Sidney High School honored as New York State Recognition School
Sidney High School was one of 562 high-achieving and high-progress schools as part of the 2018-19 Recognition Schools, as announced by New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia.
To further break it down, Sidney was one of just 234 high schools statewide on the list, and the only high school in the immediate area to be selected. The next closest high schools were in the Binghamton area.
“We are very pleased that our high school has been recognized as one of the highest performing schools,” Sidney Superintendent Dr. William Christensen said. “We are especially proud of the journey to this point. We have been on many lists the last few years, but this one demonstrates our staff, students and community commitment to provide the very best education to all of our students.
“We are especially proud of the fact that there were only 24 schools statewide that were considered low- income and rural,” he continued. “Being one of those schools is a true indication of our collective belief that all students can be successful. Our community has been devastated by two floods and our tax base has dropped more than 30 percent but we continue to break the trend. We offer more programs, have seen an increase in enrollment, and now have clearly demonstrated our students and staff are among the best in New York State.”
Under New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan, 2018-19 Recognition Schools have high academic achievement, student growth and graduation rate, and have made progress during the 2017-18 school year. Each school on the list will receive a certificate of recognition from Commissioner Elia.
Recognition schools are identified as such because they are among the top performers under ESSA for performance, student growth and/or graduation rate; met or exceeded either the school or state measures of interim progress for English language arts and mathematics; rate of chronic absenteeism, and college, career, and civic readiness; and met the federally required 95 percent participation rate in the English language arts and mathematics assessments.
“The Sidney Community and Sidney Central School District staff should be proud of this accomplishment and recognition,” Sidney High School Principal Eben Bullock said. “There has been a tremendous amount of focus by our staff and students to continue our trend of academic excellence. This has been demonstrated by our students' success both passing and mastering New York State Regents exams, improving graduation rates, and creating opportunities for students to have the skills to be ready for post-secondary education and career endeavors.”
Of the 562 schools being honored, 241 are located in New York City, 40 are public charter schools, and 280 are located in the rest of the state. Of those on this year’s list, 131 were named Reward Schools last year (high performing/high progress schools under the prior accountability system).
Of the 16 component DCMO BOCES school districts, of which Sidney is part of, the only other listed was Greene’s primary.
Posted: Wednesday, June 19, 2019