 Independence Day on Chestnut Street
|
Quality of Life for Residents (Click any image for a larger view.) Cooperstown is beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Otsego. Everyday, people draw sustenance, recreation and respite from this beauty. The rolling hills and rural farmland further enhance the natural environment, making Cooperstown a most desirable place to live. Education The Cooperstown Central School is located in the Village yet distinctly set apart from its residential surroundings by virtue of its spacious campus. The elementary school on Walnut Street bridges to the high school via the athletic fields. The campus borders the Susquehanna River and among its amenities includes the Michael LaCava Nature Trail which is used for a number of classes including science and physical education. It also boasts a state-of-the-art track and field complex and four fields for soccer, football, and field hockey, all available for student and community use. A wide range of sports is offered to students throughout the school year. Little League baseball, Pee Wee football and the Cooperstown Soccer Club offer sports programs for youngsters in elementary and middle school. There are many active Scout and 4-H groups as well as opportunities for lessons in the martial arts, horsemanship, music and dance. CCS has a history of strong academic programming with exceptional programs in Math and Science including Calculus, Math 13, Physics and Biolog AP. Over 90 academic courses are offered, an unusally wide range for a relatively small school. Among its offerings is a new, stand-alone high school elective course entitled Outdoor Education. The Program, using the innovative and creative methodologies of experiential and cooperative learning, will teach students how to be effective leaders in a democratic society, how to improve one's self image and how to clarify and establish good values. Current enrollment at CCS is 1,316 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. CCS graduates 98-99% of its classes with 92% (1996) going on to institutions of higher learning. SAT score averages are 545 verbal and 510 math, consistently higher than the national and state average. Cooperstown is also home to The Brookwood School and Children's Center, a not-for-profit independent day school with Montessori-based programs for ages 3-12 and year-round childcare for infants 6 weeks and older. They also have a full summer program available for ages 3-12. There are three fine pre-schools: The Rose Garden (a Waldorf-based program), The Brookwood School (with three Montessori pre-school classes), and the Cooperstown Pre-School. Visual and Performing Arts Programs Friends of the Library lectures, Glimmerglass Opera, Winter Film Festival, the Cooperstown Community Band, Cooperstown Concert Series, art classes, book and poetry readings, presentations by the museums and the many local environmental, art, music and drama groups offer events throughout the year that bring residents together in and around the business district. Fitness The Clark Sports Center, situated on the southern edge of the village, provides a state-of-the-art recreational facility for the community. It boasts a full range of athletic facilities including an Olympic swimming pool, Nautilus Center, aerobics center, indoor running track, rock climbing walls, High-Challenge Course, squash and racquetball courts, multi-use basketball court and bowling center. Programs are offered for every age group and children are encouraged to visit the gym after school for supervised play. Clark Learning Institute The Clark Learning Institute, established by the Clark Foundation in 1994, offers developmental assistance to organizations. The Institute is dedicated to helping organizations improve their effectiveness through a range of affordable learning experiences, including professional development programs designed to enhance leadership, teamwork and problem solving skills. Religious Organizations All major Christian denominations are represented in the community. All of the churches are architecturally beautiful, and each offers regularly scheduled services and a variety of social groups and functions. Housing Historic Cooperstown homes are available at prices that can accommodate all budgets, and all residents can enjoy the area's attractive ambiance, no matter the price of their home. Homes are available from $80,000 to $500,000+ and many in between. School taxes in particular remain affordable, especially given the high quality of education. For those who are looking for a country living experience, there are also historic farmhouses and barns suitable for restoration. Licensed real estate brokers are available in the village. |
