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5.0 Community Facilities & Services

The quality, supply and variety of a community's services and facilities are important to the overall quality of life a community can offer its residents. Education, emergency services, recreational opportunities and cultural enrichment have a substantial impact on the appeal of a community as a place to live. This chapter explores the resources available to residents in the Village of Pittsford, including historic resources, educational facilities, libraries, emergency services, recreational facilities and social services.

5.2 Education

5.2.1 Public Schools

Public education for Village of Pittsford children is provided by the Pittsford Central School District. The district also serves students from the Towns of Pittsford and some bordering portions of Perinton, Penfield, Victor, Mendon, Henrietta and Brighton. In 1999-2000, 5,741 students attended classes throughout the District. There are three school district facilities in or near the Village:

• The district administrative offices are located in the historical Lomb House at Jefferson Road and Sutherland Street.

• Jefferson Road Elementary opened in 1959, is located just south of the Village line. All of the Village south of the Norfolk Southern Railroad attends Jefferson Road School.

• Sutherland High School was opened in 1952 to accommodate the centralization of the district. The school was enlarged in the 1960's and 1980's. The school is one of the important community institutions located in the Village. The district is presently considering relocating the high school program to a district-owned site in the southwest portion of the Town of Pittsford outside the Village.

5.2.2 Teaching Staff

The Pittsford Central School District employs approximately 482 teachers, 312 of which have permanent teaching certification for New York State. The district's median teaching salary is $55,541, higher than the Monroe County average of $48,011. Pittsford teachers had an average of 16.6 years of teaching experience, higher than the Monroe County average of 12.2 years and slightly higher than the State average of 16.0 years.

5.2.3 Facilities

The Pittsford Central School District operates eight educational facilities. The Pittsford Sutherland High School (grades 9-12) is located at 55 Sutherland Street in the Village. As of this writing, the current schools and configurations are as follows: Jefferson Road Elementary (grades K-5) located at 15 School Lane, Mendon Center Elementary (grades K-5) located at 110 Mendon Center Road, Park Road Elementary (grades K-5) located at 50 Park Road, Thornell Road Elementary (grades K-5) located at 431 Thornell Road, Pittsford Middle School (grades 6-8) located 75 Barker Road and Pittsford Mendon High School (grades 9-12) located at 472 Mendon Road are all located in the Town of Pittsford. Allen Creek Elementary (grades K-5) at 3188 East Avenue is located in the Town of Brighton and serves the northern quadrant of the Village north of the Norfolk/Southern Railroad.

The School District Facilities Plan has been an issue in the community for the past several years. A key decision for the school district is whether to renovate Sutherland High School or build a new facility outside of the Village and convert the Sutherland building to a middle school. The use of the Sutherland Street school facility as a high school is an important element in the strategic directions supported by the Village Comprehensive Plan to retain important public and private institutions within its core. The school district's decision will impact the character and vitality of the Village as the cultural and business center of the Pittsford community.

The Village's role as Pittsford's traditional downtown requires that the community's anchor institutions that bring people together, must be retained. Renovation is evidence of the on-going health of our downtown and our community. Facilities such as stadiums, arts centers, museums and urban academic campuses are regularly built, renovated, or offered incentives as valued elements in urban plans. The loss of such facilities can result in a reduction of retail business, a cycle of dis-investment, and decline. The high school represents a specific population that is an important part of the fabric of the Village. High school activities are significantly different from those of other grade levels. Changing or removing that "character" would have an adverse affect on the Village.

Regional census projections indicate that the school age population will decline in the coming years. When that occurs, the Pittsford Central School District may be faced with consolidation or closure of facilities. An investment to renovate and appropriately expand Sutherland High School will ensure for decades to come its role as Pittsford's flagship high school. The stability of this vital anchor will affirm the on-going status and health of the (Village's) core community.

5.2.4 Fiscal Information

The Pittsford District expends approximately $11,223 per student, which is higher than the State public school average of $9,321 but slightly less than the Rochester School District at $11,245.

5.2.5 Average Class Size and Student/Teacher Ratios

Average class size in the Pittsford Central School District is approximately 22 students per class for kindergarten to 5th grade, 26 students per class for 6th grade to 8th grade and 22 students per class for 9th grade to 12th grade. High school math and science classes are usually smaller. Smaller class sizes allow for more individualized instruction.

5.2.6 Student Performance

The number of June 1997 Regents exams taken was 3,073. The percent of students passing exams ranged from 90% to 99%. Pittsford Central School passing rates are equal to and above State, County and similar school reference groups for all Regents examinations.

A total of 82% of Pittsford high school seniors earned a New York State Regents Diploma in 1999-2000. This rate was considerably higher than the State average of 43%. A total of 94% of Pittsford students entered college. The college attendance rate for Monroe County was 65% to 94%.

5.2.7 Drop-Out Rates

In 1999-2000, 0.2% of Pittsford students dropped out of school. This figure is lower than both the County and State drop out rates of 3.8% and 4.1%, respectively.

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