Niagara Falls City School District

This article is about the public school district in New York, United States. For the public school district in Ontario, Canada, see District School Board of Niagara.

Niagara Falls City School District
District information
Type	Public
Motto	Learning for all...Whatever it takes...
Grades	Pre-kindergarten, K-12
Established	Early 1900s
Superintendent	Mark Laurrie
Accreditation	New York State Board of Regents
Schools	11 [1]
Budget	US$121.1 million (proposed 2011–2012)
NCES District ID	3620820 [1]
Students and staff
Students	7,218 [1]
Teachers	435.63 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Student–teacher ratio	16.57 [1]
Other information
Unions	NYS United Teachers
Website	www.nfschools.net

The Niagara Falls City School District is a public school district containing 11 schools in Niagara Falls, New York. The Superintendent of Schools is Mark Laurrie.

Its boundary is that of the city. ^[2]

History

The district was founded in the early 1900s.

In 1953 the district purchased land in Love Canal from Hooker Chemical Company, fully aware that the land had been used as a toxic waste disposal site. This would eventually lead to the Love Canal disaster. ^[3]

Board of education

The Board of education is made up of nine members. The current board members are:

• James Cancemi, President
• Robert M. Restaino
• Ron Barstys
• Earl F. Bass
• Rev. Kevin Dobbs
• Arthur "Art" Jocoy Jr.
• Anthony Paretto
• Russel Petrozzi
• Nicholas Vilardo

Schools

Secondary schools

High schools

• Niagara Falls High School - The current Niagara Falls High School opened on September 6, 2000, retiring two aging high schools. Chief Educational Administrator - Cheryl Vilardo

Middle schools

• Gaskill Preparatory School- Opened on September 9, 1931. Dedicated on March 1, 1932. Principal - Derek Zimmerman
• LaSalle Preparatory School- Opened on September 9, 1931. Dedicated on February 5, 1932. Principal - Kathy Urban

Primary schools

• Cataract Elementary School- Opened on September 6, 2007, in former place of Niagara Middle School. Principal - Stan Wojton
• 79th Street Elementary School- Built in 1950. Principal - Gerald Orfano
• Harry F. Abate Elementary School- Opened on September 6, 1972. Dedicated on February 18, 1973. Principal - Lynne Tompkins
• Geraldine J. Mann Elementary School (formerly 95th Street Elementary School) - Built and opened in September 1958. Dedicated on November 13, 1958. Renamed and rededicated as Geraldine J. Mann Elementary School on February 7, 1981. Principal - Italo J. Baldassarre
• Henry J. Kalfas Magnet School (formerly Beech Avenue School)- Opened in September 1958. Dedicated on November 14, 1958. Renamed and rededicated on February 3, 1978 as Henry J. Kalfas School and in June 1990 as Henry J. Kalfas Early Childhood Magnet School. Principal - Carrie Buchman
• Maple Avenue Elementary School- Built and opened in the fall of 1922. Principal - Jeff Showers
• Hyde Park Elementary School- Opened on September 3, 1929. Principal - Diane Bianco
• Bloneva Bond Primary School (formerly Niagara Street Elementary School) - Built and opened in 1920. The original Niagara Street Elementary School closed on June 17, 2005 and was demolished in December 2005. The new building was completed on August 1, 2007, had a grand opening and dedication on August 29, and opened for the school year on September 6. Renamed and rededicated as Bloneva Bond Primary School on August 30, 2022. Principal - Rocco Merino

Other

• Niagara Falls Community Education Center, Coordinator - Andrew Touma

Former schools

Former secondary schools

Former high schools

• LaSalle Senior High School March 25, 1957 - June 14, 2000 (dedicated on December 10, 1957)
• The Trott Vocational School 1929 - June 25, 1988 (dedicated on March 11, 1929)
• ”Old” Niagara Falls High School (Built in 1902 with the cornerstone being laid on November 26, 1902) September 8, 1903 (also the dedication date) - January 24, 1922 (fire razed the building and was rebuilt in 1923 with the cornerstone being laid on July 24, 1923). September 24, 1924 - June 14, 2000. 1923 school was dedicated on November 19, 1924.

In 2000, LaSalle Senior High School and the “Old” Niagara Falls High School were consolidated into the new Niagara Falls High School, which serves as the city’s single public high school.

Former middle schools

• Niagara Middle School September 6, 1995 - June 12, 2007 (Dedicated on October 28, 1995)
• North Junior Middle School 1923-1982
• South Junior Middle School 1923-1985

Former primary schools

• 99th Street School (knowingly built atop of the Love Canal toxic waste dump) - February 14, 1955 - August 2, 1978
• 60th Street Elementary School (Now community education center) September 7, 1962 - June 12, 2007
• 66th Street School (Now district administration building) February 14, 1955 - June 12, 2007
• Cayuga Drive School 1909-1976
• Ferry Avenue School 1902-1980
• Whitney Avenue School 1897-1938
• Ashland Avenue School 1903-July 1, 1972
• Cleveland Avenue School 1872-1976
• Center Avenue School 1898-1968
• Sugar Street School 1895-1959
• 3rd Street School 1852 - February 1, 1962
• 5th Street School 1855-1972
• 10th Street School September 1914 – 1972
• 13th Street School 1907-1968
• 17th Street School 1926-1973
• 22nd Street School 1907-1972
• 24th Street School 1918-1976
• 39th Street School February 14, 1955 – 1980
• 93rd Street School 1950-1980 (closed due to concerns about toxic waste from the nearby Love Canal)
• Pacific Avenue School 1909-1973. Pacific Avenue School was located at 7116 Buffalo Avenue.
• Military Road School 1933-1992 Due to increasing student enrollment, the Town of Niagara 3rd School District began construction of Military Road School in 1930. Prior to that, students in the area attended Young's School which is now Steve's Heating and Air Conditioning. The brick building closed in 1992 and was purchased by a private developer. The building was vacant for many years and burned in 2019.

References

1. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Niagara Falls City School District". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved November 30, 2019.
2. Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Niagara County, NY (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 4, 2025. - Text list
3. "Love Canal". February 1981.

External links

• Official website