Adding to its list of academic successes, the Skaneateles CSD has been ranked fifth in the entire Upstate New York area — and second in the Syracuse region — in a new academic rankings study released by Buffalo Business First on Oct. 27.
The rankings, which reflect the collective performance of each district’s public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, were based on studies of 431 public school districts in the 48 counties of Upstate New York.
“It’s really a nice credit,” Skaneateles Schools Superintendent Phil D’Angelo said of the ranking. “The thing I like about it is that it ranks the entire district, while most other rankings are based only on high school performance. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire staff, K through 12, district-wide.”
Buffalo Business First has issued annual performance ratings for Western New York schools since 1992, using raw data from the New York State Education Department.
Each district was rated on its students’ annual performances on 21 Regents exams and statewide tests during the period of 2007 through 2010. Final scores are based on analysis of 172 statistical indicators for each district: two results per test, 21 tests per year, for four years, plus the four years of Regents diploma rates.
Ten percent of each district’s rating was determined by the percentage of graduates who earned Regents diplomas, with special emphasis on diplomas with advanced designations. Another 50 percent was based on its high school students’ scores on Regents exams in 13 subjects: English, French, Latin, German, Spanish, integrated algebra, mathematics B (or geometry), earth science, living environment, chemistry, physics, global history and U.S. history. The final 40 percent was based on eight elementary and middle school tests: English, math and science for fourth graders, social studies for fifth graders, and the same four subjects for eighth graders.
Skaneateles ranked No. 5 in the entire Upstate area, outranked by Pittsford, Fayetteville-Manlius, Brighton and Williamsville. The district ranked No. 2 in the Syracuse region, behind only Fayetteville-Manlius.
“We’re appreciative of any positive recognition we can get,” said Skaneateles Board of Education President Evan Dreyfuss. “For all of our staff, administrators, students, parents, community members and board members, this is what we strive for and what we’re focused on.”
In the five separate academic subjects evaluated in the study, Skaneateles ranked second in science, fifth in English/foreign languages, sixth in mathematics and 13th in social studies.
The full report online is available on the Buffalo Business First website.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at editor@skaneatelespress.com.
