#big chuck

I was looking on the web today and learned that Big Chuck had passed away January 9th, 2025. Hoolihan & Big Chuck  created a great personalized show in Cleveland, Ohio and when Hoolihan left the show Lil-John took his place. For decades Big Chuck & Lil John entertained us on a weekend night showing a horror movie with breaks where you’d watch a skit they created. I looked forward to watching them…

"Outrageous and just downright dumb"

“Old School” The 8 Oldest Public School Districts in Upstate New York!

— By Big Chuck | October 6, 2023

Talk about "Old School!" These are the oldest public school districts in Upstate New York.

Without giving away too much, you will find in this gallery that the oldest school district in Upstate (and the Eighth Oldest One in the entire Empire State) is in a small city of about 10,000 residents in Ontario County in the Finger Lakes region!

It is amazing to look at the DNA of some of these truly small school districts. The majority of them can be found either in Central New York or, in fact, out in the Finger Lakes. Some started out as all-boy "academies." Some are in pretty much the same place, geographically, as they were when they started. Most of them are in smallish, rural communities. Some of them are very small (with one school on this list having a total school enrollment of around just 100 kids). And some of them are the very definition of old school, including three that were founded in the 1700s!

When you read through this list of the oldest public schools in Upstate New York, try and imagine what these schools were like 200, or 225 years ago when they began. Dirt roads, tiny classes, kids walking to school every day, maybe just one or two teachers to start, student chores (including drawing the day's drinking water from a well, and heating the building with a wood fire), having only limited classes consisting of reading, writing and arithmetic, and more.

Thinking about this is, well, quite an education. Congratulations for these schools for showing real staying power in Upstate New York.

DYK? The Oldest Public School System in NYS Is In the Finger Lakes?

This is a fascinating list of some of the oldest public school systems in Upstate New York. As you will see, there are some pretty old school districts located in the Finger Lakes region as well as Central New York. In fact, a couple of schools date back to the 1700s!

Canadaigua Academy (1791). Canandaigua School District Via Facebook. Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

The oldest school in Upstate New York, and the 8th oldest school district in New York State. Located in Ontario County. From their website: "Canandaigua Academy, (grades 9-12), has a proud history stretching all the way back to its establishment as a private boys school in 1791. It became a public school in 1900 and retained the beloved "Academy" name. Again this year Newsweek Magazine named it one of the top 1,500 U.S. public high schools. In 2015, ranks CA #15 of 86 high schools in the Rochester 8-county region, based on NYS test results over a four-year period. . Canandaigua Academy offers a tradition of academic excellence, athletic accomplishment and artistic achievement. The Academy hosts a comprehensive program geared to meet the needs of all of its students. Standards and expectations are high. The staff seeks to work with parents and community to build a partnership which ensures student success. Administration is guided by an annual Building Action Plan, developed/revised each summer. The school provides an exceptional selection of special experiences. Students may choose from numerous academic electives, clubs, athletic programs, internships and social functions. All aim to contribute to the total development of a young adult.

— Canandaigua City School District, 143 N. Pearl, Canandaigua, NY — (585) 396-3700

Oxford Academy Via Facebook

Oxford Academy (Oxford, NY; 1794)

Oxford Academy is the 4th oldest school in New York State west of the Hudson River. From their website: "The Oxford Academy and Central School District, chartered in 1794 is the 4th oldest school district west of the Hudson River. The district is proud of its history of providing an excellent education to its students. The school system currently has a student enrollment of 710 students in grades UPK-12. The leadership team is comprised of the superintendent of schools, business administrator, director of special programs, and three building principals. They lead 85 professional staff members dedicated to student learning. The supervisors for buildings and grounds, transportation and food services, along with 75 full and part-time people provide an excellent support staff for school programs. The district is committed to high levels of learning for all students, by sustaining a collaborative culture focused on student results. The Board of Education has invested in instructional technology, continuous staff development and enhancements of programs to ensure that all our students are prepared to succeed in the 21st Century.

— 12 Fort Hill Park, Oxford, NY (Chenango County) — (607) 843-2025

Newburgh Free Academy Via Facebook

Newburgh Free Academy (1796)

From the school's website: "The school traces its history back to the early days of the United States. The Rev. George H. Spierin proposed to open an "Academy" in Newburgh. Work began in 1796 under the direction of the trustees of the glebe (a glebe was the land originally was land originally set aside in the early 18th century for a pastor and his church. The glebe for the Newburgh area was issued in 1719.)

A portion of the first Academy was first occupied in 1797. The building was 60 feet (18 m) by 40 feet (18.5 x 12.3m), two stories high, built of wood, and lined with brick. It was located on Liberty Street and cost around $2,500. The building was not finished until some years later when a court room was included. The building itself saw use as not only a school and court, but was also site for town meetings and political organizations."

— Newburgh Free Academy, 201 Fullerton, Newburgh, NY — (845) 563-5480

Delaware Academy Via Facebook

Delaware Academy (Delhi; 1819)

Delaware Academy High School in Delhi, NY (population of under 5,000 residents) is one of the most regal and majestic looking school buildings you can find in small, rural Upstate New York. The school, founded in 1819, is located in the county seat of Delaware County in Catskill Mountains. The school has transformed itself from its humble early beginnings to a top-rated small school in the state. Probably no timeline of the school's history is as concise as that written when the NYS government celebrated the schools'200th anniversary in 2019 with a ceremonial proclamation. To read it and learn more about Delaware Academy CLICK HERE

— Delaware Academy Central School District in Delhi, 2 Sheldon Drive, Delhi, NY (Delaware County) — (607) 746-1324

Prattsburgh Central School Via Facebook

Prattsburgh Central School (1823)

Prattsburgh Central School has gone through a number of changes over the past two centuries. They have withstood several fires, lowering enrollment, and several financial hurdles from time to time. And yet, still they stand! For an interesting history of this school's timeline CLICK HERE. Prattsburgh, NY is located due west of Keuka Lake.

— Franklin Academy and Prattsburgh Central School District, 1 Academy Street, Prattsburgh, NY (Steuben County) — (607) 522-3795

Windsor Central School Via Facebook

Windsor Central School (1837)

Windsor, NY is located in Broome County. For fun, if you would like to see a list of all of the oldest schools in the United States (and where Windsor places) click here. The school district covers 4 schools and about 1,600 students. Their mascot is the Black Knight.

— Windsor Central School, 1191 NYS-79, Windsor, NY (Broome County) — (607) 655-8250

Lockport City Schools Via Facebook

Lockport Central School (1847)

The City of Lockport Central School District was founded in 1847. To see a timeline of the development of this famous city along the Erie Canal click here. The school enrolls about 4,000 students annually.

— Lockport City School District, 130 Beattie Avenue, Lockport, NY (Niagara County) — (716) 478-4800

Lyons Central School Via Facebook

Lyons Central School (1848)

Lyons, NY is located in Wayne County. The school enrolls less than 1,000 students annually. For a fun and fascinating look at the school's history click here and read a story about the year-end school closing ceremony from 1859. ("The morning was extremely unpleasant, with the rain falling in torrents.....").

— Lyons Central School District, 10 Clyde Road, Lyons, NY (Wayne County) — (315) 946-2200

Hamilton College Via Facebook

BONUS: The Oldest College in Upstate New York is Hamilton College (1793)