Public Schools of the Tarrytowns

The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns stretch along the scenic east bank of the Hudson River, serving approximately 2,800 students from the villages of Tarrytown and the legendary Sleepy Hollow. It is an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse district located in southern Westchester County, approximately 25 miles north of New York City.

The District’s schools are organized under the Princeton Plan whereby all students at a given grade level attend the same school. This approach helps to ensure a consistent academic experience for all. Our students attend five schools, located in four buildings: John Paulding Elementary School (PreK-K), W.L. Morse Elementary School (1-2), Washington Irving Intermediate School (3-5), Sleepy Hollow Middle School (6-8), and Sleepy Hollow High School (9-12).

As a District, the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns are committed to ensuring that we remain a welcoming place for all students and their families and that we meet their individual educational needs. We are characterized by a culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse student population. Approximately 23% of the District’s students entered our schools learning English as a second language. The dominant native language for English Language Learners is Spanish. We see this diversity as a strength of our District and seek to capitalize on it wherever possible.   All elementary students will benefit from our Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools (FLES) program, which in its second year of implementation, provides Spanish language instruction to students in grades K-2 and will be expanding annually to include all K-5 students. Our long-standing and successful Dual Language Program is offered in grades K-5. In this program, classes are organized to contain equal proportions of native English and native Spanish-speaking students. Fifty percent of the instruction is in English and fifty percent is in Spanish to support the development of biliteracy in all students.

Students in each of our schools are provided with a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum aligned with New York State Standards and designed to ultimately prepare them for the challenges of college and career. Age-appropriate opportunities for remediation and enrichment, both during and outside the school day, are also provided in support of our students. Our high school students participate in 18 AP course offerings and 11 Dual Enrollment opportunities with colleges including Syracuse University, SUNY Albany, and Westchester Community College. The Class of 2017 had a 94% graduation rate and are enrolled in a wide range of colleges and universities, many of which are among the most competitive in the country.

Academic achievement coupled with active involvement in the arts, athletics, and service are a hallmark of the educational experience provided throughout our District. In addition to their academic achievements, our students are annually recognized for their success in the visual and performing arts, on the courts and fields, and for their generosity and caring in service to others.

We are fortunate to be part of a community that demonstrates their active support of our schools in a wide variety of ways. Our Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns provides additional resources to enrich the experiences for all students and the Horsemen PTA and the Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Boosters have supported cultural enrichment programming and meeting the needs of our individual schools. These volunteer organizations along with the Kids Club, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, JCC, and many other community-based organizations have an immeasurable positive impact on our students. In addition, parents and community members volunteer in support of school activities, serve on hiring and planning committees, and provide support of our annual budget.