Welcome to our community

Choosing a community in which to live is one of the most important decisions a family can make.

Community can be defined as a sharing of common characteristics, talents, and interests. The sharing that has made our school district a community didn't begin or end with different events or activities — it is something that is ongoing and continues to thrive on a daily basis. The interests we share are our school district, its children and the common characteristics of concerned people working together throughout the year by participating in school events, school board meetings, volunteer activity in classrooms, adult education courses, recreational and humanities events in our schools.

Community implies a give and take relationship, and regardless of our position in the Voorheesville community, whether we are parents, teachers, senior citizens or non-parents, it is our children that bind us together. They are our future and they are the reason why we work to provide the level of excellence in education found here in the Voorheesville community.

To see one example of how the community and school district work in conjunction with each other, visit the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation web site.

The Community

The Community had its beginnings as a railroad town along the Albany-Schoharie Railroad. In 1826, the Village of Voorheesville built its first school on a ¼ acre lot with a budget of $30. Once this area was dependent upon agriculture and small factories for its economic base. Most of the employment opportunities now exist in the Albany, Schenectady, and surrounding suburban areas. The district is 39 square miles in size and lies entirely within Albany County, mainly in the Towns of Berne, Guilderland and New Scotland. Even though the district is located within a short distance of major highways, rail and air transportation networks, it enjoys the peace and tranquility of the Helderberg Mountains where opportunities for outdoor recreation activities abound. Several cultural and educational centers are nearby including: New York State Theater and Museums, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Proctor’s Theater and the Pepsi Arena. There are local and professional sports teams. Sixteen local colleges and universities offer a wide range of educational opportunities.

The School-Community Connection

The Voorheesville Central School District is dedicated to excellence in education. Realizing that education is not an isolated activity allotted solely to the school during school hours, we have tried to build a powerful network or school-community partnerships which are jointly dedicated to providing the best education to the members of our community. Under the umbrella of various organizations, our district is involved in activities from 7:00 a.m. until late in the evening. Some of these committees and organizations are:

• Adult Education – Providing extensive course offerings to adults for both the Fall and Spring semesters.

• Dollars for Scholars - Supporting activities to raise scholarship money for graduating students

• Friends of Music - supporting district music activities.

• Kids’ Club - Before and after school daycare program housed at the Elementary School

• Old Songs, Inc. - Local not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of traditional music and dance.

• Parent Teacher Association (PTA) - Supporting various activities and scholarship programs.

• Site Based Teams - Parents, administrators, teachers, staff and students dedicated to improving the overall academic program.

• Sports Booster Club - Supporting the after-school athletic program.

• Voorheesville Public Library - Works closely with the district wide librarians and teaching staff

• Community Involvement - Friends to Friends (swim program with students at the Wildwood School), Senior-to-Senior (students teaching senior citizens computer skills), the Wildwood Building Project, Senior Service Projects Scouts; Brownies; Girls Scouts; Kiwanis sponsored soccer, baseball and dance programs.

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The School District at a Glance

• Voorheesville Elementary School and Clayton A. Bouton High School have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

• Enrollment as of Oct. 2006: 1,260.

• A Career Exploration Internship Program is available to 11th and 12th graders.

• Students may participate in any number of after school activities, clubs and sports.

• The Drama Club performs in a state of the art Performing Arts Center.

• Over 80% of the student body participate in extra-curricular activities.

• The High School has continually been ranked as one of the top 5 schools in the area by the Business Review.

• Kindergarten is offered as a half day program.

• The Girls' Basketball team has won the State Championship twice.

• The Boys' Soccer team has won the State Championship.

• Driver Education is offered as a behind the wheel Summer program.

• The Middle/High School houses a swimming pool that is open to the community.

• Voorheesville has an award winning Music program.

• Middle School students may study French and Spanish.

• College courses are offered through SUNY Albany and Schenectady Community College.

• The district has an integrated K-12 technology program. All classrooms are Ethernet wired for outside connection.

• The district offers courses in Digital Graphics, Communications and Media English.

• The district runs a comprehensive Adult Education program.

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Voorheesville Elementary School

129 Maple Road
PO Box 468
Voorheesville, New York 12186
(518) 765-2382
fax: 518-765-3842

The Voorheesville Elementary School is dedicated to high academic standards while nurturing the total child. With the support of a knowledgeable administration, faculty, and staff and small classes averaging 20.9 students per class, our students will be better prepared to participate in the 21st century.

The curriculum is regularly analyzed and updated to keep current with the latest academic research. The school’s results on the Grade 4 English Language Arts (ELA) and Math Exams given by the State Education Department are indicative of the rigors of the academic program and the teamwork of parents, teachers, administrators and staff.

Voorheesville Elementary School consistently scores in the top 10 of all the schools in the Capital Region. Each classroom has 5 computers with Internet access and e-mail. There is a science lab and computer lab that classes use weekly.

Special subjects (art, music, physical education, library) are 45 minutes in length and further enhance the total program. All classes are considered an integral part of the child’s total education. Chorus and Band begin in fifth grade and 90% or more of the students participate in one or both of these performing groups.

The Voorheesville Elementary School believes parents play an important part in their child’s education. Ninety-five percent of the parents attended Open House this past September, and all parents conference with their child’s teacher in November. The PTA helps to support various activities such as the Drama Club, the Elementary School Yearbook and the Fun Festival. A school Improvement Council, made up of administrators, teachers, staff and parents meets monthly.

Elementary School Activities
Intramural Sports, Student Council, Fifth Grade Band and Chorus, Drama Club, BOCES Spelling Bee, Activity Nights and Science Fair.

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Clayton A. Bouton Middle/High School

432 New Salem Road
PO Box 527
Voorheesville, New York 12186
Telephone: (518) 765-3314
Fax: (518) 765-5547

The Clayton A. Bouton Middle/High School offers a challenging and diverse program to approximately 780 students in grades 6-12. Supported by a dynamic and caring administration, faculty, and staff, students have the opportunity for acceleration, distance learning, early graduation, college study at local colleges, independent study, internships, university credit in fourth year Foreign Language classes, Statistics, Economics, Biology, Calculus, American History, World History, Statistics, Environmental Science and English Literature, as well as advanced placement courses in American History, Biology, Calculus AB, Economics, English Literature, and Environmental Science.
The majority of the students are college bound, with 90 percent of the students in the last three years attending college after graduation.

Besides graduating academically prepared students, Voorheesville strives to produce leaders who are well-rounded citizens. Extracurricular activities are valued, and our students have the opportunity to participate in our athletics program, community involvement programs and many organizations/clubs. There also is an active drama program and over 60 percent of the students are in chorus and/or band.

"A Commitment to Excellence with a Tradition of Quality" is a phrase that aptly describes the Clayton A. Bouton Middle/ High School. Here students are valued and nurtured with demands for excellence in all phases of their learning. Together parents, administrators, teachers and staff work to educate the total child.

Middle/High School School Activities
Clubs/Organizations:
Cheerleaders, Drama Club, ENVIROTHON, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), International Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, Philosophy Club, Poetry Club, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), Ski Club

Student Activities:
BOCES Spelling Bee, Colonial Council Math Contest, Colonial Council Music Festival, Gifted and Talented Program, Literary Magazine, Mock Trial Team, Natural Helpers, School Newspaper (The Helderbarker), New York State School Music Association Contest, Robert Andrews Oratorical Contest, School Store, Yearbook (The Torch), Stage Band, Select Chorus, Phoenix Club Chorus Masterminds.

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