Total enrollment
20,075
-1,930 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
Ulster County
New York · Public K-12
Ulster County's public schools total 45 across the county, with enrollment of about 20,189 and Kingston City School District the largest single district. By level, that breaks down as 23 elementary, 10 middle, and 10 high schools.
7-year change in Ulster County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
42
-3 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
60%
was 67%
% Hispanic
24%
was 18%
% Black
7%
was 8%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
45
12 districts
Enrollment
20,189
NCES CCD
Median income
$86,271
Above New York avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.1%
Below New York avg
Elementary
23
8,316 students
Middle
10
4,562 students
High
10
6,942 students
Combined / other
2
369 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
5,877 students · 12 districts in Ulster County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ulster County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
38.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
44
17.1% under 18
Test scores in Ulster County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 39 schools ranked. New York state average: 58.3%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- NEW PALTZ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 90.0%
- MARLBORO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL· 89.0%
- WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 86.0%
- SAUGERTIES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 85.0%
- HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL· 84.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- JOHN F KENNEDY SCHOOL· 23.0%
- M CLIFFORD MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL· 29.0%
- GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOOL· 32.0%
- ELLENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 35.0%
- HARRY L EDSON SCHOOL· 35.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL | Kingston | High | 09-12 | 1,749 | · |
| J WATSON BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Kingston | Middle | 05-08 | 936 | · |
| WALLKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Wallkill | High | 09-12 | 930 | · |
| M CLIFFORD MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL | Lake Katrine | Middle | 05-08 | 826 | · |
| SAUGERTIES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Saugerties | High | 09-12 | 800 | · |
| MARLBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Marlboro | Elementary | KG-05 | 780 | · |
| ELLENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Ellenville | Elementary | PK-06 | 730 | · |
| ELLENVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Ellenville | High | 07-12 | 698 | · |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Highland | Elementary | KG-05 | 665 | · |
| MARLBORO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | Marlboro | High | 09-12 | 629 | · |
| NEW PALTZ SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | New Paltz | High | 09-12 | 622 | · |
| RONDOUT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | Accord | High | 09-12 | 547 | · |
| HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL | Highland | High | 09-12 | 513 | · |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOOL | Kingston | Elementary | PK-04 | 492 | · |
| OSTRANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Wallkill | Elementary | PK-06 | 481 | · |
| MARLBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL | Marlboro | Middle | 06-08 | 440 | · |
| CAHILL SCHOOL | Saugerties | Elementary | KG-06 | 432 | · |
| PLATTEKILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Plattekill | Elementary | PK-06 | 426 | · |
| RICCARDI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Glasco | Elementary | KG-06 | 410 | · |
| JOHN G BORDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL | Wallkill | Middle | 07-08 | 409 | · |
| HARRY L EDSON SCHOOL | Kingston | Elementary | KG-04 | 397 | · |
| NEW PALTZ MIDDLE SCHOOL | New Paltz | Middle | 06-08 | 381 | · |
| ONTEORA HIGH SCHOOL | Boiceville | High | 09-12 | 370 | · |
| ULSTER BOCES | New Paltz | Combined | KG-12 | 369 | · |
| LENAPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | New Paltz | Elementary | 03-05 | 368 | · |
| RONDOUT VALLEY INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Accord | Middle | 04-06 | 358 | · |
| HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL | Highland | Middle | 06-09 | 348 | · |
| SAUGERTIES JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Saugerties | Middle | 07-08 | 338 | · |
| ROBERT R GRAVES SCHOOL | Port Ewen | Elementary | KG-04 | 325 | · |
| JOHN F KENNEDY SCHOOL | Kingston | Elementary | KG-04 | 322 | · |
| E R CROSBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Lake Katrine | Elementary | KG-04 | 311 | · |
| MORSE SCHOOL | Saugerties | Elementary | KG-06 | 307 | · |
| CHAMBERS SCHOOL | Kingston | Elementary | KG-04 | 306 | · |
| DUZINE SCHOOL | New Paltz | Elementary | PK-02 | 302 | · |
| MARBLETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Stone Ridge | Elementary | KG-03 | 295 | · |
| RONDOUT VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Accord | Middle | 07-08 | 278 | · |
| ONTEORA MIDDLE SCHOOL | Boiceville | Middle | 06-08 | 248 | · |
| REGINALD BENNETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Boiceville | Elementary | KG-05 | 236 | · |
| KERHONKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Kerhonkson | Elementary | PK-03 | 215 | · |
| ERNEST C MYER SCHOOL | Hurley | Elementary | KG-04 | 213 | · |
| WOODSTOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Woodstock | Elementary | KG-04 | 189 | · |
| PHOENICIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Phoenicia | Elementary | KG-03 | 114 | · |
| HIGHLAND RESIDENTIAL CENTER | Highland | High | 06-12 | 84 | · |
| MOUNT MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Saugerties | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| WEST PARK SCHOOL | West Park | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Ulster County
Kingston6 schoolsNew Paltz5 schoolsSaugerties5 schoolsHighland4 schoolsAccord3 schoolsBoiceville3 schoolsMarlboro3 schoolsWallkill3 schoolsEllenville2 schoolsLake Katrine2 schoolsGlasco1 schoolHurley1 schoolKerhonkson1 schoolPhoenicia1 schoolPlattekill1 schoolPort Ewen1 schoolStone Ridge1 schoolWest Park1 schoolWoodstock1 school
About Ulster County
Across the middle-population New York county of Ulster County of about 182,601 residents, the public-school footprint covers 45 schools and about 20,189 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $86,271, roughly 38% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 11% meaningfully above the New York median.
In terms of grade levels, Ulster County is built around 23 elementary schools (8,316 students), 10 middle schools (4,562), 10 high schools (6,942), and 2 combined or other schools.
KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 5,877 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 20,075 students, decreased 9% from the 22,005 reported in SY 2017-18. Ulster County now counts 42 public schools, down from 45 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment contracted from 67% to 60%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Ulster County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Ulster County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data