The Salem Central School District will be leaving the Adirondack League at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year. This decision stems from the district’s long-standing athletic partnership with Cambridge Central School District, which is a member of the Wasaren League, as well as the challenges of meeting the obligations of two leagues simultaneously.
“We value the years of competition within the Adirondack League and the opportunity to compete in non-league contests against their respective districts. We look forward to the new opportunities that are open to Salem’s student-athletes in the future,” said Superintendent Julie Collier.
Salem will pursue independent status for the 2026-2027 school year. Additionally, Salem will remain on any 2026-2027 Adirondack League schedules finalized before this change, with those contests recognized as non-league contests. The 26 Salem athletic teams that are merged with Cambridge will compete in the Wasaren League.
Looking ahead, the district will consider potential membership in the Wasaren League, weighing the impact on students, families, and the broader school community.
“Our merged sports teams have grown significantly over the years, and Cambridge has proven to be an excellent partner for Salem. Our students work well together and benefit from opportunities to participate in a broader range of sports than either district could offer independently,” said Collier.
Salem CSD was a member of the Adirondack League, while Cambridge CSD belonged to the Wasaren League. Salem and Cambridge began merging athletic programs in 2016, shortly after changes made it easier for small schools to combine teams. However, maintaining merged teams across different leagues has required additional coordination from the districts and leagues, particularly when it comes to scheduling, said Collier.
At the start of the partnership, only a limited number of teams were merged. Declining enrollment has since led both districts to expand the number of merged sports teams. Today, the two districts share 26 teams across the fall, winter, and spring seasons, reflecting both growing student interest and the increasing need for collaboration. All but eight of these teams competed in the Wasaren League during the 2025-2026 school year.
“We regularly collaborate with Greenwich CSD, Cambridge CSD, and beginning next year, Hoosick Falls CSD, which are all members of the Wasaren League,” said Collier.
Cambridge and Greenwich both border Salem, making travel between districts efficient. In general, Wasaren League schools are located closer to Salem than many Adirondack League schools, helping reduce transportation time and costs.
“The proximity of these districts is important, it allows our student-athletes to spend less time traveling and more time focusing on academics, athletics, and family,” said Collier.
Salem is expected to discuss league membership for future years, including the 2027–2028 school year, at upcoming board meetings. These meetings will include an opportunity for public comment, allowing community members to share their thoughts on the available options.