Cambridge Central School

What Cambridge Central School does

Cambridge Central School District is a public K-12 school district serving nearly 800 students across a 104-square-mile territory spanning eight townships in the Cambridge Valley of upstate New York. The district operates two schools from a single campus at 24 South Park Street, Cambridge, NY: an Elementary School (Universal Pre-K through grade 6, led by Principal Kathleen Skellie) and a Jr./Sr. High School (grades 7-12, led by Principal Caroline Goss), under the superintendency of James Ducharme. Educational offerings span core academics, AP coursework in 8 disciplines (weighted 1.1 in GPA), the Early College Career Academy dual-enrollment partnership with SUNY Adirondack, Career & Technical Education through WSWHE BOCES, comprehensive Special Education and Pupil Services, food services, transportation, and an athletics program competing in the Wasaren League and Section 2 NYSPHSAA.

The district's operational technology stack is fully SaaS-mediated: SchoolTool for student information, ParentSquare for family communications (integrated with SchoolTool for guardian sync), BusRight for real-time bus tracking, LINQ Connect for meal management, Google Workspace for calendars and staff hub, Clever for SSO, Q Ware for facilities, WinCap Web for payroll, Frontline for absence/substitute management, StaffTrac for scheduling, OLAS for applicant tracking, and Xpress-Pay plus Total Collections Solution for tax processing. The district maintains a multi-channel external presence via its cambridgecsd.org website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and ParentSquare community.

Funding derives from two concentrated sources: a voter-approved property tax levy on residents within the catchment area, and New York State Education Department aid (including ~80% transportation reimbursement). The Board of Education adopted a $26.8 million contingency budget for 2026-27 after voters rejected two prior proposals, forcing a 5.5% tax levy increase above the state cap and the elimination of 21 positions. As a government state entity, Cambridge holds a geographic monopoly on K-12 instruction within its territory and is governed by a five-member elected Board of Education serving three-year terms.

Name

Cambridge Central School

Legal name

Cambridge Central School District

Website

https://cambridgecsd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cambridge Central School District is a New York public K-12 school district serving approximately 800 students across eight townships in upstate New York, operating an elementary school (UPK-6) and a Jr./Sr. High School (7-12) on a $26.8 million annual budget funded by property taxes and state aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Elementary secondary schooling
• College preparatory programs
• Career technical education
• Special education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Levy: The district's primary revenue source is local property taxes collected from residents within the 104-square-mile district territory covering parts of eight townships. The school tax levy is the total amount collected from local property owners and must be approved by voters.
2. State Aid: Revenue received from New York State Education Department, including foundation aid, transportation aid (approximately 80% reimbursement for transportation costs), and other categorical aids. State aid is a significant portion of district revenue.
3. School Tax Collection: Property tax payments collected annually with penalty structure. Taxes due September 2 - October 1 with no penalty, October 2-31 with 2% penalty. Payments accepted online, by mail, or drop box.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cambridge Central School District provides comprehensive K-12 public education to nearly 800 students across an 8-township, 104-square-mile service area in upstate New York. Core offerings include Universal Pre-K through grade 6 at Cambridge Elementary School and grades 7-12 at Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School, with Advanced Placement courses, Career & Technical Education through WSWHE BOCES, dual-enrollment through the SUNY Adirondack Early College Career Academy, Special Education and Pupil Services, food services, transportation, athletics, and performing arts programs.

