Education






Quality educational opportunities are critical to helping our children develop to their maximum potential and to our community’s ability to compete in the global economy.

In all cases, comparisons to state statistics reflect the state excluding New York City.

The percentage of preschoolers receiving special education services has been increasing since 2000. 
From 2000 to 2021, the share increased 3 percentage points. In 2021, 6.9% of all 3- to 5-year-olds in the region and 6.3% in the state were receiving special education services. 

Prekindergarten enrollment has declined since 2011.  
About 23% of the region's 4-year-olds were enrolled in publicly funded prekindergarten programs in 2021, above the 22% rate for the state. Participation was highest in Orange and Sullivan counties (30% and 29% respectively),  followed by Comubia and Ulster (both 27%). Dutchess had the lowest enrollment at 14%.

Per–student spending by school districts is slightly higher in the region than in the state.
In 2021, per-student spending by school districts in the region was approximately $28,800, more than the state at $26,800. Per-student spending in the region has increased 68% since 2000, even after adjusting for inflation.  Spending in Sullivan County was the highest in the region, about $33,500 per student, followed by Putnam County school districts at $32,600 and Ulster County at $30,000. Dutchess and Orange counties were the lowest in the region at $27,700 and $27,100 per student.

The region has lower passing rates on fourth–grade English exams than the state.
The 2022 passing rate of 34% in English was 5 points below the state. Passing rates on state tests were significantly lower for low-income, English language learners, and students with disabilities than for their peers. In the region, 22% of low-income fourth-graders passed the English exams and 5% for English language learners and 6% for students with disabilities.  Sullivan and Ulster counties' economically disadvantaged students had the lowest proficiency rate among the counties at 16% and 18%. Columbia had the highest at 27%. We note that 18% of students in the region opted not to take the exam. 

The region has lower passing rates on fourth–grade math exams than the state.
The 2022 passing rate of 34% in math was 8 points below the state. Passing rates on state tests were significantly lower for low-income, English language learners, and students with disabilities than for their peers. In the region, 22% of low-income fourth-graders passed the math exams, 8% of English language learners and students with disabilities. Ulster and Sullivan counties had the lowest proficiency rate among economically disadvantaged students at 17% and Greene had the highest at 31%. About 20% of students region-wide opted out of the exam.

Both high school graduation and dropout rates are in line with statewide trends. 
By 2022, 88% of the region’s 2018 cohort graduated on time, similar to the state (89%).  About 6% of the cohort dropped out,  above the state rate (4%).

Education levels among adults are rising, with more having a college education.
In 2017-21, 62% of adults had attended at least some college, up from 52% in 2000 and even with the nation. About 34% of the region's residents had a 4-year degree or higher in 2017-21, compared to 25% in 2000. Just 9% of residents in the region did not have a high school diploma in 2017-21. Educational attainment among counties in the region was highest in Putnam County, with 41% of residents possessing a 4-year degree or higher, compared to 26% in Greene and 27% in Sullivan.

The share of residents with a bachelor’s or higher was highest among Asians in the region (54%), followed by whites (36%),  African Americans (23%) and Hispanics (22%). Still, those figures reflect increases of 11 percentage points for African Americans and 9 points for Hispanics from 2000.





INDICATORS TREND | STATE
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Rate of Child Abuse and Neglect Decreasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Decreasing
Teen Pregnancy Decreasing
Average Charitable Giving Increasing
Voter Registration Rate Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Total Population Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Types Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Spending for County Government Increasing
Tourism Revenue Increasing
Preschoolers Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Prekindergarten Participation Decreasing
Students Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Student Performance on Grade 4 English, by Economic Background Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 4 English, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 4 Math, by Economic Background Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 4 Math, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Dropout Rate Decreasing
High School GED Rate Decreasing
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Seniors Living in Poverty Maintaining
Veterans Living in Poverty Decreasing
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care Decreasing
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Increasing
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Deaths from Drug Overdoses Increasing
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
Babies with Low Birth Weights Increasing
People Living wth HIV Increasing
Mental Health Clinic Visits Decreasing
Homeownership Rates Increasing
Homeless Persons Decreasing
Cost of Homeownership Maintaining
Cost of Renting Not Applicable
Violent Crimes Decreasing
Domestic Violence Decreasing


Loading...