By Mary Jane Pitt
FYI: First, the Fort Montgomery Elementary School has been named a Distinguished School by the National Association of ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) State Program Administrators. Second, the Highland Falls Intermediate School has been ranked #407 out of 2872 middle schools in New York State by U.S. News & World Report.
Those are honors that drew applause at the January 9 meeting of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District’s Board of Education meeting, where Superintendent of Schools Michael McElduff announced the good news.
“We are thrilled to share two extraordinary accomplishments that underscore the dedication, hard work, and excellence of our administrators, faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students,” McElduff said.
“Our schools are performing at a higher level than they have in a long time,” he added, saying that the district’s pre-kindergarten through eighth grade teachers “should be very proud”.
The FMES, which houses pre-kindergarten through second grade*, was announced as an ESEA Distinguished School – a national recognition.
“This prestigious honor is awarded to only 100 schools nationwide for exceptional student achievement in 2024,” the superintendent said. “This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment to academic excellence demonstrated by our students, teachers, and administrators. FMES received this award for closing the achievement gap in Math and ELA from the 2022-2023 school year to the 2023-2024 school year.”
As part of this honor, two district representatives will attend the February NAESPA conference in Austin, Texas,” McElduff said.
“There, they will participate in professional development opportunities, accept this distinguished award, and present our school’s portfolio to other award-winning schools across the country,” he added.
The HFIS, which houses third through eighth graders*, earned a ranking that puts them at a high level of New York State middle schools.
“HIFS has been ranked #407 out of 2872 middle schools in New York State by U.S. News & World Report, placing it in the top 15 percent statewide, the superintendent said. “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the strength and effectiveness of our entire PreK-8 program.”
He added that the U.S. News rankings evaluate schools using a rigorous methodology that considers student proficiency in mathematics and reading/language arts based on state assessments. These rankings also account for socioeconomic demographics, highlighting not only high academic achievement but also the ability to support and educate all students effectively.
The superintendent’s pride was evident.
“These accomplishments reflect the belief our community has in our mission and the Board of Education’s steadfast commitment to providing the resources and support needed to help our students thrive,” he said. “They serve as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together to foster an equitable, inclusive, and positive learning environment for all.”
“We are deeply proud of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators for their dedication and efforts in achieving these milestones. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in these successes. Together, we are building a brighter future for our students and community,” McElduff said.
During the meeting he added that in the early 2010s, “we were on the state’s ‘needs improvement’ list.
“Progress takes time and dedication,” he said. “We believe in what we are doing, and while we’ve made gains, we will continue to work toward more success.”
He said the district would have banners reflecting the honors made to hang in each of the buildings.
Later in the meeting, as building principals gave their remarks, they praised their teachers, as well as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Rachel Adelstein (the former FMES principal) for their hard work in getting to the point where the schools are being honored.
*In the current school year, the FMES is closed while an addition is being built. The HFIS is housing pre-kindergarten through sixth grade while seventh and eighth graders are located in O’Neill High School.