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Beyond the Classroom
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Beyond
The Classroom
Student success extends far beyond academics
Our district is committed to supporting the whole child by ensuring students arrive at school safely, are nourished throughout the day, and have access to high-quality learning environments. Through reliable transportation, nutritious and inclusive food programs, and a continued focus on safety, we work to remove barriers to learning and create the conditions students need to thrive. Above all, our dedicated staff—teachers, support personnel, and administrators—are our greatest asset, providing the expertise, guidance, and care that empower every student to feel prepared, supported, and ready to succeed both in school and beyond.
Going the Extra Mile
Our Transportation Department had a remarkable 2025! From safely transporting students to schools, completing field trips and athletic trips, the team has ensured students get where they need to go. Additionally, they launched a Safe Driving Program honoring accident-free drivers and kept all routes running despite staffing shortages. This year, they also continued their holiday meal delivery and helped support our Toys for Tots events.
- Going the Distance
Our Transportation Team transported students to 62 schools, supported 326 field trips and 767 athletic trips, and safely logged more than 734K miles
- Top Marks for Safety
Seven accidents (down 50%) and a 98.04% DOT inspection rating with only three defects across 153 buses
- Celebrating Safe Driving
The department launched a Safe Driving Program, honoring drivers with 5, 10, or 15 years of accident-free service with special patches and pins
A Year of Fresh Wins
In 2025, the Food Service Department brought more fresh, local food to students. They worked with Capital Roots and the CCHS ECO Club to add school-grown produce to cafeteria menus. "New York Thursdays" highlighted seasonal fruits and vegetables from New York farms. The department also added Halal meals and put farm-to-school training into practice, making big improvements in school meals this year.
- School Meals
During the 2024–25 school year, our Food Service Department served 242,574 breakfasts and 503,537 lunches, for a total of 746,111 meals
- Summer Meals
In Summer 2025, the district provided 3,011 meals—including 1,239 breakfasts and 1,772 lunches—to students
- Our Team
made up of 35 full-time staff, 2 truck drivers, and substitutes, provides nutritious meals across all 8 buildings
Our Greatest Assest
South Colonie employees are our greatest asset. We have continued to invest in our people, strengthen collaboration, and support the work that helps every student succeed. A key focus of this work is employee retention because stable, experienced staff create consistency, strong relationships, and supportive learning environments for our students.
By prioritizing retention and tracking instructional staffing trends (2016-2026), we are able to maintain continuity in classrooms, programs, and services. This consistency allows students to build trust with the adults who support them and ensures high-quality instruction and care year after year. Investing in our employees is an investment in our students, our schools, and the future of the South Colonie community.
- Retention Rate
The retention rate for 2024-25 school year was 91.4%
- Consistency in Elementary
Elementary had the highest retention in South Colonie at 93.2% over the ten-year period from 2016 to 2026
- CCHS Displays Highest Retention Rate
Colonie Central High School led the district with a 94.78% retention rate over a ten year period from 2016 to 2026