09/01/2026
Dear Putnam Valley School Community,
On behalf of the Putnam Valley Central School District, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2026–2027 school year. There is something special about the beginning of a new school year: the excitement of new opportunities, the setting of new goals, and the promise of growth and discovery that awaits each of our students.
We begin this school year with much to celebrate. We are proud to share that Putnam Valley High School has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #16 Best High School in New York State and #4 in our region. This recognition reflects the tremendous work of our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, and families. It is a wonderful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with a shared commitment to excellence.
As always, the summer months have been a busy time throughout the district. Across our campuses, crews have been hard at work completing projects made possible through the facilities project approved by our community in May 2025. As we reopen the Middle/High School Campus, students, staff, and visitors will see significant improvements, including newly renovated driveways, retaining walls, and parking areas, along with updated drainage, lighting, and sidewalks. Above our instructional wing and gymnasium, crews have also been completing the final trim work associated with our newly installed roofs.
At the Elementary School, our existing playground has been removed, and work is well underway on the installation of a new playground that will provide greater accessibility to all elementary students with an exciting space to learn, play, and explore. The top athletic field will remain closed throughout the school year as crews continue the drilling and installation of geothermal wells. This project represents a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability and fiscal responsibility, as we work toward becoming the first school district in New York State to operate entirely on geothermal heating and cooling. This transition is expected to save our taxpayers millions of dollars in heating oil costs over time.
Our buildings and grounds have also received the care and attention necessary to ensure that our schools are clean, welcoming, and ready for the year ahead. I am grateful to the many staff members who have worked throughout the summer to prepare our facilities for the return of our students.
At Putnam Valley Elementary School, we are also excited to welcome our second cohort of students to the Putnam Valley Universal Pre-Kindergarten program, made possible through New York State funding and our partnership with the YMCA of Northern Westchester. We look forward to welcoming these youngest learners and their families into our school community and beginning this important journey together.
Learning, however, does not stop when the school year ends. Throughout the summer, our buildings have remained active with professional learning opportunities and a variety of academic programs. Our Extended School Year, Summer Boost, and Kindercamp programs have filled our classrooms with enthusiastic students engaged in learning, exploration, and meaningful experiences. These programs provide invaluable support and enrichment, and we are deeply grateful to our program leaders, instructional staff, teaching assistants, and everyone who helped make them possible.
At the heart of all that we do is our partnership with families. We know that students thrive when schools and families work together, and we deeply value the trust you place in us each day. By maintaining strong communication and working collaboratively, we can create meaningful experiences that support the academic success, social-emotional development, and overall well-being of every student. Your partnership is an essential part of what makes the Putnam Valley school community so strong.
As we begin this new school year, we do so with great optimism and enthusiasm. In just a few days, our hallways will once again be filled with the energy and excitement of our students. We will welcome back familiar faces and greet new students, families, and educators who are joining our school community for the first time. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together.
As we embark on this new year, I want to thank our students, families, faculty, staff, and community for your continued support, partnership, and commitment to Putnam Valley Central Schools.
Thank you for entrusting us with the education and care of your children. It is a privilege that we do not take lightly.
I wish all of our students, families, and staff a wonderful start to the 2026–2027 school year. May it be a year filled with learning, growth, connection, and many moments of pride for our entire Putnam Valley community.
Warmly,
Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools
Putnam Valley Central School District
