About S.S. Seward Institute

Middle and high school students in the Florida Central School District attend S.S. Seward Institute. Although it is one of the smallest schools in the region, our graduates shine, excel, and flourish.

In middle school, our students explore new opportunities while preparing for the challenges of high school. Learning labs help target skills and interests, and crucial life skills – such as internet safety, interview skills, career exploration, financial literacy, and other “soft skills” to infuse career readiness prior to high school – are part of the curriculum.

As our students enter their high school years, a balance of structure and risk taking encourages them to explore their world and build academic knowledge. More than 90 percent of our seniors head to college. And as a result of our partnerships with SUNY Orange, the AP Program, and Syracuse University, many of our students graduate S.S. Seward with college credit. Internships, job shadowing projects, and strong relationships with our business community further prepare our students for their future.

The arts and athletics thrive at S.S. Seward with middle and high school concerts, art shows, and musical productions, along with a strong athletic program that includes a wide offering of sports across three seasons.

S.S. Seward Institute is named for Samuel S. Seward, who established the school in 1848 with a $20,000 endowment. His son, William Henry Seward, served as Secretary of State under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson and negotiated the treaty to purchase Alaska from Russia. S.S. Seward Institute now boasts state-of-the art science and technology facilities and an enrollment of about 460 students in grades 6-12.

60 college credits offered

S.S. Seward students can earn college credits before their high school graduation with courses offered through SUNY Orange, Dominican College and Syracuse University.

The course offerings are:

  • Freshman English I (3 credits)
  • Freshman English II (3 credits)
  • General Biology I (4 credits)
  • General Biology II (4 credits)
  • College Intermediate Spanish (3 credits)
  • College Intermediate Spanish II (3 credits)
  • U.S. History to 1895 (3 credits)
  • College Calculus I (4 credits)
  • College Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • College Chemistry II (4 credits)
  • Athletic Training (3 credits)
  • U.S. Gov. National (3 credits)
  • SUPA Macro Economics (3 credits)
  • College Algebra (3 credits)
  • College Trigonometry (3 credits)
  • SUPA Forensics (4 credits)
  • Principles of Nutrition (3 credits)
  • Diversity and Inclusion (3 credits)