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 this section, we summarize trends in the performance of our area’s educational system. 

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 2022, the share increased 1.9 percentage points, similar to the state percentage. In 2022, 6.4% of all 3- to 5-year-olds in the region and 6.3% in the state were receiving special education services. 

Prekindergarten enrollment has risen since 2012 and has surpassed the rate for the state.  
About 34% of the region's 4-year-olds were enrolled in publicly funded prekindergarten programs in 2022, above the 29% rate for the state. Participation was highest in Greene and Orange counties (48% and 40%, respectively), followed by Sullivan (37%). Ulster had the lowest enrollment, at 31%.

Per–student spending by school districts is slightly higher in the region than in the state.
In 2022, per-student spending by school districts in the region was approximately $31,200, more than the state at $28,800. Per-student spending in the region has increased 19% since 2010, even after adjusting for inflation. Spending in Sullivan County was the highest in the region, about $35,400 per student, followed by Columbia County school districts at $34,100 and Putnam County at $34,000. Dutchess and Orange counties were the lowest in the region, at about $29,500 and 29,900 per student, respectively.

The region has lower passing rates on fourth–grade English exams than the state.
The 2023 passing rate of 43% in English was 2 points below the state rate. 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, 29% of low-income fourth graders passed the English exams and only 9% passed among English language learners and 11% students with disabilities. Sullivan and Ulster counties' economically disadvantaged students had the lowest proficiency rate among the counties at 19% and 26%, respectively. Dutchess had the highest at 33%.

The region has lower passing rates on fourth–grade math exams than the state.
The 2023, the region’s passing rate of 47% in math was 6 percentage 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, 33% of low-income fourth graders passed the math exams, 13% of English language learners, and 15% of students with disabilities. Sullivan County had the lowest proficiency rate among economically disadvantaged students, at 24%, and Putnam had the highest, at 40%.

Both high school graduation and dropout rates are in line with statewide trends. 
By 2023, 87% of the region’s 2019 cohort graduated on time, similar to the state (88%).  About 6% of the cohort dropped out, similar to the state rate.

Education levels among adults are rising, with more having a college education.
In 2018-22, 63% of adults had attended at least some college, up from 59% in 2008-12 and one percentage point above the nation. About 35% of the region's residents had a 4-year degree or higher in 2018-22, compared to 30% in 2008-12. Just 9% of residents in the region did not have a high school diploma in 2018-22. Educational attainment among counties in the region was highest in Putnam County, with 43% of residents possessing a 4-year degree or higher, compared to 28% in both Greene and Sullivan. 

The share of residents with a bachelor’s or higher was highest among Asians in the region (53%), followed by whites (37%),  African Americans  and Hispanics (both 23%). Still, those figures reflect increases of 3 percentage points for African Americans and 6 points for Hispanics from 2008-12.