About ESM

The 72-square-mile East Syracuse Minoa Central School District is a suburban district with a resident population of more than 22,000. It encompasses the Villages of East Syracuse and Minoa. As part of Central New York's four-season region, the district is minutes from the City of Syracuse's downtown amenities.

The area boasts of more than 44 universities and colleges offering professional and cultural opportunities, including Syracuse University, SUNY ESF, Le Moyne College and Onondaga Community College. Recreation opportunities abound with more than 50 state and county parks and 40 golf courses.

The sports scene also includes Syracuse University athletics, the Minor League Baseball Triple-A Syracuse Mets and the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch.
 
ESM supports the importance of early childhood education with full and half-day pre-kindergarten programs serving ages 1-4 at Park Hill School and a full-day kindergarten program in each of its four elementary schools. 

From pre-kindergarten through high school graduation, we strive for academic excellence and rigor by engaging student minds. We value knowledge and skills that include critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation. These skills are integrated throughout our curriculum and are essential for success in college, career and citizenship.

At ESM, our focus is on inquiry-based learning through real-life problems that will prepare our students to develop the skills and decision-making for their futures. Our schools embrace innovative, inter-disciplinary STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning opportunities that focus on problem-based learning to foster curiosity, questioning, creativity, and innovation for college, career and citizenship readiness.

ESM is proud to have one of few schools in New York State with numerous in-house Career and Technical Education programs, a student-led credit union and many courses for advanced placement and college credit. 

Digital literacy is a priority for our students/staff to deepen and accelerate learning. We also value youth development and leadership opportunities.

We enjoy strong, supportive relationships with business, higher education and community organizations (locally, nationally, globally) that enhance student learning through innovative collaborative teaching, applied problem solving, program design and professional development.

Noteworthy Recognitions: 

2024: The ESM Spartan Marching Band earned 1st place at the New York State Field Band Championships in the Small School II class, becoming 8-time NYS Champions!

2024: New York State Governor Kathy Hochul visited ESM Central High School to observe our computer science classroom, where she spent time with students in an Advanced Technology Framework / Computer Science course.

2024: The New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) recognized ESM Central High School’s Spartan Achievement Learning Time (SALT) program with a Champions of Change award.

2024: Three NY State Senators from the Senate Education Committee and the Onondaga County Executive visited ESM to learn about our "best practices" mental health, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and related programs

2024: For the 15th year in a row, ESM earned a School Safety Excellence Award from Utica National Insurance Group at the Titanium with Honors level, which is the highest award bestowed. The award recognizes ESM’s outstanding efforts to create a safer school environment.

2024: ESM was designated a “Best Communities for Music Education” for the 11th year in a row

2022-23: ESM began to offer full day pre-k

2021: ESM Central High School was ranked in the top 26% in the U.S. News 2021 Best High Schools Rankings.

2021-22: ESM Superintendent Dr. Donna DeSiato was named 2021-22 New York State Superintendent of the Year by the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

2019: ESM was one of 4 CNY districts listed in the Top 50 safest districts in upstate NY by newyorkupstate.com

2021: The Indoor Percussion Ensemble earned a Bronze Medal in the NYS Percussion Circuit Championships. In 2019 & 2018 the group was crowned NY State Champions after earning a Gold Medal in the Percussion Scholastic Open (PSO) class

2018-19: ESM freshmen became the first students in the Spartan Academy Early College High School.

2015 ESM selected as 1 of only 27 "ecosystems" across the United States to pilot the multi-year national STEM Ecosystems Initiative. The STEM Ecosystems Initiative has grown to encompass more than 120 STEM Ecosystems across the United States and internationally. 

2013 Be the Change for Kids Innovation Award for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math-related (STEM) programs

2011 American Library Association's National School Library Program of the Year Award (Pine Grove Middle School)

2010 NYS ASCD Educating the Whole Child for the 21st Century Award (Pine Grove Middle School)