GAYHEAD SCHOOL

GAYHEAD SCHOOL operates as a big elementary-level community in HOPEWELL JUNCTION, New York, part of WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. Current enrollment sits at 831 students spanning grades K through 6. Compared to the state average of about 443 students per school, that is 88% above typical.

Within WAPPINGERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, which oversees 15 schools and 10,199 students, GAYHEAD SCHOOL is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, GAYHEAD SCHOOL logs that White students make up the majority at 72%; the rest is composed of 18% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 3% Black. Compared to Dutchess County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, GAYHEAD SCHOOL has 60 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.8:1. The state averages around 12.8:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Around 23% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is below Dutchess County's rate of about 40%.

After controlling for student poverty, GAYHEAD SCHOOL sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 66.7%; this one delivers 64.3%.

Zooming out to the county, Dutchess County reports that median household income runs about $99,478, about 42% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Dutchess County's 76 public schools (combined enrollment of about 36,885 students), GAYHEAD SCHOOL is one campus in the mix.

VAN WYCK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 2.7 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 6 other public schools cluster around GAYHEAD SCHOOL. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), GAYHEAD SCHOOL ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, ahead of the local average of 60.7%.

Geographically, the school is in a residential area.

Looking at the recent track record. GAYHEAD SCHOOL's enrollment has declined 7% since 2018, when it stood at 898 (now 831). The White share of enrollment shrank from 83% to 72% over that span. Class-load math has narrowed: from 16.3:1 in 2018 to 13.8:1 in 2025.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.