Glens Falls City Schools provide K-12 public education for approximately 2,000 students living in the City of Glens Falls and part of the Town of Queensbury. Our small-city district covers approximately four square miles, and students walk to and from one of three neighborhood elementary schools, or the middle and high school, which are situated next-door to each other on Quade Street.
Glens Falls High School 21st-Century Learning & Science Classrooms
Completed in the summer of 2019, the third floor wing was gutted straight through the roof. The use of “teaching walls” define laboratory and instructional spaces in the long classrooms, while larger tables are designed to serve as both lab tables and student desks. A new ceiling accommodates modern utilities and allows room for future technology infrastructure upgrades. See more from Mosaic Architects HERE.
Glens Falls High School Auditorium and Aquatics Center
The complex that houses the Glens Falls City high school and middle school is a focal point in a city of diverse businesses, a vibrant cultural scene and outdoor adventure opportunities afforded by the community’s location on the Hudson River and just outside the six million-acre Adirondack Park.
In 2008, city residents approved a $15.6 million renovation project to improve the 1968 swimming pool, locker rooms, multi-use athletic field and create a modern 1,400-seat auditorium to accommodate the district’s extensive music program and the Glens Fall Symphony, a professional union orchestra.
The visually stunning auditorium design delivers the finest listening experience with an electronic acoustical enhancement system and acoustical cloud ceiling system. Motorized rigging, theatrical lighting systems and upgrades to the stage flooring, aisle carpeting and lighting make the venue suitable for professional-level productions.
The swimming pool includes mechanical and timing systems, an acoustic ceiling system and wall panels to diminish sound levels during practices and competitions. Indirect lighting, new spectator seating and new tile finishes create a fresh, vibrant aquatic center for swimming meets and community swim programs.
2021 Project: Voters approve GFMS renovations, field lights
Glens Falls City School District residents approved renovations and field lighting in the 2021 capital project vote December 14, 2021.
Most of the project involves renovations at the Glens Falls Middle School, including ceiling tile and door replacement, renovation of the Large Group Instruction room into a 21st century classroom space, refurbishing science classrooms, and installation of a fitness/sitting area outside behind the cafeteria.
Also included in the project are replacement of the High School’s track and turf sports field, renovations to the High School’s chorus/music rooms, fitness room reconstruction and expansion, and parking lot resurfacing.
The full list of renovations/repairs and other archived capital project materials can be found HERE.
2017 Project: Phase 1 reconstruction and alterations underway at each school building
Although classes were out for the summer, each of Glens Falls’ school buildings were abuzz with activity in July and August. Renovations and repairs are underway as part of the district’s current capital project, approved by voters in May of 2017.
The $17.5 million project focuses on a variety of structural, infrastructure, and parking improvements. Major items include boiler and/or roof replacements at every building, improvements to drop-off and pick-up points at Jackson Heights and Kensington Road elementary schools, gym floor replacements at Big Cross elementary and the High School, and a 21st Century Learning Environment for students in the High School.
The project has been divided into two phases, with the bulk of repairs and equipment replacements happening in the summer of 2018. The summer of 2019 will bring gym floor replacements, and construction of the elementary drop-off areas and the High School’s 21st Century space.
Specific items included in the Phase 1 work (summer of 2018) include:
- High School: Demolition of the third floor science classrooms (which will become the 21st Century Learning Space) and asbestos abatement therein; Roof replacement over the pool; Asbestos abatement in various areas of flooring tile; Ceiling replacement on the 1st and 2nd floors to include drop ceilings and new lighting.
- Middle School: Roof replacement over the gym; Ceiling replacement on the 1st and 2nd floors to include drop ceilings and new lighting.
- Big Cross Elementary: Replacement of three windows; Asbestos abatement in various areas of flooring tile.
- Jackson Heights Elementary: Asbestos abatement in crawl space
- Kensington Road Elementary: Replacement of front doors; Replacement of cafeteria doors; Roof replacement over the gym.
- Sanford Street School: Roof replacement and asbestos abatement
- All buildings: Installation of safety glass film on windows
2012 STEAM Capital Project
In 2012, Glens Falls City School District residents approved a $9.9 million capital improvement project to upgrade technology throughout the district, including:
- $5.2 million of district-wide technology improvements, including wireless infrastructure in each building;
- security cameras and door access control;
- new data wiring; and
- installation of an internet protocol telephone system.
Each school’s library was updated into a “media center,” by reabsorbing the computer lab space into the overall library floor plan, and redeploying computer technology as portable laptops and/or tablets. The project upgraded technology infrastructure that was more than a decade old, and four generations behind industry standards.
