Brian D. Russ
Superintendent of Schools
(716) 687-2302
bruss@eak12.org

It is a tremendous honor and great privilege to lead one of the finest school districts in Western New York.  A community that has deep roots in education and enlightenment  is sure to foster an extraordinary school experience and East Aurora Union Free School District offers one of the most celebrated and innovative educational opportunities to our students.

Our schools provide dynamic and comprehensive educational programs for each and every student. We deliver a varied, high-quality program while keeping expenditures at a reasonable level for our community.  Our students consistently rank within the region’s top schools in measures of academic achievement and the community regularly demonstrates solid support for our responsibly proposed budgets.  Hence, the district is well-positioned to implement programs that ensure our students are college and career ready upon graduation. 

The East Aurora Union Free School District currently educates approximately 1700 students in three schools: Parkdale Elementary (Pre-K-4), EA Middle School (5-8) and the EA High School (9-12). Servicing the Town of Aurora’s population of approximately 14,000 residents, EAUFSD enjoys an excellent reputation in Western New York and throughout the state as a system dedicated to its students, staff, and community.

Parkdale Elementary provides an educational environment that enables all students to begin their journey to becoming life-long learners and successful members of the community. With a focus on the whole child and early literacy, Parkdale offers diversified programming that meets the needs of each student. Social skills and responsibility are incorporated into all aspects of learning and students are encouraged to explore their creativity through a number of music and art programs. In addition, Parkdale has a strong relationship with the community offering a variety of activities throughout the year that bring families together.

The East Aurora Middle School offers a strong academic program, multiple clubs and modified athletics to a student body of approximately 520 students. While the main focus is academic, the development of the whole person is at the heart of all program development.  Strong emphasis is placed on equipping students with the necessary academic and social knowledge skills and attitudes to succeed in the middle-level grades, high school and beyond.  In doing so, we strive to instill a sense of positive self-worth, self-respect, self-confidence, and a belief that each can succeed.

In addition to a full range of basic education and occupational/vocational programs, the East Aurora High School (EAHS) offers students a wide variety of options including several foreign languages, advanced sciences and mathematics, humanities, 17 AP courses including a 2-year college-level AP Capstone curriculum, a NYS Career Technical Education (CTE) endorsed business sequence, a 2-year Global Leadership Academy multi-disciplinary program, a 4-year multi-disciplinary STEAM initiative, a Film Academy, Drama and Blue Devil Design; a student-led business that offers students the opportunity to combine technical and business skills in a Capstone 2-year program. East Aurora High School consistently ranks among the top performing high schools in the WNY region and for 28 consecutive years, EAHS has been recognized as one of New York's top performing high schools. The New York State Board of Education Department named EAHS a "Reward School" for the 2021-2022 school year. Schools selected for this recognition have the highest achievement rates in the state with no significant gaps in achievement. In 2022, the Washington Post and Newsweek magazine selected EAHS as one of the nation's top high schools. Both the East Aurora High School (2017) and Middle School (2012) have earned prestigious recognition as National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U.S Department of Education. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the Class of 2022 enrolled in a four or two-year college or university. Eighty-four percent (84%) of the Class of 2022 earned Regents diplomas with an Advanced Designation. Seventy-six percent (76%) of EAHS students participating in Advanced Placement (AP) programs earned a score of 3 or higher on their respective AP exams. Additionally, the high school offers a well-rounded interscholastic athletic program, comprised of championship teams in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball. The program also includes unified sports, football, wrestling, field hockey, softball and baseball.

Our quest for quality, in both our instruction/support programs and our facilities, coupled with the implementation of higher academic standards and the intent to provide a comprehensive education for all students, ensures our tradition of school excellence will endure well into the 21st century.

There's something special about East Aurora, NY. It's been the birthplace of U.S. Presidents, the Arts & Crafts movement, as well as the famous toy store, Fisher Price. We don't live in the past though, our town is one of the most vibrant, exciting places to live in this area! On a weeknight, you can stroll down Main Street and see a community full of life with lights on, businesses open, and families out enjoying all that town has to offer. If you're a dog lover, this is the place for you! We have our own dog park at Knox Farms! There are more festivals, plays, concerts than we can count. We've got multiple breweries, restaurants, and beautiful common spaces that we enjoy year round. You may even find Josh Allen at one of them from time to time. Come for the wings, atmosphere, beauty, or history. Stay for the mindset. Learn more here!