The Spackenkill Union Free School District, also known as Spackenkill School District, is a New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 school district

School district

School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...

 in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York

Poughkeepsie (town), New York

Poughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...

.

History of Spackenkill

The Spackenkill Union Free School District was chartered by the New York State Legislature in 1865 and is one of about 130 remaining union free school districts within the state. The uniqueness of remaining independent without centralization with other districts has helped Spackenkill remain a small and close-knit school district.

The name Spackenkill stems from Spack's Creek. Spackenkill is a Dutch interpretation of the Native American phrase "speaking waters", which was given to a noisy stream running through Spackenkill Road, located just across the street from the present Croft Corners Fire Company.

The district's first school building was on the site of the present firehouse and was built in 1866 or 1867. It was a traditional one-room schoolhouse built of bricks brought from Holland as ballast in sailing vessels.

Beginning in 1912, older pupils were sent outside the district to continue their education. By 1920 the one-room schoolhouse was overcrowded with an enrollment of 55 pupils, and plans were made for a new building. In 1926 classes met in two rooms of the new building.

In the 1940s, population growth made it imperative for the district to increase its facilities. An addition was built on Spackenkill School (later renamed the Martha W. Lawrence School) and property was purchased to allow for further expansion. The Croft Road Junior High School (later renamed the Orville A. Todd Junior High School) opened in 1959. In 1993, it become the Orville A. Todd Middle School. Rapid population growth made the purchase of two additional sites advisable. One site was the location of the Nassau Elementary School, which opened in 1962. Hagan Elementary School was built on the second site in 1962. In 1967, the residents passed, by an overwhelming majority, a referendum to purchase land for a high school. Construction began in 1970, and Spackenkill High School

Spackenkill High School

-History:Spackenkill Union Free School District was chartered by the New York State Legislature in 1865 and is one of the few remaining union free school districts within the state. The name Spackenkill stems from Spack's Creek...

 graduated its first class in 1974.

Elementary schools

The Spackenkill district hosts two primary schools containing grades Kindergarten to 5: Nassau Elementary School and Hagan Elementary School. Nassau Elementary School is run by principal Barbara Craft Reiss and houses about 230 students, while Hagan Elementary School contains approximately 525 students is run by Dr. Eileen Sicina. Nassau serves the population on the west side of U.S. Route 9, and Hagan serves the east side.

Middle school

The students of the two elementary schools attend Orville A. Todd Middle School starting in the sixth grade. The school was named after the founder of the district, Orville A. Todd. Its principal is Steven Malkischer. It serves grades 6-8.

High school

Students attend Spackenkill High School

Spackenkill High School

-History:Spackenkill Union Free School District was chartered by the New York State Legislature in 1865 and is one of the few remaining union free school districts within the state. The name Spackenkill stems from Spack's Creek...

 starting in grade 9. This school serves grades 9-12. It is located near Vassar College

Vassar College

Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...

, Marist College

Marist College

Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...

, and Dutchess Community College

Dutchess Community College

Dutchess Community College is one of 30 community colleges within the State University of New York system . The College, located in Dutchess County, is situated on on a hill above Poughkeepsie, New York...

. Its principal is Paul M. Fanuele and the vice principal is Mike Murphy. Its soccer team won the state championship in 2007. Its baseball team won the district's first state championship in 2005.

NYS math scores

In the district, 35 percent of the 136 third graders passed the New York State Math Test. In the fourth grade 132 students were tested and 16 percent of them passed. In the fifth grade 123 students were tested and 90 percent of them passed. In the sixth grade 33% of the 139 tested passed their New York State Math Test. There were 129 seventh graders tested and 25 percent passed. One hundred forty-five eighth graders were tested and 15% passed.

NYS ELA scores

In the district, 35% of the 133 third graders tested passed the ELA test. One hundred twenty-five fourth graders in the district were tested and 20% passed the ELA test. Of the 134 fifth graders tested 21% passed the ELA test. One hundred thirty-one sixth graders were tested and 40% passed. Of the 143 seventh graders tested 18% passed. One hundred fifty-seven eighth graders were tested and 28% passed.

Activities

The more popular sports in the school district include football, basketball, soccer, crew, tennis, and baseball. There are approximately 25 clubs, mostly at the middle and high school. Clubs include Youth Leadership, Student Government, LEO Club, National Honor Club, and Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...

. Recent field trips have included SHARPE, Albany, and Washington, D.C. The music department includes band, strings, a jazz band, and percussion.