General Information and
History of Lackawanna
Description of District
The Lackawanna City School District is located south of Buffalo, New York in what was once the heart of the area’s steel making industry. The City of Lackawanna is a diverse, multi-ethnic, urban area currently focused on a major changeover from “steel city” to a city embracing a variety of business/industry components along with increased recreational opportunities and housing development. The major “foundations” for these changes lie in the 2.5 square miles of mainly lakefront property that was formerly the City’s steel making location. Also, properties designated as an economic development zone and the redevelopment of abandoned or underutilized properties through a U.S. EPA Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Award both represent two other major changes.
The Lackawanna City School District has undergone a complete reconfiguration of student housing beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. These changes began with the opening of the brand new Martin Road Elementary School in September 2003. The District was able to close three elementary schools and, thus reduce building transitions in half. The totally integrated schools are as follows: Pre-K through grade two are located at Truman Elementary; grades three thru six are now housed at Martin Road Elementary; and we have a single building complex that houses our Middle grades seven and eight as well as our High School grades nine through 12. The administrative offices, along with a few classrooms providing alternative teaching space, are being housed at the former McKinley Elementary School. Also, part of the administration building currently leases to Erie 1 BOCES.
In addition to these physical reconfigurations, the District is actively involved in a Strategic Planning process to better meet the needs of our diverse, urban population of students. We are focused on building strong academic experiences specific to our unique needs, developing healthy character education components and a broadly based athletic program. All designed to, when taken together, assure a well-rounded education. Included in this strategic planning is the development of an educational environment dedicated to both the understanding and respecting of the many cultures that enrich our community. Within this framework our main goal is the successful preparation for our students to achieve whatever aspirations they may have for “grade 13”. The challenges of the future need to be met by individuals who possess the tools to succeed, prosper and support building a world that is environmentally sound as well as respectful of the earth’s diversity of race, culture and religious beliefs. The Lackawanna City School District’s mission is to nurture such individuals to successfully meet these challenges as best as we can predictably anticipate what will occur in the future.
Facts about the School District
| District Population | 19,064 |
| Eligible Voters (estimate) | 14,387 |
| Enrollment (9/28/12) | 1,816 |
| Pre-K | 90 |
| Full-day K | 155 |
| Gr. 1-2 | 269 |
| Gr. 3-6 | 518 |
| Gr. 7-8 | 258 |
| Gr. 9-12 | 526 |
| Graduates (6/12) | 136 |
| District Square Miles | 6 |
| Public School Students | 2,331 |
| District Building | 4 |
| Private/Parochial Students | 369 |
| Special Ed. (outside District) | 103 |
| Private/Parochial Buildings in District | 1 |
| Private/Parochial Buildings outside District | 18 |
| Total Miles Traveled per Year | 674,694
(3,748.3/day) |
| 2012-2013 Approved Budget | $45,300,000 |
| True Value Tax Rate | $17.58 |
| Professional Full-Time | 184 |
| Professional Part-Time | 1 |
| Support Staff Full-Time | 76 |
| Support Staff Part-Time | 37 |
