
Middle & Elementary Grade Confusion at Upstate New York School
Is 6th grade an elementary or middle school grade? That's the dilemma one school district is currently facing in Upstate New York.
For as long as I can remember I always thought that 6th grade was considered an elementary school grade at most schools in the Hudson Valley and across New York State, but it appears that might not be the case.
School District Moves 6th Grade to Middle School in Catskill, New York
Back in 2009, the Catskill Central School District (CCSD) made the announcement that it would be moving the 6th grade from the elementary school to the middle school approximately one mile away. The grade shift was planned to happen as the school was undergoing a massive construction project. The move was successful, but nearly 16 years later the district is exploring a move back according to WTEN.
6th Grade Back to Elementary School in Catskill, NY?
According to the CCSD website, the school along with the Board of Education has approved early dismissal for all students in the district on Tuesday, January 28, so that district faculty and staff can discuss the potential move of the 6th grade back to the elementary school in detail.
Dan Wilson, the Superintendent of Schools explained the early dismissal to WTEN saying,
"This early dismissal and comprehensive timeline reflects our commitment to making well-informed, thoughtful decisions that support the growth and success of our students. By dedicating time to collaborative analysis and planning, we aim to thoroughly explore how this potential shift could enhance our learning environments and benefit our school community as a whole.”
Are Parents in Favor of a Shift?
Wilson first presented the grade "shift" to the school board in December and then followed it with a survey of current fifth-grade parents. The survey was held in order to receive feedback from the parents that this decision would affect most.
SEE ALSO: New York Colleges See Something for The First Time in 15 Years
Those results have yet to be made public, but since then school officials have also been meeting with teaching staff in the elementary and middle schools, as well as members of the Catskill Teachers Association to discuss the possible change.
If any school district parent hasn't shared their input regarding the shift the district is hosting a parent forum on Tuesday, January 21st at the Catskill Elementary School Library at 770 Embought Road
Catskill, NY.
Early Dismissal at Catskill Schools
On January 28th students at the middle school and high school will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m., elementary students at 1:30 p.m. The district is planning to use the early dismissal for meetings between faculty, and CSEA union members along with additional meetings with faculty from each building.
The district has said that its plans for the grade shift would be available as soon as possible but haven't been released yet. When they are available we will update this article.
10 Retailers That Closed the Most Stores in 2024
Gallery Credit: Google Maps
New York's 15 Most Popular Grocery Stores
Gallery Credit: Getty Images/Canva
More From 97.7/97.3 The Wolf








