Jamestown High School senior, Spencer Higbee, works on a problem during Chris Maggio’s Elementary Statistics class. Elementary Statistics is one of the many JCC College Connections courses offered to JHS students to help them receive college credit while still attending high school.

At Jamestown Public Schools, high-quality, well-rounded education is top priority.

“We have such a great opportunity to take so many AP and college-level courses, which will help us both in college and our careers, says JHS Senior Kaitlin Healy. “Students can get a head start on college credits, which can help financially. People often say that extracurricular opportunities take away from academics but I don’t believe that is true. I think they help enrich your academics. For example, music gives you a place to relax but also gives you opportunities that you might not otherwise have experienced, like trips to Chicago or Washington, D.C.,”

Kaitlin has taken numerous AP courses, has been a member of the Concert Band, Marching Band, Orchestra and A Cappella, as well as the Tennis Team, Key Club, co-president of National Honor Society, Environmental Club and Raider Readers.

“I think it’s neat that at Jamestown Schools you start small at your elementary school, in my case Bush Elementary, and then head to a bigger middle school, like Jefferson, and gradually build to going to a larger school, Jamestown High School,” she says. “You meet so many diverse people and have new experiences at each level. But even though JHS is a bigger school, it allows you to build a smaller community through joining extracurricular activities. The JHS Academies also put you with like-minded people who are interested in the careers and things that you are interested in, making it easier to foster relationships.”

Kaitlin represents one of the nearly 5,000 students Jamestown Public Schools is committed to providing a high-quality, well-rounded education. During the 2017-18 Budget process, this was the Board of Education’s number one commitment. Here are some of the ways JPS is meeting that goal:

¯ Most Robust Academic High School Program in the Area.

¯ Qualified & Exceptional Teaching & Support Staff

¯ Well-Rounded Universal Prekindergarten Program

¯ JPS Community Pride, Service & Collaboration

¯ JPS offers 10 Advanced Placement courses and 22 college-level courses.

¯ Six academies at Jamestown High School increase engagement and better define academic and career pathways for students.

¯ 42 JHS students received AP Scholar Recognition.

¯ JHS’ Matt Leon was named a National Merit Scholar Finalist and Nathalie Eckstrom and Madison Card were named Commended Students in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

¯ JHS senior, Matt Leon, will attend Vanderbilt University on a full scholarship worth approximately $65,000 each year.

¯ Two JHS seniors, Bradley Brown and Spencer Higbee, were awarded the Kelly/Kaminski Chemistry Achievement Award from SUNY Fredonia, totaling $32,000.

¯ JHS Videography students won 2nd place in the video production competition at the University at Buffalo High School Youth Film Festival and 1st place at the STEM Wars Video Production Competition for Public Service Announcements.

¯ JHS senior Bradley Brown has been accepted into the Early Assurance BS/MD program with SUNY Fredonia and Upstate Medical University.

¯ JHS Principal, Mike McElrath, and Paraprofessional, Val Hagglund, were honored with the WNY Educational Service Council’s Awards of Excellence for their service to the district.

¯ 25 certified reading teachers in the elementary and middle schools support reading development, exclusively.

¯ Ring Elementary School first grade teacher, Brandi Meacham, received the NYS Excellence in Teaching Award from Governor Andrew Cuomo.

¯ Julie Poppleton, from JPS’ Office of Extended Learning, Family & Community Engagement, received the United Way Volunteer Appreciation Award for her work with the Jamestown Community Learning Council.

¯ Award-winning Extracurricular Programs, including Music and Art.

¯ JPS, in collaboration with Chautauqua Institution and Chautauqua Lake School District, participated in the Kennedy Center’s “Partners in Education” art integration program at Ring Elementary School; one of only 10 districts from across the country invited to participate in this prestigious program to increase students’ exposure to the arts.

¯ JHS Marching Band moved to the National Class.

¯ Four JHS music students, Mackenzie Abbey, Amelia Dolce, Matthew Leon & Cameron Lydell were selected for NYSSMA Conference All-State Ensembles.

¯ 14 JHS music students were selected for NYSSMA Zone 1 Area All-State Ensembles.

¯ 63 JHS band and chorus students were selected for CCMTA All-County Ensembles.

¯ 54 JHS band students participated in the CCMTA Solo & Ensemble festival in Fredonia.

¯ 50 JHS music students participated in the NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble festival in April.

¯ JHS Senior Matt Leon placed 1st in the NYS Optimist Oratorical Competition.

¯ JHS junior, Gavin Card, won first place in the Western New York Regional Poetry Out Loud competition.

¯ Four Jamestown High School artists, Elise Blomquist, Grace Osborne, Emily Walsh and Sierra Fish participated in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts Juried High School Art Show.

¯ JHS artists, Shine Deharder and Brianna Raymond, had artwork selected for the Albright-Knox Future Curator Exhibition from among 700 submitted works throughout Western New York and Canada.

¯ Fletcher Elementary School 1st grader Brynn Ribbing’s play won the Under 6 category in the Florida Studio Theatre’s Young Playwright Festival out of 3,600 international entries. Professional actors in Florida will perform her play.

¯ Premier Athletic Program with 23 JHS Boys and Girls Varsity Sports

¯ Eight JHS Athletic teams received the NYS Scholar-Athlete Team Award.

¯ 30 students were named All-WNY Scholar Athlete.

¯ JHS’ Allie Stockwell attended State Championships for Girls Swimming.

¯ JHS Boys Basketball won their 7th consecutive league championship and their 18th title, overall.

¯ JHS Boys Basketball player, James Rojas, scored 1,190 points (#4 in school history) and was named 1st Team All-WNY and 5th Team All-State.

¯ Unparalleled After School Program

¯ JPS was awarded the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant from the New York State Department of Education for a five-year period, yielding nearly $3 million dollars.

¯ Highly effective, well-established partnerships with YMCA, YWCA, Chautauqua Striders, Jamestown Community Learning Council and other community-based organizations have provided service to our community’s children and their families during critical out-of-school hours for more than a decade.

¯ JPS provides Universal Prekindergarten for three and four-year-old children in all elementary schools and at community sites through partnerships with local agencies. Over the past year, through a state grant, JPS has served over 450 full-day UPK students across the district.

¯ Over the past 37 years, JHS has raised over $250,000 for local organizations and charities, including $12,715 at this year’s Battle of the Classes for the Alex Foulk Foundation. Every Jamestown school provides a community service component to give back to their community, donating thousands of dollars each school year.

¯ Strong community partnerships with local organizations to benefit our students’ achievement include: YMCA, YWCA, Chautauqua Striders, Boys and Girls Club, Infinity Performing Arts Program, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Health, Chautauqua Tapestry, Family Service of the Chautauqua Region, Jamestown Community Learning Council, Hispanic Community Council, The Resource Center, CASAC, JCC, SUNY Fredonia, St. Bonaventure University, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, United Way, Gebbie Foundation, Sheldon Foundation, Lenna Foundation, Carnahan Jackson Foundation, Jamestown Business College, JPS PROMISE Fund, The Cummins Foundation and Girl Scouts of WNY.