Poughkeepsie High School’s interscholastic athletics teams will compete in Section 9 beginning this fall.
Section 9 approved Poughkeepsie’s application for admission Tuesday morning at its monthly meeting, after the Mid-Hudson Athletic League gave its blessing last month. Poughkeepsie will leave Section 1 at the end of this school year.
Dr. Jonathan Jefferson, Poughkeepsie’s executive director of physical education, health services, athletics and recreation, called it an “easy” decision to apply to rejoin Section 9, citing academic, social emotional, geographic and economic benefits.
“What’s in the best interest for Poughkeepsie is to be in a region where we don’t have excessive travel, where we’re not pulling kids out of school academically, where they will get to experience diversified environments,” Jefferson said. “I want to thank our neighboring schools in Section 9 for welcoming us back.”
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association divides the state into 11 geographic sections for regional competition; Schools are further divided for postseason play into classifications based on enrollment size.
While some of Dutchess County’s schools compete in Section 1 – which also includes Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties – many compete in Section 9 with teams from Ulster, Orange and Sullivan counties. The Pioneers previously left Section 1 in favor of Section 9 in fall 2014 and returned in fall 2017. They will compete in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League.
Superintendent of Schools Gregory Mott said, “This move reflects our commitment to putting students first. By rejoining Section 9, we are prioritizing instructional time, student wellness and access to athletic opportunities. We see athletics as a powerful partner to our academic mission and this decision recommits us to that ideal.
“I extend a heartfelt thank you to our partnering superintendents and committee members for their support of Poughkeepsie City School District,” Mott said.
Rejoining Section 9 is expected to reduce travel time for student-athletes, which will limit the instances in which they are forced to leave school early for a game and allow them to arrive home earlier, providing for more time for homework and rest. It will also reduce travel expenses, allowing the district to reallocate those resources to better serve students’ needs.
On average, travel times to and from Section 9 schools are significantly shorter than Section 1, in large part because school buses are not allowed on parkways. It’s not uncommon for an athlete to be on a bus for two hours when traveling from Poughkeepsie to a Section 1 opponent in southern Westchester or Rockland.
“Sports is an extension of the academic process. Right now, we are interfering with the academic process because it takes so long for us to get to certain athletic contests,” Jefferson said. “Oftentimes we have students leaving school early, cutting their academics short, in order to get on the bus and go to contests, and the same thing for our rival schools who are coming to us. … That should not be happening for regular league contests.”
Poughkeepsie competes in 27 NYSPHSAA sports. Poughkeepsie’s boys basketball team has enjoyed success playing in both sections in recent years. After earning a Section 1 title in 2013, it earned a Section 9 crown in 2017. Upon returning to Section 1, Poughkeepsie took boys basketball titles in 2019 – a year in which it earned its second state crown – and 2022.
Jefferson stressed the switch to Section 9 was made “in the best interest of all of our programs and all of our students, not only for today but into the future,” noting it would be “short-sighted” to weigh the interests of one sport over any others.
“Interests change. Long after we are no longer a part of Poughkeepsie’s school district, the sport that may be in vogue may be different,” Jefferson said.