In addition to choosing to attend the public schools in the area, some parents and students choose a private education. There are a number of private schools in the immediate area that offer education programs for a fee (tuition). There is also an active home schooling project at West Point. There are also the New York State grading and course requirements.
James I. O'Neill High School
One-third of O'Neill's student body (grades 9-12) consists of students that live on West Point. Students from the Village of Garrison, a small community located directly across the Hudson River from the Town of Highlands, also attend O'Neill High School (grades 9-12). There are seven academic periods (plus lunch and Phys. Ed./Labs) of forty-two minutes each. Lunches are available at the schools in the district. Free and/or reduced priced lunch programs are available throughout the district. Apparel for school should be neat, clean, and appropriate for a school situation. Tattered or unkempt clothing and clothing with logos that promote alcohol, drugs, or sex are not permitted.
Grading is A=90-100; B= 80-89; C= 70-79; D= 65-69 and F= 64 and below (failing). An Advanced Placement course provides 4 extra points and Honors classes 3 extra points when calculating the GPA and class rank. The Enrichment Program consists of group activities/enrichment outside the usual curriculum plus supervised mentor-guided independent study.
Summer school classes may not be offered at James I. O'Neill High School. Summer classes may be offered at neighboring high schools. Contact O'Neill's guidance office at 845-446-4914 for updated information concerning possible summer school classes. Also, the fees, if any, have not been determined at this time.
Contact the Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery School District for further information.
Private Schools
See the listings below for some of the nearby private schools.
John S. Burke Catholic High School
New York Military Academy
Storm King School
Below lists the education requirements for New York State:
MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (21 credits):
English, 4 Units
Social Studies, 4 Units
Mathematics, 2 Units
Foreign Language, 1 Unit
Science, 2 Units
Keyboarding, 1/2 Unit
Health, 1/2 Unit
Art/Music, 1 Unit
Sequence/Electives, 4 Units
Physical Education, 2 Units
STATE ASSESSMENT TESTS:
Students must demonstrate competency in five areas. While the new State Assessments are being phased in, the actual requirements will vary for each entering class. Requirements are based on the year in which a student first enters Grade 9. They are summarized below. The number in parenthesis is the minimum passing score. Please note that there are safety net alternatives for students with a handicapping condition.
Beginning Freshmen as of 09/2000 must pass the Comprehensive English Regents (65); the Global Studies Regents (65); the American History Regents (65); the Math A Regents (55); and one Science Regents (55).
REGENTS DIPLOMA INFORMATION:
Candidates for a Regents Diploma must pass the Regents exams in their Sequence(s) (if offered), the Comprehensive English Regents, Global Studies Regent, United States History and Government Regents, a comprehensive Language other than English Regents and at least two Regents exams in both Science and Math. A Language other than English may not be used as a three credit Regents sequence. By adding a fourth year of the same language, however, one of the three credit sequences in plan A or B is satisfied. Students who complete a five unit sequence in Art or Occupational Education may take a three-credit sequence in place of Language other than English.
REGENTS DIPLOMA with HONORS: This extra distinction is awarded to those who have achieved an average of 90 or better on certain Regents Exams. They are Comprehensive English; Global Studies; United States History, and the Regents exams used to complete the sequence requirement