Mission Statement
The Menands School District, in partnership with students, teachers, parents and the community, is committed to excellence. We prepare students to excel in all areas of learning, encourage them to respect cultural diversity, and expect them to become valued members of society. We strive to develop life-long learners within a safe, nurturing and supportive environment. By creating innovative, well-balanced programs that challenge the unique abilities of all students, we are able to nurture each child’s potential. We are educating the leaders of tomorrow and believe that children come first.
District Vision
The Menands School will continue to build a top performing learning community where students discover and reach their individual potential through robust and challenging programs that maximize the personal connections that can be achieved in a small school environment.
Our School
The school offers an ideal learning environment for all students. A small school atmosphere, individual attention, a diverse student body, and community support are just some of the things that make Menands unique. The district is proud to provide students with a strong academic program in core subjects that establishes the foundation for their success in high school, college, and careers. Menands students benefit from full-day kindergarten, accelerated courses in eighth-grade math and science, Spanish starting in kindergarten, and computer technology, library, art, music, and physical education/health at every grade level. Additionally, Menands now offers pre-K to our young learners, in collaboration with the Colonie Youth Center.
The staff consists of 31 teachers, 14 non-instructional personnel, a superintendent, and a principal.
In addition to the traditional academic courses, the district offers four extramural sports for middle school students, a wide range of clubs for students in grades one through eight, two drama productions each year, and band and instrumental lessons starting in fifth grade.
Our Community
On the western bank of the Hudson River, the Village of Menands, with a population of 3,940, encompasses a total area of three square miles. It is located within the Town of Colonie, and north of the City of Albany.
Downtown Albany, steeped in history and home to the State Capitol, the Empire State Plaza, and the NYS Museum, is just minutes away. Within a short drive, residents can visit a premiere shopping mall or enjoy a picnic in one of the many local and state parks. More than a dozen colleges and universities are nearby, including the State University of New York at Albany, The Sage Colleges, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Historic Saratoga Springs, home of the famous Saratoga Thoroughbred Race Track, lies less than an hour north on the way to the Adirondack Mountains. Montreal, Boston and New York City are all within a few hours’ drive.