HUFSD is one of thirteen public school districts in New York State located on the grounds of private residential facilities. Hopevale UFSD was initially created in 1971 by special action of the State Legislature to provide education for the residents of Hopevale Residential Inc., a child care agency which traces its roots back to the mid-1800's when the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity began its service to troubled females. While predominately serving females, since January of 2005 Hopevale Residential has opened its doors to male residents as well. In addition to the Residential student population, about 1/3 of the school population is made up of male and female Day students bused each day to Hopevale from area school districts.

HUFSD offers school programming in grades 7 through 12 for youth who have emotional disabilities. As a public school district, it is accountable for following the state learning standards, administering state testing programs and providing Regents track instruction. Most classrooms have eight students taught by a teacher and assisted by a classroom aide.

We are working to establish a school environment where the needs of our students' can be met in order to help them reclaim their full worth that had been devalued as a result of their past troubles. Believing in the importance of having unifying principles to focus our instructional and child caring efforts, we are on a journey of implementation of the Circle of Courage that is written about in the "reclaiming youth movement". The Circle of Courage is based upon beliefs of child rearing that were practiced for centuries in many Native American cultures as they nurtured their children. Its beliefs are similar to many generally accepted theories of effective childrearing. The tenets of the Circle of Courage are made up of the universal needs of children, namely that of Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity.