About Us - Watervliet City School District

The Watervliet City School District serves approximately 1,300 children in a small urban community along the Hudson River, approximately five miles north of Albany, the state’s capital.

Watervliet City schools consist of two buildings – an elementary school that serves approximately 650 children in prekindergarten through grade 5, and a junior-senior high school that enrolls approximately 590 students in grades 6-12.

Also known as the “Arsenal City,” Watervliet is home to one of the oldest federal arsenals in the country. Founded in 1813 to support the War of 1812, the Watervliet Arsenal continues to be a valuable resource for defense manufacturing.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Watervliet City School District is to inspire, educate and challenge every student, every day!

Our shared values and beliefs

Success of all students

All staff members are focused on student success. Students have many avenues and opportunities to learn, achieve and celebrate academic, personal and employment success. All students will leave WCSD prepared for college, career and citizenship.

High Expectations

Expectations for students, parents and staff are clearly defined, understood and communicated. Students, parents and staff are empowered, supported and trained to meet high expectations.

Continuous Improvement

Staff, parents and students work together to evaluate progress using multiple, reliable measures and make adjustments when needed to improve student achievement.

Respect and Integrity

Communication and interaction among school and community members is defined by mutual respect and support.

Alumni Information

A small group of alumni led by Bob Christiansen, Class of ’63, and Paul O’Connell, Class of ’74, launched an “official” Watervliet Alumni website several years ago. This alumni group was concerned that fellow Watervliet High School graduates were hesitant to join random alumni sites found on the internet because many of these sites require paid membership.

The group built a free site that they encourage all WHS alumni to join! To learn more, visit the site: www.whsalumni.net

Committee Meetings

Committee meetings are open to the public. The Policy Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. prior to the Board of Education meeting. The Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Committee meets on the first Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m. The Technology Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m. Please call the Educational Programs & School Accountability Office at 518-629-3231 to confirm the meeting times/dates, or if you are interested in participating on a committee.

District Policies and Notifications

The district is required by to adopt policies related to many aspects of school operations and state and federal law. It is also required to provide notifications related to a variety of topics and policies. Below are some of the most commonly searched policies/notifications.