Our District
Geneva City Schools
The Geneva City School District is a public school serving over 2,000 students grades PK through 12. The district includes a high school, middle school, two elementary schools (grades Pre–K to 1 and grades 2–5), district administrative offices and our central services facility.
The Geneva City School District prides itself on the quality of academic programs offered to our students. Our students attend the finest universities in the nation, service academies, two-year liberal arts and technical programs. Advanced Placement offerings encompass 17 academic courses of study. In addition, we offer 25 Gemini courses which offer the opportunity for our students to receive credit from Finger Lakes Community College, and our students also have the option of taking courses at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
We offer nearly 100 clubs and extracurricular activities district-wide, as well as a wide range of interscholastic athletics and fine arts opportunities. Twenty-three varsity, 11 junior varsity, and 16 modified teams participate in Section V interscholastic athletic competition. Geneva is also proud to sponsor our marching band, concert band, jazz band and a variety of other musical ensembles. In addition, we have a strong and vibrant vocal music program with a myriad of choral and vocal ensemble opportunities for our students.
We take pride in on our ability to provide creative approaches to student service needs. Our special education programming, guidance services and social work services ensure that our students receive the attention so essential to success.
The city school district benefits from a close relationship with known educational neighbors like Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Cornell Agri-Tech, Finger Lakes Community College and more. Our professionals engage in pre-service mentoring, professional development activities, serve as adjunct faculty and obtain advanced credentialing through these institutions.
Our Finger Lakes
With our central Finger Lakes location, Geneva is a community with a great deal to offer. There are many architectural gems, among them the gothic revival St. John’s Chapel on the Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) campus and Trinity Church on Main Street — both designed or influenced by renowned architect and Hobart alum Richard Upjohn. The Smith Opera House is a treasure both for its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, recognized nationally by major preservation organizations, and the wealth of music and theater shows it brings to the city.
As a small city, Geneva offers all the benefits of a tiny metropolis just a stone’s throw away from the countryside and lakes. Seneca Lake, whose northern point the city straddles, offers breathtaking views and water recreation. Agriculture is a staple in this picturesque region, with the lake shores offering a climate well suited to the numerous grain fields, pastures, vineyards and orchards.
One of the most amazing aspects of the city is the incredible range of diversity amongst its population, which boasts a wonderful range of colors and creeds not found often in this largely rural area. At least 34 languages are spoken locally and more than 12 religious faiths practiced. This convergence of cultures and ethnicities enriches the city and those that live here.
The Geneva City School District is a microcosm of this. Our student population is comprised of approximately 30.6 percent Hispanic, 12.3 percent African-American, 10.7 percent mixed race, 1.7 percent Asian, 0.1 percent Native American and 44.6 percent Caucasian. Our students are unusually well prepared to interact effectively with people of varied backgrounds and experiences. These abilities have served our students well, in terms of interaction with peers of institutions of higher education and with co-workers in the world of work.
Photos by Spencer Tulis, Finger Lakes Times