CHS Honored With NYSPHSAA "School of Distinction" Award
The Camden Central School District Athletic Department is pleased to announce that Camden High School has been selected as a New York State Public High School Athletic Association “School of Distinction” for the 2025-26 academic year. The honors were announced on Thursday, July 16th by the statewide governing body for interscholastic athletics headquartered in Latham, NY.
The “School of Distinction” award is the highest department-wide academic honor bestowed by NYSPHSAA each year. It honors schools whose student-athletes exhibit the highest standard of academic achievement. To reach this milestone, 100 percent of a department’s varsity-level teams must have earned “Scholar-Athlete Team” status during the 2025-26 academic year.
Per the association’s criteria, a “Scholar-Athlete Team” is a team that can take the overall averages of 75 percent of its players and have the average of those numbers exceed 90 percent. The athletes on a scholar-athlete team with an overall average above 90 receive an award from NYSPHSAA. There is also an individual award option for athletes not on a qualifying team.
This marks the first time the Department has received this coveted award. Previously, Camden High School received NYSPHSAA’s second-tier department academic award, “School of Excellence”, as recently as the 2023-24 school year. That designation is for departments who have 75 percent of their varsity teams earn “Scholar-Athlete Team” status in a given academic year.
To Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health Josh Mazzaferro, ascending to this status as a department takes a widespread collaborative effort, with the student-athletes at the center.
“This recognition starts with our student-athletes. Earning School of Distinction is a direct result of the hard work and commitment they’ve shown in the classroom while also dedicating themselves to their sports. We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished,” he said.
“This award also reflects the support system behind them. Our coaches continue to emphasize that academics come first, our teachers, counselors, and administrators provide the guidance and encouragement our students need to be successful, and our parents, Board of Education, and community all play an important role in creating an environment where our students can thrive. While this is something our entire school community can celebrate, the credit belongs to our student-athletes and the standard they’ve set.”
Just 118 high schools across the state earned this status for the 2025-26 academic year. Within that exclusive club, Camden joined TVL peer Whitesboro as the only two NYSPHSAA “Schools of Distinction” in all of Oneida County. In addition, just sixteen Section III member schools, out of a total membership numbering over 100 schools, received this award.