Product overview

Cambridge Central School District is a public school district serving nearly 800 students in upstate New York, operating as a single unified district with two school buildings. The district provides a comprehensive K-12 educational program consisting of Cambridge Elementary School (UPK-grade 6) and Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School (grades 7-12). Educational offerings include core academic instruction, Advanced Placement courses, Career & Technical Education through WSWHE BOCES, and the Early College Career Academy dual enrollment program with SUNY Adirondack. The district supplements core academics with special education services, pupil support services, food services, transportation, and a full athletics program. Administrative operations are supported by integrated platforms including SchoolTool for student information, ParentSquare for family communications, LINQ Connect for food services, and BusRight for transportation tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cambridge Elementary School Public elementary education program serving students in Universal Pre-K through grade 6, providing core academic instruction, elementary counseling, library media services, and before/after school clubs and activities.
• Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School Public secondary education program serving students in grades 7-12, providing college preparatory coursework, AP classes, career and technical education pathways, and extracurricular activities including athletics, performing arts, and FFA.
• Universal Pre-K (UPK) Free pre-kindergarten program for four-year-old children residing in the district, providing early childhood education and developmental readiness preparation.
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Programs provided through WSWHE BOCES offering hands-on technical training in various career fields, with English and Math co-teaching components integrated for college credit opportunities.
• Early College Career Academy (ECCA) Partnership program with SUNY Adirondack allowing high school juniors and seniors to take college-level courses and earn college credits at reduced rates, with admission requiring 80% average and counselor/principal recommendation.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Nationally standardized college-level courses offered in Biology, English Literature, English Language, American History, World History, Calculus AB, Latin, and Psychology, weighted 1.1 in grade point averages and recognized on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll with Bronze distinction.
• Distance Learning Online and distance learning courses offered throughout the school year providing students with expanded learning opportunities beyond local course offerings.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education programs including consultant teacher services, resource room support, special class instruction, and related services (speech, OT, PT, counseling), governed by IEP and 504 plans in compliance with IDEA and Section 504.
• Pupil Services Mental, physical, and emotional support services for students including school psychology services, counseling, CSE/CPSE coordination, and Section 504 accommodations under DASA compliance.
• Food Services School meal programs including breakfast and lunch with free and reduced-price meal applications available; meal menus and payments processed through the LINQ Connect platform.
• Transportation Services School bus transportation service operating regular routes and late buses for extracurricular activities across the 104-square-mile district, with approximately 80% of costs reimbursed by NYSED transportation aid; utilizes the BusRight app for real-time route tracking.
• Athletics Program Competitive sports program competing in the Wasaren League and NYSPHSAA Section 2, including modified, junior varsity, and varsity levels across football, wrestling, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, track and field, golf, softball, and soccer, with combined Salem-Cambridge wrestling and Greenwich-Cambridge girls lacrosse partnerships.
• Fitness Center Membership Community fitness membership program offered at $500 per person annually (requiring a minimum of 10 enrolled individuals) and a separate Walking Program at $150 per person annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% graduation rate compared to 85% New York statewide average, representing a 7 percentage point advantage
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• We Are InstrumentalcoreOthersWe Are Instrumental (WAI) donated approximately $10,000 worth of musical instruments to the Partners of Cambridge Performing Arts (PCPA). This is the second time WAI has supported the Cambridge music program. WAI's mission is to improve access to music education for children across Northern New York by providing high-quality instruments and supporting music educators.
• Partners of Cambridge Performing Arts (PCPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewly established booster organization dedicated to supporting the school's music and drama programs. Received instrument donation from We Are Instrumental. Organization aims to strengthen and expand opportunities for students involved in performing arts.
• Ronald McDonald HouseminorOthersCommunity service partnership through Cambridge Elementary School's aluminum tab collection program. Students collected 40 pounds of aluminum tabs, recycled for approximately $25 donation to support families staying at Ronald McDonald House while their children receive medical care.
• WSWHE BOCEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES for Career and Technical Education programs. Provides hands-on learning opportunities with technical skills training. CTE programs include English and Math curriculum elements taught using co-teaching model. Also provides substitute teacher registry.
• SUNY AdirondackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Early College Career Academy (ECCA) allowing high school juniors and seniors to take college-level courses at reduced rates. Students can earn college credits through College Academy. Requires 80% average or higher and counselor/principal recommendation.
• Cambridge Lions ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host Goalball clinic and tournament. CCS partnered with Cambridge Lions Club and Envision Blind Sports to showcase Goalball, a sport exclusive to athletes with visual impairments.
• Envision Blind SportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partnership to host Goalball adaptive sports event, the first-of-its-kind in Upstate NY. Promotes inclusive sports opportunities for athletes with visual impairments.
• New York Animal Agriculture CoalitionminorOthersMobile Dairy Experience program visited CCS campus. The 53-foot trailer featured five exhibits: Dairy Farming Basics, Environmental Sustainability, Technology, Making Dairy Products, and Future Farmers. Students learned about the dairy process and interacted with a week-old calf from Tiashoke Farm.
• Salem-Cambridge Athletic ConferenceminorOthersCombined athletic programs with Salem Central School District for boys and girls wrestling, and collaboration with Greenwich CSD for girls lacrosse. Competes in Wasaren League and Section 2 NYSPHSAA.
• New York State Education Department (NYSED)coreOthersRegulatory oversight relationship. District operates under NYSED guidelines, reports graduation rates, implements Next Generation Learning Standards, and participates in state assessments and accountability systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schuylerville Central School District: Rural Saratoga County, NY public K-12 district of similar enrollment scale competing in the same Wasaren League; operates under the same NYSED guidelines, tax-cap regime, and BOCES CTE infrastructure, offering direct program-and-budget comparability.
• Argyle Central School District: Small Washington County, NY public K-12 district serving a comparably scaled rural student population under the same NYSED oversight and property-tax-cap regime; useful like-for-like on cost-per-pupil and contingency-budget outcomes.
• Salem Central School District: Neighboring rural Washington County, NY public K-12 district of comparable enrollment scale, joined with Cambridge in a combined Salem-Cambridge wrestling program; operates under the same NYSED regulatory framework and tax-cap constraints, making it the closest like-for-like peer for operating economics.
• Greenwich Central School District (NY): Adjacent rural Washington County, NY public K-12 district collaborating with Cambridge on a combined girls lacrosse program; similar enrollment profile, similar athletic conference (Wasaren League), and similar property-tax-plus-state-aid funding model.
• Stillwater Central School District: Rural Saratoga County, NY public K-12 district of similar size and competitive footprint in the Wasaren League; comparable property-tax-and-state-aid revenue mix and similar rural demographic and transportation-cost profile.
• Fort Ann Central School District: Small rural Washington County, NY public K-12 district with a comparable student-count base and similar reliance on foundation aid and transportation reimbursement; relevant comparator on budget volatility and small-district operating economics.
• Hoosick Falls Central School District: Small rural Rensselaer County, NY public K-12 district serving a comparable size student body with similar property-tax-driven funding; provides a reference point for academic outcomes and per-pupil spending benchmarks for upstate rural districts.

Broad incumbents

• WSWHE BOCES: Regional Board of Cooperative Educational Services covering Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex counties; provides CTE programs, substitute registry, and shared services to Cambridge and similar component districts — a broader-incumbent shared-services counterpart rather than a direct competitor.

Others

• SUNY Adirondack: Two-year public community college partner of Cambridge via the Early College Career Academy dual-enrollment program; comparable only as the postsecondary destination channel for CCS students and not as a competitor for K-12 enrollment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CambridgeCSD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOyLGYHNmA-nj3YlHO5LUpQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CambridgeCentralSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambridgecsd

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Central School