Summer school is no longer for just middle and high school students who have to repeat a subject. Today many area schools use the summer for a proactive approach to education, many times preparing students for the grades they will be entering in the fall.
Scotia-Glenville’s summer program has expanded over the past several years, offering programs at many different levels.
District officials tout the summer programs as part of the reason the district scores so well in state exams.
Communications Director Bob Hanlon said that for the first time, one of the teachers, Pete Rizzo, will host his summer program at the middle school.
Hanlon said for the past several years, the program has been at Oneida Middle School in Schenectady and prior to that, it was held in Scotia.
We have summer AIS (Academic Intervention Services) classes at the four elementary schools. That is invitation-only and typically is only for kids who have done poorly on state tests, said Hanlon.
The district also offers a summer elementary and middle school special education program at Lincoln.
Hanlon said the summer school typically enrolls around 100 kids, not including those in driver’s education, which is offered at the high school.
The district still has openings for its summer driver’s education sessions, which is offered at a lower cost than a privately run driving school.
Recently the district was named a `high performing/gap closing school district` by the state education department on Thursday, June 5. Locally, only the Niskayuna, Schalmont and Cohoes school districts received the same recognition, according to the state Department of Education.
The recognition means that Scotia-Glenville met all applicable state standards on English language arts and mathematics standardized tests in 2004-2005 and made adequate yearly progress in both 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 on all applicable English language arts, mathematics, and science and graduation rate criteria.
The Capital District Business Review ranked
Scotia-Glenville as the 19th top district out of 85 local school districts. Last year, Scotia-Glenville ranked 13th.
Those honors are all part of what Superintendent Susan Swartz calls a districtwide success.
`When a school district is recognized for its success and its commitment to improvement. It is really something that is a combined effort from administration, staff, parents and students,` said Swartz.
Swartz said she does believe that finding those students who need extra help and providing that in the summer months is crucial. She also said it is just as important to provide opportunities to those who want to `get ahead` in the summer.
For information on the district’s summer programs and state scores, visit www.sgcsd.net.
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