District-wide

• Students in GFMS and CHS participate in leadership and community service programs such as the Future Business Leaders of America.
• Student artwork is recognized throughout the local area, state and nation. Student artwork consistently wins top honors in the state from the Lions Club and in the county’s Putnam Arts Council Student Art Show.
• About 3300 students are involved in musical classes each day in Carmel. Many students are selected to Area All-State Band, Orchestra, Chorus and All-State Ensembles.
• Carmel Schools field 56 athletic teams involving 1,270 students. Many teams go onto post-season play and have been successful at Sectionals and State Championships. Many students earn athlete scholarships.
• Communications with community include an annual school calendar, award winning newsletters, weekly e-mail newsletters, and a website. The district maintains an educational access cable television channel.
  
  Carmel High School
• One National Merit Scholarship winner and fourteen Commended students in recent years. · One finalist and four semi-finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search competition.
• One finalist and one semi-finalist in the Coca Cola Scholars program that recognizes academics, character, and community service.
• Approximately 90% of each graduating class pursues higher education.
• Students receive substantial college scholarships. The last graduating class received almost $1.7 million over the next four years.
• Fourteen Advanced Placement courses, fourteen honors courses, and eight college credit courses are offered.
• Thirty-eight Carmel High School students were recognized as AP Scholars in 2008— 14 Scholars, 11 Scholars with Honor, 13 Scholars with Distinction.
• Increasing numbers of students taking and succeeding in higher level math and science courses.
• Students can earn a Diploma of Excellence, a program that is unique to Carmel High School and requires completion of 28 credits and 300 hours of community service.
• CHS students participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities and clubs. The Future Business Leaders of America chapter was named NYS Chapter of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
• Alternative High School offers students the opportunity to succeed in a small, individualized environment
  
  George Fischer Middle School
• Math Plus has been implemented for every grade. There is an accelerated mathematics program for seventh and eighth grades. · Students compete in the state Readers Digest Word Challenge and the Academic Triathlon team.
• High school credit is offered in earth science foreign language, math and studio art.
• The school has four wireless computer labs, five fully networked computer labs, and a fully operational weather station.
• There are a number of science, math and technology events including the Science and Technology Fair, Destination ImagiNation and MathCounts.
  
  Elementary Schools
• The FOSS science program and the Math Investigations program offer a hands-on approach to learning. · Each school offers a balanced literacy program emphasizing reading and writing.
• The Kent Elementary reading program has been recognized as exemplary by the International Reading Association.
• Each classroom has networked computers and a printer. There are up-to-date computer labs in each school building.
• Extra-curricular opportunities to strengthen reading, writing and presentation skills include the Wee Deliver Post Office, The Literary Guild and The Book Club