Dows Lane Elementary School in Irvington | Kyle; AdobeStock
Community ranking aggregator Niche released its definitive marks for the best public schools in New York, and Westchester is on top.
The Westchester County public school system stands out for its cultural diversity and commitment to providing high quality education. These strengths, among others, are being recognized by Niche, which recently ranked Westchester County public schools #1 for Best Public Schools in New York State.
Read More: 5 Westchester School Districts Create Opportunities for Local Students
Niche is a site that provides rankings, reviews, and statistics on schools, companies, and places to live. By examining test scores, graduation rates, and teacher quality, Niche ranked Westchester public schools highly this year.
From principals to superintendents, Westchester public schools are administered by an exceptional group of educators and leaders.
“What’s unique about Westchester is that I’ve never worked with a more collaborative group of superintendents in my career,” Mount Vernon Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton says.
With students from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, Westchester public schools expose students to cross-cultural dialogue. This can lead to a distinct form of creativity and innovation.
“Overall, I believe that the diverse population in our county is one of Westchester’s greatest assets. Every student has something unique to offer each school community,” Peekskill Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio says.
“Furthermore, in Peekskill, I believe we have something particularly special in regards to our school-community relationships,” he adds. “The bridge formed between teachers, students, staff, families, and community partners exemplifies our ‘Peekskill Promise’ in action to meet our collective goals.”
By learning in a diverse environment, students at Westchester’s public schools obtain an exclusive, real-world experience. This can help them uncover unique ideas and points of view.
“There is a diverse group of young folks that come from a diverse group of families, which really brings multiple perspectives into the learning environment,” Principal of Alexander Hamilton High School Mr. Joseph Englehardt says. “When you have multiple perspectives and multiple cultures you are able to really get a wide range of voices in terms of learning and growing, and I think that is paramount for students because it really replicates the real world.”