From the complex New York City School System to the small rural community schools, New York State's elementary schools are top-notch. Many elementary schools are on the cutting edge of technology and curriculum, offering computer skills, foreign languages and science labs to its learners. Employing thousands of professionals, teachers and administrators, the elementary schools are full of quality staff and constantly provide professional development and growth. Governed by the New York State Education Department, the elementary schools follow the strict New York State standards for education and performance assessments are among the most demanding in the nation. The rigorous standards and preparation are what make New York State elementary schools stand out among the competition, earning many awards and recognitions nationally.
The curriculum in New York State's elementary schools focuses on the main subjects—math, language arts, science and social studies—as well as the arts and physical education. The community is encouraged to interact with the elementary schools and every building has a Parent Teacher Association for inviting parents to be involved in their child's schooling. The goal of the elementary schools is to provide the very best education for their students and give them the preparation they need to pass on to middle school, high school and beyond. By creating loving and safe learning environments, the elementary schools in New York State set the stage for making bright and responsible citizens out of their children.