The Area and Community

The Highland Central School District, located in the historic Hudson Valley, encompasses a predominately residential area with a number of working farms and apple orchards in its midst. The close-knit community of approximately 11,000 residents affords easy access to the many cultural and educational opportunities in both Albany and New York City via the New York State Thruway and the Metro-North Railway. Also in the area are numerous prestigious colleges and universities including Vassar College, Marist College, SUNY New Paltz, the Culinary Institute of America, SUNY Ulster, and SUNY Dutchess.

Things To Do, Things To See

Within the area, there are a number of historical and cultural points of interest, such as the United States Military Academy at West Point, historic Hyde Park, the Old Stone Houses in New Paltz, Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, the magnificent cliffs and trails of Minnewaska and Lake Mohonk Mountain House, as well as the recently dedicated Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park.

Numerous recreational outdoor activities are also available.  The Highland Recreation Commission, Community Team, and other local agencies offer a multitude of after-school and weekend events for children and their parents.  Local Boy/Girl Scouts and other youth groups provide children a strong tie with their community.    

The School District

The Highland Central School District, in collaboration with its community and partners, is a student-centered learning community focused on the development of independent, lifelong learners while providing a quality education and promoting positive and healthy student growth. Each of our buildings have active Parent Teacher Associations, and in the case of the High School, a PTSA which includes students in its membership. There is a seven member Board of Education comprised of dedicated residents. For the past several years, a student from the senior class has been selected by his or her classmates to serve as a non-voting member of the Board of Education. The student representative actively participates in Board meetings, providing unique insight and recommendations.

The District recognizes the importance of fostering good working relationships with our surrounding community. The District has formed a strong partnership with IBM, Highland Rotary Club, neighboring businesses, local emergency response teams, and the Towns of Clintondale and Lloyd.          

Each year many of our Elementary School children participate in a Junior Achievement program that connects business officials and other professionals with our students. In all three of our schools, the students are actively involved with giving back to the community. Each year our students participate in food drives, volunteer at local nursing homes, march in the local Memorial Day parade, and provide support and guidance to younger students in the District. Two very special community activities include “Make a Difference Day,” which involves our students working directly with and assisting our senior citizens, and the “Senior Citizen’s Prom,” where our students provide our elder community members with a fun-filled evening of food, music, and dancing.

EXCEL for Continuous Improvement

Thanks to voter approval of the October 2007 EXCEL construction project, the Highland Central School District has been making several important upgrades to improve infrastructure, security and safety. The $2.5 million EXCEL investment is a proactive, preventative approach to effectively maintain the overall condition of the facilities. State aid was leveraged to cover nearly all of the construction-related expenses of the project, resulting in minimal tax impact on residents. 

Each endeavor has been planned to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for the members of the Highland Educational Community. Recoating the roofs on each of the Districts’ three school buildings was completed in the summer of 2008, which allowed the District to extend the warranties on each by ten years. This proactive approach to preventative maintenance will protect the roofs against water damage and ensure that more costly repairs are not needed in the future.

The limestone parapets (the low walls and ridges along the edge of the roof) at the Elementary School and Middle School have been repaired, preserving the infrastructure of both buildings. Repairing the deteriorated masonry will increase the buildings’ life expectancy. The improvements resulting from EXCEL work represent the Highland community’s investment in supporting its schools.    

Building security was increased Districtwide. There are now security cameras at the entrance to each District building. These cameras will provide valuable information in the case of an emergency, and on an everyday basis lend peace of mind to parents as they send their children off to school. At the Middle School, a new public address (PA) system was installed that will enable administrators to communicate emergency information. (The Elementary School and High School were already equipped with similar systems.)

Handicapped accessibility issues were also addressed at all three schools. At the Elementary School, a new curb cut was constructed, new front doors were installed, and new designated parking spaces allocated. At the Middle School and High School, new doors were installed that meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.

In addition, folding gym doors at the High School and Elementary School that posed a safety concern when automatically opening and closing have been replaced. New heavy-duty curtains have been installed, that maximize instructional space while also meeting safety standards.

Middle School students are now safe inside and outside the building, thanks to a newly stabilized infrastructure. Bricks that shifted and cracked on the exterior walls of the school were repaired, increasing the structure’s life expectancy and maximizing the air quality within the school. 

Antiquated manual equipment used for heating and ventilation controls in the Elementary School and High School has been replaced with a state-of-the-art system that allows temperatures and ventilation to be controlled via an online computer system. This open interoperable solution harnesses the power of the Internet, so that room temperature and ventilation can be controlled from anywhere, at any time. This feature also enables automatic settings for after-school hours and vacation, decreasing the energy costs associated with heating and cooling and saving the District money. As fuel costs continue to rise, this needed upgrade will save the District money for years to come.

Focus on Achievement

All schools in the Highland Central School District are committed to student and staff achievement. The promotion of literacy, social responsibility, and academic skills continue to be our District’s primary focus. Staff development opportunities have aided in improving instructional practices, expanding use of assessment tools, and the analysis of data to enhance student development and achievement. The District is committed to Comprehensive District Educational Planning (CDEP). The CDEP team is comprised of a representation of all stakeholders in the District and, in collaboration with staff, parents, students, and the community, is committed to developing action plans based on the established goals and objectives of the District. 

The District is committed to helping ALL students. Each building has operational Instructional Support Teams, which are designed to help teachers address the individual needs of their students. As part of its wide-ranging effort, the District has received a highly competitive Transition Grant to help students with their post-secondary plans.

New York State has recognized all of the three schools in the District as “Schools in Good Academic Standing.” Both the Elementary School and Middle School have received additional recognition from the State for “Closing the Achievement Gap.” Highland High School was recently recognized for the highest graduation rate in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Many of the students who attend the Highland Central School District take advantage of the variety of Fine Arts programs offered in all three buildings. Concert Band and Chorus are taught in Grades 4-12. Many graduates continue their pursuit of the arts in post-secondary schools, with some receiving scholarships. The District provides a large number of extra-curricular activities and athletic programs for students. For a small district, it is truly amazing to see so many of our students involved in after-school activities. The District also has affiliations with a number of local colleges, which enables students to receive college credit for courses that they take in high school. Students also have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement classes, which can also be applied toward college credit at many universities.