MCS Principals Give Their "State of the School"

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Central School secondary and elementary school principals recently gave their annual "state of the school" mid-year reports.

Junior and senior high school Principal Matthew Sloane told school board members at their February meeting that the school year has been fast moving and a lot has been done.

He noted that the continued academic overview of the school includes: diverse and robust course offering to enhance the individual pathways for all students; standards-based instruction with an

emphasis on skill development; focus on clear and purposeful daily objectives, lessons and assessments; and changing instructional priorities to meet the changes in state assessments.

MCS seventh and eight graders are doing very well compared to the state average according to the state exams with more MCS students scoring in the upper two levels.

Seventh and eighth graders are struggling a bit in the math exam but more are moving from the lower levels to the upper levels, he added. He noted that the math results are slightly lower since accelerated students did not take the eighth grade exam.

Mr. Sloane also outlined the results from state Regents exams.

MCS students are still very strong in Earth Science, English, living environment, physics, and algebra II results but are struggling in algebra, and geometry.

For the first time in several years, mid-term exams were given at MCS, Mr. Sloane noted.

Any student in a class that ends with a Regents took a mid-term during the week of January 20 to 23, he said. 

Overall the response was overwhelmingly positive, Mr. Sloane noted. "Students were serious and prepared," and the data shows where they need to focus for the remainder of the school year and there were lessons learned.

He also noted that 67 percent of students made either Merit Roll, Honor Roll or High Honor Roll for the second quarter.

Academic goals include: Literacy instruction, focus on skill-based instruction, utilize academic coaching, individualized student support teams, and AI innovations.

AI Uses In Administration include evaluations and Dignity for All Students Act.

Future planning includes: Evaluate staffing needs as teachers retire, plan for the change to a Portrait of a Graduate, continue to advance Distance Learning Catalog, make adjustments to school policies as directives from the state and federal government change, and develop teacher and students AI competencies to compete and be leaders in the field of education.

In the elementary school, Principal Amy Irwin said the school's theme is continuous improvement.

She noted that all the spring state tests will be on computers.

In the English exams, fourth graders finished above the state average for proficiency among grades three to six. In the math exams, no grade finished above the state average for proficiency. These scores were for the 2024-25 state assessments.

Students have progressed in math, she said, though the percentage of proficient students is lower than the state average.

She did note that in-school assessments showed that the number of students above or at grade level in math has increased from the fall to the winter.

Ms. Irwin added that in the first quarter, 41 students made High Honors, 31 made the Honor roll. The 72 students is 54 percent of students in grades four through six. In the second quarter, 53 made High Honors and 34 made the honor roll. The 87 students is 65 percent of the enrollment in grades four to six.

Events in the school included: monthly Character Education assemblies: recognizing individual students and whole classes who demonstrate the trait of the month; traditional events: Fire Prevention Day, Halloween Parade, Veterans Day Ceremony, Holiday Sing Along, Winter Concert, Spelling Bee; and special events: Literacy Glow Night, Baby Lamb Visit, and Odyssey of the Mind Showcase.

Field trips started in October with careful planning by staff members at the end of last year, Ms. Irwin said.

MES students visited or will visit the following places this year: Ellms Family Farm, Farmer’s Museum, Mine Kill, Iroquois Museum, Camp Oswegatchie, Art Omi, Huyck Preserve, Clark's Sports Center, Great Escape, Proctor’s Theater, NYS Museum, Legoland, Bring on the Spectrum, Long Path, Thatcher Park, Via Port Aquarium, and the Erie Canal.

Future planning includes: Readiness conversations, continued exploration of AI, behavioral supports, and scheduling staffing for 2026-27.