Students vote on how to spend $25K at this New York high school

Saratoga Springs High School in New York let its roughly 1,900 students decide how to spend $25,000 in district money on a school improvement. Joseph Greco, a district administrator, described the program at a school business officials' conference in Pittsburgh. He said it grew out of confusion about how capital project funding works, student vandalism of facilities, and low voting participation among eligible students.

The process began in September 2025, when students were recruited to lead a committee and the full student body was surveyed for ideas. The committee narrowed the list in November and met with district leaders in December to check feasibility. A ballot was created in January, and students campaigned on five finalists in February. In March, students voted with official voting machines and ranked choices during social studies class. The winning project was carried out between April and June.

The finalists were bocce courts, a cafeteria grill, upgraded feminine hygiene products, bathroom privacy upgrades, and outdoor water bottle dispensers. Students chose the grill. Greco said leftover money paid for the second-place bathroom privacy upgrades, and the facilities team adjusted its budget to add bocce courts. The money came from the district's general fund. Greco advised other districts to secure funding first, be cautious about grants or donations, and plan for ballot, machine, poll worker and advisor costs.