The Bethlehem Central School District has been ranked sixth in overall educational performance out of 431 upstate school districts.
The districts were rated by Buffalo-based publication Business First in its fifth annual school district ratings. This is the third year Bethlehem has been in the Top 10 and it is the highest place rank for the district.
Bethlehem started at Number 12 in 2011.
“I am extremely proud of the collaborative work our faculty and staff puts forth in educating our students,” said Superintendent Thomas Douglas. ”Despite the rhetoric and politics at the State Capitol that could dampen the spirits of anyone in our profession, the commitment of educators in Bethlehem to move students forward on the path to success is, in my opinion, second to none.”
Each district’s rank reflects the collective performance of its elementary, middle and high schools from 2011 to 2014, the most recent four-year period for which comprehensive statistics are available from the New York State Education Department. The rating formula has 200 components, ranging from English and math tests for third graders up to the full complement of Regents exams for high schoolers.
“While proud of the steady growth Bethlehem enjoys in these rankings, no one list can paint a complete picture of what a quality education looks like in 2015,” said Douglas. “What I see every day are teachers who are able to connect with students, administrators and staff who provide an enriching learning environment, and a community that values education above all else.”
Bethlehem was the only district in the Capital District to be ranked in the Top 10.
