OneRCSD Community Connection

Dear Rochester Community,

Our work to strengthen the Rochester City School District is moving forward, and we are beginning to see encouraging results. Across our schools, students are making progress, our educators and staff are finding new ways to support their success, and our community partnerships continue to make a difference for families. While there is still much to accomplish, these are important reminders of what we can achieve when we remain focused on our students.

I am especially pleased with the progress we are making in student attendance. Through our Districtwide Strive for Five attendance strategy, we are reinforcing the importance of being in school every day and working with families to address barriers to consistent attendance. Our first-quarter results show that nearly 70% of schools and programs with comparable data have improved attendance over last year. Behind these numbers are students spending more time in classrooms, building relationships, and benefiting from the opportunities that come with being present and engaged in school. We have more work to do, and this progress gives us a strong foundation to build upon.

In this edition of our community newsletter, we also celebrate the creativity of our young artists recognized through the Mayors for Peace Children’s Art Competition and highlight our longstanding partnership with Foodlink. These stories demonstrate the talent within our schools and the important role our community plays in supporting students and families.

The development of our 2027–2028 budget is another important priority for our District. We recognize the financial challenges ahead and our responsibility to make decisions that support student success while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our schools. Throughout this process, I am committed to keeping our community informed, encouraging meaningful dialogue, and providing opportunities for your voices to help shape the decisions ahead.

Our Academic and Financial Sustainability Task Force is already engaged in this important work, and on November 18, we will host the first of four Community Budget Forums. I encourage you to participate in these conversations and complete our Community Budget Survey. Your perspectives will help us better understand the priorities of those we serve as we plan for the future.

I believe in the potential of this District and, more importantly, in the potential of every student who walks through our doors. The challenges before us are significant, and so is our responsibility to meet them. We must continue building on our progress, remain open to new ideas, and make the decisions necessary to strengthen the educational experiences we provide.

Our students deserve a District that continues to grow, improve, and create opportunities for their success. That is the work I am committed to leading, and I look forward to continuing that work alongside you.

Yours in Education,

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser
Superintendent of Schools

The Rochester City School District’s Academic and Financial Sustainability Task Force has begun its work to help shape the District’s financial future while keeping student success at the center of the budget development process.

Since its first meeting on October 15, the Task Force, which includes students, families, staff, elected officials, and community partners, has been learning about the many factors that influence how the District develops its annual budget. These initial meetings are designed to provide members with a better understanding of the District’s finances, academic priorities, and operational responsibilities before they begin developing recommendations.

During the first two meetings, members reviewed the District’s revenue sources, expenditures, enrollment trends, and five-year financial forecast, which projects a $54.7 million operating gap for 2027–2028. They also examined the District’s strategic priorities, organizational structure, and how resources are allocated to schools.

At the November 4 meeting, members reviewed and approved the content of the District’s community budget survey, helping ensure that residents have an opportunity to share their priorities as the budget takes shape. Members also participated in an exercise exploring different approaches to managing the District’s financial challenges. The activity encouraged members to consider how budget decisions could affect students, schools, and District operations, and to gain a deeper understanding of the difficult choices involved in balancing resources with educational priorities.

In the coming weeks, the Task Force will continue examining opportunities for cost savings and potential new revenue sources. Members will evaluate options based on their impact on students, financial sustainability, and feasibility before developing recommendations for consideration during the 2027–2028 budget process.

The Task Force is expected to submit its final recommendations to Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser and the Board of Education by January 30, 2027. The Task Force serves in an advisory capacity, with final budget decisions remaining the responsibility of District leadership and the Board of Education.

Community members are also encouraged to participate in the budget development process by completing the District’s community budget survey, which is open through December 4. This year, we are introducing a four-part Community Budget Forum Series, with each forum building on the previous conversation. The series will provide opportunities to learn about the District’s financial outlook, ask questions, review emerging priorities, and understand how budget considerations are evolving. The survey link and budget forum information are posted on the website.

Community Budget Forum Schedule

Forum 1: Understand

Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 6:00 p.m.

Loretta Johnson Middle School Auditorium

An overview of the District’s financial outlook, budget challenges, and development process.

Forum 2: Listen

Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 6:00 p.m.

East High School

A discussion of community priorities, survey feedback, and emerging budget considerations.

Forum 3: Evaluate

Thursday, February 4, 2027, Virtual, 6:00 p.m.

An opportunity to review budget considerations and potential options as the District continues its planning.

Forum 4: Respond

Thursday, March 11, 2027, Virtual, 6:00 p.m.

A discussion of the Superintendent’s proposed direction, community feedback, and next steps in the budget process.

The forums are open to all community members. Additional information about the virtual sessions will be shared closer to their scheduled dates.

Through this process, RCSD is working to ensure that decisions about its financial future are informed by a clear understanding of the District’s challenges and a continued commitment to improving student outcomes.

Every school day is an opportunity for students to learn something new, connect with their classmates, and take another step toward reaching their potential. Across the Rochester City School District, more students are taking advantage of those opportunities, and the results are worth celebrating.

Preliminary attendance data from the first quarter of the 2026–2027 school year show encouraging progress across RCSD, with nearly 70% of schools and programs with comparable data reporting improved attendance compared to the same period last year.

