A high school in the suburbs of New York City is experiencing a unique graduation day with 15 pairs of twins among its nearly 500 graduating students. Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School in Hempstead, Long Island, has a notable concentration of fraternal twins, many of whom have grown up together, sharing experiences and forming close bonds. This connection is further strengthened by a group text chain the twins use to stay in touch.
Despite being fraternal twins, which means they are born from different eggs and sperm and often differ in appearance and gender, these students share a deep connection. Bari Cohen, one of the graduating twins, highlighted the unique bond between boy-girl twins that goes beyond typical sibling relationships.
The phenomenon of numerous twins at the school is attributed to various factors, including genetic predispositions and the increased likelihood of twins resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Arianna Cammareri, another graduating twin, mentioned her parents’ use of IVF, a common practice in the past that often led to multiple births.
This is not the first time the school has seen such a notable number of twins; similar patterns were observed in previous years, and next year’s incoming freshman class already has nine sets of twins. Other schools across the U.S. have also reported large numbers of twins, with Clovis North High School in California and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland having 14 and 10 pairs of twins, respectively.
After graduation, most of the twins plan to attend different colleges, seeking independence and new experiences. However, some, like Aiden and Chloe Manzo, will attend the same university, sharing a dormitory at the University of Florida. The twins’ plans reflect a mix of excitement and apprehension about separating from their lifelong companions, with some looking forward to new adventures and others planning frequent visits to maintain their close connections.