32 Mid-Hudson high schools earn academic awards

Thirty-two Mid-Hudson high schools earned program academic awards, giving Orange County families a clear look at where athletics and classroom performance intersect in Section 9. The recognition went beyond wins and losses, rewarding schools whose programs kept students academically engaged across a season or school year.

The awards came through W!se, the New York education nonprofit that pairs academic recognition with financial literacy programming. Because program academic awards measure collective performance, not one standout student, they point to teams and schools where coaches, teachers and administrators build eligibility, attendance and grade expectations into daily routines.

That matters in Orange County, where Section 9 schools compete hard on the field and on the court and where families often watch for signs that sports programs are helping students stay on track in the classroom. A school that earns this kind of honor is signaling that varsity athletics and academic discipline are working together, not pulling in opposite directions.

The broader Mid-Hudson total also places Orange County inside a competitive regional picture. A separate 2024 ranking put 20 Hudson Valley public high schools among New York state’s top 100, and that list drew from more than 1,000 schools statewide. Together, those figures show how often schools in the region are being measured on more than athletics alone.

For parents comparing districts, the awards offer a practical indicator of academic strength that students can actually experience. They highlight schools where the culture around sports supports classroom success, whether the focus is college readiness, steady grade performance or the habits that keep athletes eligible and involved. In a region where school identity often runs through Section 9, that balance has become part of the story.