Through the District’s Strive for Five: Show Up Strong, Five Days Long attendance strategy, schools are keeping consistent attendance at the forefront of student success while strengthening the connections that help students feel supported and ready to learn.

Celebrating Progress Across Our Schools

Of the 42 RCSD schools and programs with comparable attendance data, 29 have improved their attendance rates since the first quarter of the previous school year. These gains reflect progress across elementary, middle, and high schools, demonstrating that positive changes are happening throughout the District.

Some of the most encouraging improvements can be found at Dr. Freddie Thomas Middle School, where first-quarter attendance increased by more than 6 percentage points, from approximately 76% last year to 82% this year.

Virgil I. Grissom School No. 7 is also making remarkable strides. Its attendance rate increased by more than five percentage points, reaching nearly 90% during the first quarter. The school’s progress is especially noteworthy because it combines one of the District's strongest attendance rates with one of its largest improvements over last year.

Andrew Langston Middle School increased attendance by more than three percentage points, while Dr. Iris J. Banister School No. 33 showed a similar gain. Mary McLeod Bethune School No. 45 and Roberto Clemente School No. 8 also demonstrated meaningful improvements.

Each of these gains represents progress toward a shared goal: helping more students attend school consistently and stay connected to their education.

Making Connections That Matter

Behind the attendance numbers is an ongoing commitment to reaching students and families. Since the beginning of the school year, District staff have documented more than 12,000 family contacts, including phone calls, emails, and text messages, as well as nearly 600 home visits.

Schools are also finding meaningful ways to recognize students for their attendance and improvement. On November 3, during Superintendent's Conference Day, Attendance Department staff visited families to deliver personalized Strive for Five certificates recognizing 64 students selected by their schools for their progress and effort.

During these visits, families shared what was helping their children attend school more consistently. The most common responses pointed to communication with teachers and support from school staff. These connections reinforce what Strive for Five is all about: working together to help students overcome challenges, recognize their efforts, and feel supported in their education.

The Rochester City School District and Foodlink share a longstanding commitment to addressing food insecurity and ensuring students and families have access to nutritious food. What began with food pantries at individual schools has grown into an extensive partnership that continues to make a meaningful difference across the District.

Today, the partnership supports approximately 24 food pantry locations across RCSD, including 22 school-based pantries and two centralized locations at the Districtwide Parent Center and the ROC Restorative H.U.B. RCSD has more school food pantries than any other educational organization participating in Foodlink's regional network, reflecting the strength of this collaboration and a shared commitment to supporting Rochester's students and families.

Through this partnership, Foodlink helps supply school pantries with groceries and essential items, while RCSD provides convenient locations where families can access food within their school communities. The pantries are an important part of the District’s Community Schools initiative, which connects families with resources that support student well-being and academic success.

At East High School, the pantry served approximately 180 students annually, with food assistance reaching an estimated 800 family members at the time. These early efforts helped establish a foundation for the broader network of food pantries serving District families today.

At Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 9, Foodlink’s involvement has extended beyond food assistance to include nutrition and culinary education, helping students learn about healthy food choices.

The partnership continues to make an impact through community support and collaboration. On September 18, Foodlink assisted with the delivery of three pallets of food to the District’s ROC Restorative H.U.B. The donated food was collected during an August 25 food drive at ESL Ballpark, hosted by Wegmans in collaboration with the Rochester Red Wings. The event brought community members together to help address food insecurity among RCSD students and families. Through Foodlink’s coordination, those donations reached the District and helped replenish food resources available to families.

The partnership also extends beyond the traditional school year. During summer 2026, 14 District pantry locations remained available, helping families continue to access food when school was not in session. RCSD and Foodlink have also collaborated on community food distributions, providing groceries and fresh produce to families during periods of increased need.

The impact of this partnership reaches far beyond the food pantry shelves. Access to nutritious food can help ease financial pressures on families and reduce barriers that may affect a student's ability to concentrate and learn. By bringing resources directly into schools, RCSD and Foodlink are making assistance more accessible while strengthening connections between families and their school communities.

This work is made possible through the dedication of Foodlink, RCSD’s Community Schools teams, school leaders, staff, and community partners who help connect families with the resources they need. The recent food drive is another example of how organizations throughout Rochester can come together to make a meaningful difference for students and families.

As RCSD continues strengthening its Community Schools initiative, Foodlink remains a valued partner in helping the District respond to the needs of students and families. The growth of this partnership demonstrates the lasting impact of community collaboration and a shared commitment to student success.

RCSD proudly celebrates its partnership with Foodlink and recognizes Wegmans, the Rochester Red Wings, and the many community members whose generosity helps make this work possible.

Keep up to date on all RCSD activities on our calendar page.

• November 18: Community Budget Forum, 6:00 p.m., Loretta Johnson Middle School, 200 Genesee Street
• November 19: Presentation on the budget process at the Board of Education Business Meeting, 6:00 p.m., 131 W. Broad Street
• November 25: Recess Day – no school for students
• November 26-27: Thanksgiving Holiday – all RCSD facilities closed
• December 9: Community Budget Forum, 6:00 p.m., East High School, 1801 East Main Street

You can view and download the 2026-2027 RCSD Calendar here!