Pine Bush and Valley Central High Schools were named Schools of Excellence by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association on July 27 after their sports teams earned Scholar Athlete status during the 2022-23 school year.

Pine Bush fielded 18 scholar-athlete teams during the 2022-23 school year and Valley Central had 24.

To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75 percent of a school’s varsity teams must qualify and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award. Pine Bush and Valley Central were two of 14 Section 9 schools to earn the honor.

“The School of Excellence and School of Distinction Awards exemplify the mission of NYSPHSAA, education through interscholastic athletics,” NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas said. “It is amazing to see the commitment to academic excellence from the schools, administrators, coaches and student-athletes.”

To be eligible to receive these prestigious awards, schools must apply following the Spring Scholar-Athlete submission each school year.

Three Section 9 schools were awarded School of Distinction honors: Cornwall, Rhinebeck and Stissing Mountain (Pine Plains).

The purpose of the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards is to unite athletic departments in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide academic honor. This year, 84 schools earned the School of Distinction Award, and 219 schools earned the School of Excellence Award.

Winning schools will receive their commemorative awards at their local athletic director workshop this fall.