This Poughkeepsie School Recognized With Top New Honor

It's nice to be able to share positive news now and then when so much of the news coverage these days has been everything but that.

A Hudson Valley high school, the only one selected in Dutchess County and only one of 19 across New York State was recently recognized with a major educational honor.

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Exemplary High Performing School Recognition

Since 1982 schools have been honored by the U.S. Department of Education, primarily through the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, for being among America's most successful.

A National Blue Ribbon School's flag waving overhead has become a trademark of excellence, a symbol of quality recognized by everyone from parents to policymakers in thousands of communities.

While the National Blue Ribbon School designation was discontinued effective August 2025 by the current administration in favor of state-based recognition, here in the Hudson Valley, one of our own has received an esteemed recognition of the same caliber as the former Blue Ribbon designation.

A highly regarded designation for schools that rank top in their state for academic achievement, the designation of 'exemplary high performing school' is measured by state or national assessments, and one Poughkeepsie high school has received this honor.

SEE ALSO: More Than 20 New York Schools Named Best In America

Spackenkill High School Honored At Board Of Education Meeting

On Tuesday November 18th, County Executive Sue Serino and New York State Senator Rob Rolison joined the Spackenkill High School community of faculty and students to celebrate their recent designation.

Congratulations to Spackenkill High School on being named an Exemplary High Performing School, akin to the former National Blue Ribbon Award, which the school won in 2018.

The Spackenkill Union Free School District is located in the Town of Poughkeepsie, and on the smaller side when compared to other local school districts. Comprised of two elementary schools, Nassau and Hagan, Orville A. Todd Middle School, and then Spackenkill High School, the district as a whole has an estimated total of 1500 students.