About Us

The District’s Commitment to Excellence for all students is unapologetic and unwavering. The Goals of the Shenendehowa Central School District are ambitious and aspirational. The educational experience is planned and intended to be engaging and responsive to informational changes, students’ interests, and emerging opportunities. Equity in opportunities and outcomes is the core endeavor. 

All resources, processes, and initiatives are focused on supporting the perpetual activation of the Mission; yielding the mindset, dispositions, and capacities to create and execute plans that are relevant, flexible, and engaging. The Shenendehowa Learning Community is focused on the following:

  • Engagement – empowerment of student voice and choice, inspiring a passion for learning
  • Innovation – personally relevant learning opportunities, yielding critical and innovative thinkers
  • Cultural Competence – seeking equity in opportunities and outcomes
  • Globally Competent – self-directed,  civic-minded learners
  • Collective Work and Responsibility – fostering school and community partnerships

In all that we endeavor to do and achieve, three questions drive our deliberations and decisions, assessing needs through an equity lens:

  • Inclusive: What else can we do to make the school and classroom experience more relevant?
  • Diverse: How can we be more responsive to cultural shifts and capitalize on emerging changes?
  • Axiomatic: What else do we need to do to ensure equity in outcomes, all students succeeding and realizing their full potential? 

The Shenendehowa Learning Framework sets the quality standard for curriculum, instruction, and assessment, centered around the personal experience of students. Students are at the center.  A quality instructional program promotes learning and a strong foundation for adult life.  A focus on students includes ensuring safety, belonging, cultural relevance, and intellectual and social engagement. 

The district is steadfastly Committed to Excellence, meaning the maximization of the talents of all employees and the cultivation of learning experiences that brings out the genius in every student.

Shenendehowa Central Schools covers approximately 86 square miles serving families from the communities of Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Ballston Lake, Round Lake, Malta and parts of Waterford, Rexford, Mechanicville and Stillwater.

Approximately 9,850 students attend eight elementary schools (gr. K-5), three middle schools (gr. 6-8) and a high school (gr. 9-12). Shenendehowa is one of the largest central schools in the area.

Nine of the twelve schools, an aquatic center and a bus garage are located on a 232-acre campus in Clifton Park, New York. There are four neighborhood elementary schools and a district office located off campus.

Traditionally, the schools were named with Iroquois words. Shenendehowa, for example, means “great plains.”

Shenendehowa has more than one million square feet of building space, 357 acres of grounds, 52 playing fields, a bus fleet with more than 200 buses and 20 miles of roadways and parking lots.

Mission

To work continuously and in partnership with the community to ensure that all students develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities and character needed to live useful, productive and rewarding lives.

Values & Beliefs…defining HOW and WHY our students learn

Students learn best:

  • when adults care about them and act as positive and inspiring role models
  • when they are psychologically and cognitively available, engaged (methods of instruction are responsive to their needs) and learning at the highest level
  • when self-directed learning is cultivated; pedagogical practices are modernized; and learning is contextualized
  • when the content is personally and globally relevant, incorporates students’ cultural backgrounds and taught by motivated and well-prepared staff
  • when clear and consistent academic and behavioral expectations are communicated and understood
  • when their individual strengths and efforts are acknowledged and celebrated, and specific and timely feedback on their learning is provided lending to growth and improvement
  • in a culturally-responsive and inclusive school community where respect and civility are modeled by all
  • in a safe environment that promotes and facilitates positive mental health and wellness
  • when their families are encouraged and supported in taking an active and collaborative role in their education and they are provided with basic human needs (i.e. shelter, nutrition)
  • in schools that are clean, well equipped, safe, inviting and conducive to learning
  • when school personnel actively and intentionally form meaningful relationships

 

Profile of Shenendehowa Students…defining WHAT our students must learn to live and lead in a global community

The Profile of a Shenendehowa Elementary Student, Middle School Student, High School Graduate and Employee identifies in broad terms what all students/staff must be able to demonstrate upon completion of each level. Shenendehowa Profiles