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 2010. 
From 2010 to 2023, the share increased 1.4 percentage points, more than the state percentage which has decreased 2 percentage points. In 2023, 7.4% of all 3- to 5-year-olds in the region and 25% 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 2023, school districts in the Mid-Hudson Valley region spent $33,300 per student, more than $2,700 higher than the state figure. Per student spending in the region has increased 22% since 2010, even after adjusting for inflation. Spending in Sullivan County school districts was the highest in the region, about $37,900 per student, followed by Putnam County school districts at $36,600 and Ulster at $35,600. Dutchess County was the lowest in the region, at about $31,200 per student.

The region has lower passing rates on fourth–grade English exams than the state.
The 2024 passing rate of 40% in English was 3 points below the state rate. Passing rates on state tests were significantly lower for economically disadvantaged, English language learners, and students with disabilities than for their peers. In the region, 27% of economically disadvantaged 4^th graders passed the exam and only 5% passed among English language learners and 10% of students with disabilities. Sullivan County’s economically disadvantaged students had the lowest proficiency rate among the counties at 18%. Putnam had the highest at 37%.

The region has lower passing rates on fourth–grade math exams than the state.
In 2024, the region’s passing rate of 52% in math was 4 percentage points below the state. Passing rates on state tests were significantly lower for economically disadvantaged, English language learners, and students with disabilities than for their peers. In the region, 38% of economically disadvantaged students, 20% of English language learners, and 17% of students with disabilities passed the math exams. Sullivan County had the lowest proficiency rate among economically disadvantaged students, at 25%, and Putnam County had the highest, at 49%.

Both high school graduation and dropout rates are in line with statewide trends. 
By 2024, 87% of the region’s 2020 cohort graduated on time, similar to the state (88%).  About 6% of the cohort dropped out, similar to the state rate (4%).

Education levels among adults are rising, with more having a college education.
In 2019-23, 28% of adults had attended at least some college, down from 29% in 2009-13 and equivalent with the nation. About 36% of the region’s residents had a 4-year degree or higher in 2019-23, compared to 30% in 2009-13. Just 9% of residents in the region did not have a high school diploma in 2019-23. Educational attainment among counties in the region was highest in Putnam County, with 44% of residents possessing a 4-year degree or higher, compared to the lowest of 29% in Greene County.

The share of residents with a bachelor’s or higher was highest among Asians in the region (53%), followed by whites (39%),  then African Americans (25%)  and then Hispanics (23%). Still, those figures reflect increases of 4 percentage points for African Americans and 6 points for Hispanics from 2009-13.