Syracuse USD 494

USD494, Syracuse, is located in western Kansas on highway 50 just 14 miles from the Colorado border and operates on Mountain Standard Time.  USD #494 is a large 2-A district with a PK - 6  building and a 7-12 building located on a common campus.  Both buildings continue to demonstrate high academic achievement and Syracuse High School has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School.  The high school/middle school building was completed in the year 2000. The recent passage of a bond proposal by Hamilton County voters provided funding for a new multi-purpose gymnasium, agriculture education building, and modern track & field complex completed in October 2015. The district serves approximately 530 students and employs 45 licensed staff and 35 classified staff.  Syracuse High School provides rigorous curricula and a variety of courses including concurrent classes for qualifying high school students and six CTE pathways. District technology is continuously upgraded and all 9 - 12 students are issued laptops for use at school and at home. Our elementary school offers an exceptional Early Childhood program and free all-day Kindergarten. Recent additions include two new state-of-the-art computer labs and technology upgrades for yet another lab as well as interactive classroom applications.  Our third through sixth grades are departmentalized to help prepare students for junior high. Strong progressive leadership in both buildings and excellent teachers district-wide keep USD #494 on the cutting edge academically.