many of them are in a group chat, helping each other manage the attention they’re getting.
Sydney Monka, one of the twins, shared, “When we’re all together, there’s so much energy. We’re really close, and we share a lot of the same experiences. It’s amazing.”
Not All Look Alike
Even though they’re all twins, you might not be able to tell right away. These are fraternal twins, meaning they were born at the same time but don’t look identical. Many of them are even brother-sister pairs.
Bari Cohen, who is heading to Indiana University, explained the connection with her twin brother Braydon, “We’re more than just siblings. We’ve been through the same things together at the same time.”
Why So Many Twins?
Some people joke that there must be “something in the water” in their town, but there are other reasons too. For example, Arianna Cammareri shared that she and her twin were born through IVF, which used to often result in twins or triplets.
Others said there are twins in their families, which increases the chance of having twins.
Twins Across the Country
This isn’t the first time the school has had many twins. In 2014 and 2015, the school also had 10 sets of twins each year. And next year, nine more twin pairs are joining the school.
Across the U.S., other schools are seeing this too. One high school in California had 14 pairs of twins, and a middle school in Boston had 23.
Still, none beat the record set by New Trier High School in Illinois, which had 44 sets of twins and even a set of triplets in one class back in 2017.
Different Paths After Graduation
Most of the twins are heading to different colleges after graduation. But a few will stay together. For example, Aiden and Chloe Manzo will both go to the University of Florida, stay in the same dorm, and study business.
Others, like Emma and Kayla Leibowitz, are going to different colleges but plan to stay close. “We’re sleeping over every weekend and going to each other’s football games,” said Kayla.
Some are excited to have their own space for the first time. Sydney and Kayla Jasser are both studying fashion design but at different universities. “It’s good to get out there and have our own experiences,” said Kayla.
Having 30 sets of twins in one graduating class is definitely rare and heartwarming.
These students have shared a special bond their whole lives, and now, they’re stepping into the future — some together, some apart — but all carrying memories that will last a lifetime. Whether they’re staying close
