COLONIE — More than 1,400 people responded to a survey sent out by the South Colonie School District.
Just over 45 percent think the quality of the district’s educational program is above average while 32.28 percent think it is average. A little more than 17 percent think it is excellent and less than 5 percent think it is below average or unacceptable.
Respondents were asked to weigh in on what they are most proud of about the district and asked to pick all that apply from a number of categories.
The majority, 66.35 percent, picked district’s educational opportunities while 56.66 percent picked the arts and 38.88 percent picked athletics. Just 16 percent are proud of the facilities.
The next question asked respondents to pick three areas most important to them and more than half, 51.45 percent, said maintaining or expanding advanced placement/college credit court offerings. More than 45 percent picked maintaining high school electives and 39 percent said maintaining/expanding enrichment programs for students in K-eighth grade.
The district then asked residents to rate the quality of six district programs/services. The arts got the highest rating with 61.68 percent saying they were excellent or above average. Enrichment opportunities and athletics were a close second and third with 46.52 and 45.82, respectively, rating them excellent or above average.
More than half, 51 percent, say they get most their information from the district website and 47.35 percent say stay informed about district happenings through a school district notifier or the subscription based email blasts. They were allowed to pick more than one source and the survey found 44.8 percent got information from the student body.
Nearly 19 percent get their information from the district’s Facebook page and nearly 14 percent from local media sources.
By a large majority, 75 percent of the respondents were residents of the district and nearly half had children attending district schools.
Nearly 32 percent of respondents were between the ages of 40 and 49 and 21.22 percent were between 50 and 59.
“It certainly wasn’t a scientific survey but we did get some insight on what we are doing well and what we need to improve upon,” said Superintendent John Buhner.
