Measuring success, one child at a time
From student to staff achievement, reasons to be proud of your schools

Below is the district's own report card of sorts, examples of how Niskayuna schools are meeting the district's mission statement. Certainly, every school everywhere can improve, and Niskayuna schools are no different. But these are examples of why you can be proud of your schools today:

We help all students meet challenges and achieve personal success:
-- Most Niskayuna students attend college after graduation. Of the Class of 2004, 93 percent attend a two- or four-year college. Niskayuna students attend such prestigious colleges as: Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. Naval Academy, Princeton University and Columbia University.

Niskayuna Proud

-- Niskayuna students' scores on New York State exams consistently rank among the highest in the region and state. The 2005 District Report Card is available on the New York State Education Web site. (This report card includes data from the 2003-04 school year.)

-- Niskayuna students consistently score well on the SAT exam. The Class of 2003's mean verbal score was 567, topping the New York state mean (496) and the National mean score (507). The mean math score for the same class was 596, topping the New York state mean (510) and the National mean (519).

-- The Capital Region Business Review ranked Niskayuna school district first in 2003 among area school districts (Niskayuna ranked third in 2004). The ranking looks at test scores, percentage of seniors attending college and Regents diploma rates.

-- The Washington Post identified Niskayuna has a district that challenges students to reach their full potential.

-- Niskayuna students challenge themselves by taking a wide variety of Advanced Placement and Honors courses. In the Class of 2004, 225 students wrote 417 AP exams, and 89% scored 3 or higher (out of 5).

-- Niskayuna High School's Bel Canto Voices was selected to perform at the New York State School Boards Association's convention in October 2004. Only three student groups statewide were chosen to perform at the event, which draws more than 2,500 school board members and educators.

-- Four out of the last six years, Niskayuna High School students have won the 21st Congressional District Exhibition Award. Through this annual award, one piece of artwork from students in the congressional district (which includes all of Albany and Schenectady counties, and most of Montgomery and Rensselaer counties) is chosen to be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year.

-- After one or two years in the K-2 Skills Development class, many students with mild to moderate learning challenges are able to return to regular education classes with resource room support.

-- In the last two years, student groups have taken part in exchanges in France, Germany and Mexico.

-- The 2004-05 Boys Varsity Basketball Team is co-champion of the Suburban Council Gold Division.

--At the high school, students with disabilities participate in a work-study program their junior and senior years that the district developed with the Schenectady County ARC. The students are placed at local businesses and learn how to function successfully in a work environment.

-- Rosendale Elementary School received an Award of Excellence for its character education program in 2003 from New York State Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue.

-- The Warrior, Niskayuna High School's student-run newspaper, has received numerous International First Place Awards from the Quill and Scroll Society, an international honor society for high school journalists.

-- The 2004 Girls Varsity Volleyball Team was named Suburban Council Gold Division champions.

-- Last spring, six high school students won scholarships to art colleges, including to such top schools as the Maryland Institute College of Art.

-- Four students won awards -- including Best Delegate -- at the Colombian Model United Nations Conference in New York City in January 2005. At the conference students debate, resolve crises and develop resolutions, similar to actual U.N. proceedings. The conference was attended by Niskayuna High School's Model United Nations Club.

-- In 2004 a short film created by three Niskayuna High School students won the "Best Short Fiction" award at an international film festival.

-- In 2005, Niskayuna High School was named one of the top 1,000 schools in the country, based on the number of students taking Advanced Placement tests.

-- For more than 20 years, Niskayuna students have received the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) award for their writing abilities.

-- The Varsity Golf Team won the Section 2 Championship in fall 2004, after an undefeated season in league play. The Times Union honored athletes Chris Barach, Ben Kelly and Justin Klemballa as First Team All-Stars, and named Coach Vic Greco its fall season Coach of the Year.

Even more student awards

We help every student contribute to a global society:

Every school participates in various community service projects throughout the school year. A few examples:

-- Birchwood Elementary School received an award from Pennies for Patients for contributing the most pennies in the area last school year. The donation benefited the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

-- On a Saturday in October 2004, Niskayuna High School students and staff spent the day working on two Habitat for Humanity houses in Schenectady. Together, they painted the entire interior of one house and landscaped both.

-- Van Antwerp Middle School students have volunteered at Alterra Wynwood for about 10 years, providing friendship for seniors living at the assisted-living residence.

-- In fall 2004 Niskayuna High School students took part in Operation Iraqi Children, collecting enough school supplies (including paper, pencils and erasers) to send kits for 145 Iraqi children.

How do we accomplish the above? Through excellent teachers and staff who are always learning and caring, and who excel in their fields:

-- Numerous teachers are adjunct professors for local universities (including The College of Saint Rose, Union College and Schenectady County Community College)

-- Niskayuna teachers regularly apply for and receive National Board Certification, considered the highest credential in the teaching profession. In December 2004, five Niskayuna teachers achieved certification, the highest number of any school district in the Capital Region.

-- Staff regularly present at professional conferences, and are selected for a wide range of honors and opportunities, from Fulbright Program learning trips to leading professional organizations.

Even more staff achievements

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