Over the years, countless alumni from both Clarkstown North and Clarkstown South High Schools have taken these values into the wider world by choosing to serve our nation in the United States Armed Forces.​ To recognize their extraordinary courage and sacrifice, I am incredibly proud to announce the creation of the Clarkstown Hall of Heroes.

This initiative will establish permanent, prominent displays in the main corridors of both North and South High Schools. ​The Hall of Heroes will serve as a daily reminder to our current students, staff, and visitors of the bravery and selflessness of the hometown heroes who once walked ​o​ur halls.

We Need Your Help to Build the Hall​ at CHSN & CHSS

To make this vision a reality, we are relying on our community to help us identify and honor our alumni veterans. If you are an alumnus who served, or if you would like to nominate a family member, friend, or loved one who attended our schools and served, we invite you to submit their information to our official registry.

Please complete the online submission form here:​ CCSD Hall of Heroes Form

When filling out the form, please be prepared to provide:

• The honoree’s name and high school attended (North or South).
• Their year of graduation.
• Details of their military service (Branch, Years of Service, Highest Rank Achieved).
• A high-resolution photograph (military uniform preferred).

Submissions are open to all branches of the military and can be made by the service members themselves, by family members on behalf of living veterans, or in memorial of those who have passed.

We look forward to unveiling the first phase of these memorials later this school year. Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us give our alumni veterans the profound respect and recognition they have so earned.

Sincerely,

Marc P. Baiocco, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools 

Summer Reading Lists

Dear Clarkstown Families,

Is your child turning four on or before December 1, 2026? If so, now is the time to register for the 2026–2027 Clarkstown Central School District Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) program!

Clarkstown UPK is a tuition-free, five-hour daily school year program designed to give your child a joyful, confident start to their educational journey. Our program provides:

✨ A warm, nurturing environment 
✨ Engaging, play-based learning experiences
✨ Highly qualified, caring educators
✨ Early literacy, math, and social-emotional development skills
✨ A smooth transition into kindergarten

Families may choose the District’s Early Learning Center or one of our trusted community partner locations (space is limited at each site).

Though we are optimistic that all interested families can receive this benefit, the total funding available for the program will be determined in the New York State budget process. If registrations exceed available seats, a lottery will be needed, so register now.  You can schedule an appointment at ccsd.edu/upk. 

If you have questions about eligibility or the registration process, please contact the UPK Registration Office at ccsdupk@ccsd.edu or (845) 639-5607.

We look forward to welcoming your family to Clarkstown UPK!

Warmly,
The Clarkstown UPK Team

Dear CCSD Families,

State Aid plays a critical role in supporting the Clarkstown Central School District (CCSD) budget, accounting for 20% of our total revenue. A key factor in how that aid is calculated is New York State’s Regional Cost Index (RCI). The RCI serves as a multiplier within State Aid formulas, primarily Foundation Aid and Building Aid, to increase funding for school districts located in high-cost areas such as New York City, Long Island and Westchester.

The RCI adjusts for regional differences in labor costs, ensuring that districts with higher expenses can provide a similar level of education as lower-cost areas. Districts in higher-cost regions, including Rockland County, and Clarkstown in particular, face comparable cost pressures including high property taxes, elevated home values, rising insurance and transportation costs, as well as increased school-related expenditures. Rockland County’s RCI has not been adjusted to reflect these realities, resulting in State Aid levels that do not align with the true cost of educating students in our community.

To ensure equity in state funding, the County’s RCI should be increased to at least the same level as Westchester County (1.351), beginning in the 2026-27 school year. This adjustment would generate $5.4 million total for Rockland County school districts, including almost $1.5 million for Clarkstown CSD. Ultimately, Rockland County’s RCI should align with that of New York City and Long Island (1.425) given our comparable, and sometimes higher, cost of living factors.

We encourage you to lend your voice to this important advocacy effort by contacting your local legislatures and urging them to support a fair and adjusted RCI for Rockland County. A model advocacy letter template is available for your convenience. We invite you to send it to state legislatures listed below:

Governor Kathy Hochul
Direct Contact Form: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
Phone: 518-474-8390

Senator Bill Weber
Email: weber@nysenate.gov
Phone: 845-623-3627

Assemblyman Patrick Carroll
Email: carrollp@nyassembly.gov
Phone: 845-634-9791

Majority Leader - Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
188 State Street
Legislative Office Building, Room 907
Albany,  NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2585
scousins@nysenate.gov

Assembly Speaker - Carl Heastie
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: 518-455-3791
Speaker@nyassembly.gov

Whether it’s a quick phone call or an email, your voice matters. Let's work together to make sure Clarkstown has the resources it needs to keep providing a great education for all our students.

Sincerely,

Marc P. Baiocco, Ed.D.                              Tamara Bierker
Superintendent of Schools                         President, Board of Education  

2026-27 School Year Calendar