Situated in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of New York State, the Romulus District provides quality educational services to the residents of an 88 square mile area in central Seneca County. Nestled between the shores of Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, the population centers of Romulus, Fayette, MacDougal, and the lake shores of East and West Varick are served by the bucolic Romulus Central School. Much of the rolling hills of the Romulus area is agricultural with vineyards and wineries, a major interest along with miles and miles of breath taking lakefront property. Once the long home of the Seneca Army depot, now Romulus is the home to Five Points Correctional Facility, Kids Peace Seneca Woods campus, the Coast Guard LORAN station, Sampson State Park, and many other small, vibrant industries in the development zone. Nearby Geneva, Seneca Falls, Ithaca, Watkins Glen, and the other communities around Romulus provide recreational and social opportunities, shopping, and other services. Thirty minutes to the New York State Thurway (Interstate 90) from any point in the District, residents also enjoy an easy commute to the urban centers of Rochester and Syracuse. The District is serviced by many higher educational facilities such as Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Finger Lakes Community College, Ithaca College, Cornell University, Syracuse University, University of Rochester, and others. Romulus bills itself as "the small school with a BIG idea", offering a quality academic program to all its students in a safe, secure and personalized atmosphere. Romulus Central School was formed by public vote in 1937, a consolidation of more than a dozen one-room schoolhouse scattered among the "military tract" lands first awarded soldiers of the Revolution in the late 1700's. The region has a rich history replete with Native American origins, touched by the Revolution, the development of the Erie Canal, the Abolitionist Movement, the Civil War, World War II, and the Cold War. Elementary students are instructed in classrooms providing students with the opportunity to progress at their own developmental rate. Concentration on 21st Century skills through Common Core standards enable classroom teachers and specialists to work together to establish tohe basis for career readiness for all children. The elementary program begins with a well-established early childhood program, housing a Pre-Kindergarten offering since 1989 and full day kindergarten. On-site after school day care is available to parents.Summer School for graades K-6 is offered for remediation and enrichment . All K-6 students receive regular instruction in a state-of-the-art computer lab, and every classroom in the building in connected to the Internet. In 2014, K-6 students will receive enrichment study in the culture and language of China. Secondary (7-12) students exchange teachers in core areas and are offered exploratory time in Home & Careers, Technology, and Music. A complete vocal and instrumental program and a strong emphasis on performance is offered. The High School offers a rigorous all-regents academic program balanced with a strong offering of extra-curricular opportunities. Drama, sports, and special interest clubs allow every student the chance to be involved in something after school. Vocational coursework is available through the Finger Lakes Technical & Career Central (FLTCC). Mission:
Holding the belief that all students can learn and the conviction that learning is the responsibility of each student, the Romulus Central School community will provide an educational environment to encourage achievement and scholarship. Students will be encouraged and challenged to develop responsibility toward learning, and demonstrate skills which will enable them to become productive members of society. Vision:
Romulus Central School is the distinctive small rural district, the center of a thriving community of learners, dedicated to empowering each student to be a thriving person of character and vision. Our challenging and diversified programs link Romulus to the world of the 21st Century. Motto:
Children First - Learning Always
The school is located between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, about 12 miles from the north end, in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Take the NYS Thruway (I-90) to Exit 41 (Waterloo). Turn right onto State Route 96 South, for approximately 20 miles.. Common Core
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) allow States to share a common
definition of readiness at each grade level by working backward based on the demands
of college and careers. This progression of student readiness is one of the central
principles of the standards. If students are to graduate high school fully prepared, they
must meet the benchmarks set by the Common Core – at every grade and in every
classroom. It is to these benchmarks that we must now teach. It is student mastery of
these benchmarks that we must now assess. The Common Core demands significant shifts (http://engageny.org/resource/commoncore-
shifts) in the way we teach. Each teacher must adopt these shifts so that students
remain on track toward success in college and careers. These shifts in instruction will
require that many teachers learn new skills and reflect upon and evolve in their
classroom practices. For example, ELA teachers must ensure a balance of literature
and informational text and a dramatic increase in the amount of time and attention
students spend in evidence-based analysis of what they are reading. In math, teachers
must spend more time on less content, driving toward true mastery through a new level
of fluency with math facts as well as a new comfort with real world application.
