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About Us

PROFILE OF COMMUNITY

Canton’s Hugh C. Williams Senior High School is located in a residential section of Canton, New York, which is eighteen miles southeast of the Canadian border. The community’s socio-economic composition is diverse. Major area employers include education, agriculture, small business, correctional facilities, health care and large and small industries. The Canton Central School District has one high school, one middle school and one elementary school on a single campus with an enrollment of approximately 1,150(Pk-12) students. The Canton Central School District enjoys the academic and cultural benefits of having St. Lawrence University and SUNY at Canton in the community, as well as Clarkson University and State University College at Potsdam which are located in the immediate area. 

SCHOOL

Hugh C. Williams Senior High School is a four-year, comprehensive public high school with an enrollment of approximately 400, and an average senior class of 90. On average, well over 80% of graduates earn a New York State Regents Diploma and over 85% of the students in a graduating class pursue further education. All credit-bearing courses are used in determining class rank which is based upon the weighted Grade Point Average (GPA) earned. Class rank will include final grades earned for those designated as “Advanced Courses” (Advanced 
Placement and College in High School classes) with a weighted factor of 1.075. 

CURRICULUM

The curriculum includes the following: four years of English including Advanced Placement (AP) English Language, AP Literature and honors English courses in grades 9 and 10, five years of mathematics including AP Calculus; five years of science, including AP Biology and AP Environmental Science offered in alternating years; four years of language in French and Spanish; four years of social studies including AP American History, Global 9 Honors, AP World History, and AP US Government and Politics; agriculture, family and consumer science,technology programs, occupational programs through BOCES; fine and practical arts; opportunities for independent study; the opportunity for 
dual enrollment and dual credit at area colleges; and accelerated diploma programs.
 
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAM

Canton students may elect to participate in a number of active clubs as part of an extensive extracurricular program. These include areas of school governance, publications, honors, drama, service, music and class-related organizations. In addition, 22 varsity and junior varsity interscholastic sports teams are available to students.

MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum graduation requirements are 22 units for all classes. Specific course requirements include 4 units of English and social studies, 3 units of mathematics, 3 units of science, 1 unit of foreign language, ½ unit of health, 1 unit of art and/or music, and 2 units of physical education, plus electives. Courses generally meet five days per week for 45 minutes. 

Due to COVID 19 school closure, final grades in full year courses for the 2019-2020 school year are based on number grades for the first two quarters and satisfactory participation in online courses while school was closed. Final grades in second semester half credit courses are Pass/Fail only. Students received exemptions for regents’ exams in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

GRADE CONVERSION

A+ = 98                 B+ = 88                 C+ = 78                 D+ = 68

A   = 95                 B   = 85                 C   = 75                 D   = 65

A-  = 92                 B-  = 82                 C-  = 72                 F    = 50

 

Ronald P. Burke, Superintendent of Schools                                          Kirstin Linn-Newman, Director of Guidance
H. Doug Dominy, Principal                                                                      Michele Abplanalp, Counselor
Greg Kiah, Dean of Students                                                                  Lindsey Fifield, Counselor
 
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STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS

Canton students are consistently above the state and national means in standardized tests.  Mean scores include all students in the class who took the exams, even if they never enrolled in college.

 

*SAT Mean Scores –  2021-2022 

    Mean total: 1167     ERW 568

                                    Math  599 

                   

 

*ACT Mean Composite – 2021-2022

       Mean total: 28           Math 26.5        English 27.5

                                         STEM 27.5      Science 27.5

                                              Reading 29                            

 

         # Students

AP Exam                    Taking Exam            % 3 and above

                                       2021   2022               2021   2022

Calculus AB                   5       7                       80      85.7

English Language         22    19                       77      89.5

English Literature         14     19                       79      100

Environmental               20      -                        65        -

AP Biology                             10                                 100

World History                33     27                       52       48.1

U.S. Gov. & Politics      17     25                       47       48

U.S. History                  40     35                       38       54.3

*Due to COVID there was no testing data for 2020    and 2021
 

AP EXAMINATION RESULTS:

2021 - 17 AP Scholars, 2 AP Scholars with Honor, 7 AP Scholar  with Distinction.

2022 – 16 AP Scholars, 7 AP Scholars with Honor, 5 AP Scholars with Distinction.

COLLEGE PLACEMENTS

Hugh C. Williams Senior High School graduates are currently attending the following colleges and universities:

Alfred University

Augsburg University

Barnard College

Boston College

Bucknell University

Carlton College

Champlain College

Clarkson University

Colgate University

Cornell University

Eckerd College

Elmira College

Franklin & Marshall College

Grove City College

Hamilton College

Ithaca College

Keiser University

LeMoyne College

McGill University

Michigan Technical University

Nazareth College

NYU Shanghai

North Carolina State University

Niagara University

Paul Smith’s College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rochester Institute of Technology

Siena College

Smith College

St. Bonaventure University

St. John Fisher College

St. Lawrence University

Syracuse University

Union College

University of Alabama

University of Mass at Amherst

University of New Hampshire

University of Northwestern Ohio

University of Ottawa

University of Pittsburgh

University of Vermont

Ursinus College

Villanova University

West Virginia University

Williams College

State University of New York:

Binghamton

Brockport

Canton

Cortland

Fredonia

Geneseo

Jefferson Community College

Morrisville State College

New Paltz

North Country Community College

Oneonta

Oswego College

Plattsburgh College

Potsdam College

Purchase College

SUNY Stonybrook