Red Hook named a NYSPHSAA School of Excellence

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association again named Red Hook High School among its Schools of Excellence for the 2023-24 year.

Each year, the governing body of scholastic sports in the state honors schools with teams that excel not only athletically, but academically.

A school is eligible to be named a School of Excellence if 75 percent of its varsity teams earned the NYSPHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete team distinction this academic year.

Scholar-Athlete team awards were given to any team in which 75 percent of the roster finished the season with a GPA of 90 or better. At Red Hook, 20 of 24 varsity teams met that mark this year. It's the second consecutive year the school was honored.

"As a coaching staff, we talk to the kids about being good students and being in good standing in the building," Athletic Director Tom Cassata said, noting also the value of having teams that are mentally sharp. "It's no coincidence that when your teams academically are strong, athletically they are strong."

Individually, Red Hook students earned Scholar-Athlete distinctions, finishing their season with a GPA of 90 or better, 250 times.

In a release accompanying the announcement, NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas said, “The efforts made by student-athletes in the classroom are paramount to their success in the athletic arena, and beyond their high school days.

In all, 226 schools in the state were named a School of Excellence. Of them, 114 were named Schools of Distinction, with 100 percent of their varsity teams were named Scholar-Athlete teams. The schools will receive their awards this fall.