I think this is norm in many–if not most–states, at least in the west California is the same, (though they don’t use the term “independent”).
When I was growing up, my hometown had an agreement with the adjoining school district. A small number of students (including me) had K-12 schooling in the adjoining district, due to being relatively remote to my town’s schools, and relatively near to the adjoining town. My town also had no high school at the time, so all high schoolers went to the adjoining district.
They have since built their own high school, but at the time, it was K-8 only.
One thing has nothing to do with the other- most school districts in NY are accountable only to the state and there are still some without high schools.There are five school districts that coincide with a city - NYC, Syracuse, Buffalo, Yonkers and Rochester. But for the most part school districts are independent of any other government entity. Although the district may share a name with a town or village , the school district is not generally even coterminous with that town or village- the district may consist of multiple towns/villages or there may be multiple districts that each cover part of a single town/village or some combination.
The New Suffolk school district mentioned earlier is named after a hamlet, which is an unincorporated community with no government of its own. There are three districts that each cover part of the village of Valley Stream in addition to other communities and none of the three operates a high school - there is a separate high school district.
- There are a five school districts that coincide with a city - NYC, Syracuse, Buffalo, Yonkers and Rochester. But for the most part school districts are independent of any other government entity- although they may share a name with a town or village , the school district may cover parts of multiple towns/villages or there may be multiple districts that each cover part of a single town village
Hi there, person from Maine here.
This is not a unusual in Maine. Sometimes it’s because a town is small enough that it doesn’t justify having a high school and sometimes it’s because there is a private school in or near the town that has always been the high school.
Some examples I am aware of, not an exhaustive list in Maine.
Fryburg - Fryburg Academy - This is a private high school that has always been the local high school. Founded in the late 18th century. Takes boarding student from all over.
Saco - Thornton Academy - Saco is a substantial city by Maine standards, about 20 k (yeah, I know! Not a city to much of the world.) Thornton is like Fryburg. Been the high school since early 19th century. Also accepts boarding students. Currently bringing in a lot of forign students.
Raymond - No high school. Pays tuition to Lake Region in Naples or Windham High School.
East Machias - Washington Academy - I’m not sure if Washington Academy is the default high school for East Machias. I do know that Lubec pays tuition and Washington Academy is one of the alternatives. Washington has many boarding students and also has many forign students. Founded Late 18th century.
Yes, when I say 18th century I do really mean 18th!
Many other small towns pay tuition to other districts.
Peter
Southern Maine
Soon to be Waaaaay down east (Lubec)
I think it depends on the state; some places, like NYC, have the school system and city government conjoined, and others have it as a county-level thing. But you’re right, the independent model is the most common.
Closer interpretation suggests that the school board/district may encompass several towns and some of these towns do not have high schools? Or as recent posts mentioned, a different school board’s high school is a lot closer? Or is a school board/district automatically a part of the town? That wouldn’t account for rural.
Reported.