schoolsbycounty

Hamilton County Schools & Education

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

85.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

85.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 85.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$26,327

National avg $13,239

State avg $14,719

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#34

of 62 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Hamilton County

Measured School Summary

Hamilton County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 85.2%.

Funding Context

Hamilton County invests $26,327 per student annually, reflecting robust funding that typically supports smaller class sizes, competitive teacher salaries, and enriched programming.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 0% below the New York average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 79% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Hamilton County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

4 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

63/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #34 of 62 New York counties with school score data.

Completion

85.2%

0.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$26,327

$11,608 above the state average

School coverage

4

4 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Hamilton County has 4 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Hamilton County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Hamilton County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#34

of 62 New York counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

WELLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Other grade structure

133 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Other grade structure

126 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

LAKE PLEASANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary school only in this slice

73 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Other grade structure

59 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 1 school. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Hamilton County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Hamilton County district systems?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Hamilton County, New York

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Ultra-Small Schools in the Heart of the Adirondacks

Hamilton County operates one of the most unique systems in New York, with only four schools serving 391 total students. Each of the four school districts manages just a single facility, emphasizing a deeply localized approach.

Single-School Districts in Every Town

Indian Lake Central is the largest district, yet it only serves 126 students in a single PK-12 building. There are no charter schools, as the tiny student population is fully served by the four historic central districts.

A Purely Rural Educational Experience

All schools in Hamilton County are classified as rural, with an average size of only 98 students. The Wells School is the largest campus with 133 students, offering a level of individual attention rarely found in public education.

School Overview

Total Schools

4

in Hamilton County

Reported Enrollment

391

4 schools reporting

School Districts

4

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary1
Middle0
High0
Other3

4 School Districts in Hamilton County

WELLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

1 school
133 students

INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

1 school
126 students

LAKE PLEASANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

1 school
73 students

LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

1 school
59 students

4 Public Schools in Hamilton County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 4 of 4 matching schools

WELLS SCHOOL

WELLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WELLS, 12190 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other133 students

INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL

INDIAN LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

INDIAN LAKE, 12842 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other126 students

LAKE PLEASANT SCHOOL

LAKE PLEASANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPECULATOR, 12164 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary73 students

LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL

LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

LONG LAKE, 12847 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other59 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$26,327

State avg $14,719

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Hamilton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New York counties have the highest graduation rates?
Putnam County (93.4%), Genesee County (92.5%), and Schuyler County (91.8%) currently lead New York among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in New York?
Across New York counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $14,719. The highest current county values are Hamilton County ($26,327), New York County ($21,940), and Putnam County ($19,993). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County has a school score of 63/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Hamilton County?
The high school graduation rate in Hamilton County is 85.2%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Hamilton County spend per student?
Hamilton County spends $26,327 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Hamilton County, New York — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Hamilton County, New York?

Hamilton County operates one of the most unique systems in New York, with only four schools serving 391 total students. Each of the four school districts manages just a single facility, emphasizing a deeply localized approach.

What are the major school districts in Hamilton County, New York?

Indian Lake Central is the largest district, yet it only serves 126 students in a single PK-12 building. There are no charter schools, as the tiny student population is fully served by the four historic central districts.

What is the school experience like in Hamilton County?

All schools in Hamilton County are classified as rural, with an average size of only 98 students. The Wells School is the largest campus with 133 students, offering a level of individual attention rarely found in public education.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.