Can I use Ulster County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Ulster County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Ulster County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Ulster County?

Start with the 43 listed public schools and 10 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Ulster County Schools & Education

Name: Ulster County, New York Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Ulster County, New York

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

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

86.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 85.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$18,662

National avg $13,239

State avg $14,719

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 63/100

State Score Position

#21

of 62 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Ulster County

Measured School Summary

Ulster County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.5%.

Funding Context

Ulster County invests $18,662 per student annually, reflecting robust funding that typically supports smaller class sizes, competitive teacher salaries, and enriched programming.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 3% above the New York average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 27% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Ulster 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

43 public schools and 10 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

65/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #21 of 62 New York counties with school score data.

Completion

86.5%

1.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$18,662

$3,943 above the state average

School coverage

10 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

Ulster County has 43 public schools across 10 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Ulster 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

Ulster 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

#21

of 62 New York counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above 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.

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

6,017 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 1Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

2,241 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,822 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elementary to high school visible

1,773 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest listed district slice, with 10 schools. 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 Ulster County?

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

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

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 Ulster 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.

A Strong Educational Backbone in the Hudson Valley

Ulster County features 43 public schools across 10 districts, educating over 20,198 students. The system is well-distributed with 21 elementary, 11 middle, and 10 high schools. This robust network provides comprehensive academic coverage for families across the county's varied geography.

Kingston City Schools Anchor the System

Kingston City School District is the largest in the county, educating 6,017 students across 10 schools. Other major districts include Onteora Central and Wallkill Central, which also serve substantial student populations. The county relies on traditional public education, with no charter schools currently operating in the area.

Suburban Focus with Regional Campus Vibes

More than half of the county's schools are located in suburban settings, with an average school size of 470 students. Kingston High School is the largest facility with 1,856 students, providing a large-scale campus experience for its learners. This mix of suburban and rural schools offers a wide range of environments for Hudson Valley families.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Ulster County

Reported Enrollment

20,198

43 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary21

Middle11

High10

Other1

10 School Districts in Ulster County

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

2,241 students

MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,822 students

NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

4 schools

1,773 students

RONDOUT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,664 students

HIGHLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

3 schools

1,526 students

ELLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

2 schools

1,405 students

ONTEORA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

5 schools

1,095 students

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS)

9 schools

338 students

ULSTER BOCES

1 school

325 students

43 Public Schools in Ulster County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 43 matching schools

Public schools in Ulster County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
KINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	KINGSTON, 12401City: Small	9–12	High	1,856
WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WALLKILL, 12589Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,004
J WATSON BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	KINGSTON, 12401City: Small	5–8	Middle	968
M CLIFFORD MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	LAKE KATRINE, 12449Suburb: Small	5–8	Middle	822
MARLBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MARLBORO, 12542Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	761
SAUGERTIES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAUGERTIES, 12477Suburb: Small	9–12	High	756
ELLENVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	ELLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ELLENVILLE, 12428Town: Distant	7–12	High	731
ELLENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	ELLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ELLENVILLE, 12428Town: Distant	KG–6	Primary	674
NEW PALTZ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Record	NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW PALTZ, 12561Suburb: Large	9–12	High	668
HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	HIGHLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HIGHLAND, 12528Suburb: Large	KG–5	Primary	638
MARLBORO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL	Record	MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MARLBORO, 12542Suburb: Large	9–12	High	628
RONDOUT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL	Record	RONDOUT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ACCORD, 12404Rural: Distant	9–12	High	569
HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL	Record	HIGHLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HIGHLAND, 12528Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	512
GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOOL	Record	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	KINGSTON, 12401City: Small	PK–4	Primary	449
OSTRANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WALLKILL, 12589Suburb: Large	KG–6	Primary	439
MARLBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	MARLBORO, 12542Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	433
JOHN G BORDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WALLKILL, 12589Suburb: Large	7–8	Middle	432
RICCARDI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SAUGERTIES, 12477Suburb: Small	KG–6	Primary	428
NEW PALTZ MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW PALTZ, 12561Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	421
HARRY L EDSON SCHOOL	Record	KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	KINGSTON, 12401City: Small	KG–4	Primary	418

KINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

KINGSTON, 12401 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,856 students

WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WALLKILL, 12589 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,004 students

J WATSON BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

KINGSTON, 12401 / City: Small

Profile5–8Middle968 students

M CLIFFORD MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

LAKE KATRINE, 12449 / Suburb: Small

Record5–8Middle822 students

MARLBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARLBORO, 12542 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary761 students

SAUGERTIES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAUGERTIES, 12477 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High756 students

ELLENVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

ELLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

ELLENVILLE, 12428 / Town: Distant

Record7–12High731 students

ELLENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ELLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

ELLENVILLE, 12428 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary674 students

NEW PALTZ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW PALTZ, 12561 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High668 students

HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HIGHLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HIGHLAND, 12528 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–5Primary638 students

MARLBORO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARLBORO, 12542 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High628 students

RONDOUT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

RONDOUT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

ACCORD, 12404 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High569 students

HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL

HIGHLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HIGHLAND, 12528 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High512 students

GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOOL

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

KINGSTON, 12401 / City: Small

RecordPK–4Primary449 students

OSTRANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WALLKILL, 12589 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–6Primary439 students

MARLBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL

MARLBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARLBORO, 12542 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle433 students

JOHN G BORDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

WALLKILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

WALLKILL, 12589 / Suburb: Large

Record7–8Middle432 students

RICCARDI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

SAUGERTIES, 12477 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–6Primary428 students

NEW PALTZ MIDDLE SCHOOL

NEW PALTZ CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEW PALTZ, 12561 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle421 students

HARRY L EDSON SCHOOL

KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

KINGSTON, 12401 / City: Small

RecordKG–4Primary418 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$18,662

State avg $14,719

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Ulster 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 Ulster County?

Ulster County has a school score of 65/100, 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 Ulster County?

The high school graduation rate in Ulster County is 86.5%, 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 Ulster County spend per student?

Ulster County spends $18,662 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 Ulster County, New York — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Ulster County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Steuben County

New York

-1 pts

65/100

School score

Chenango County

New York

-1 pts

64/100

School score

Madison County

New York

-1 pts

64/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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