DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DRYDEN, New York — 5 schools

1,345
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$32,126
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 5 public schools serving 1,345 students, placing it among the smaller districts in New York. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 other, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,304 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Tompkins County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $32,126 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 40.2% local, 49.2% state, and 10.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $194,686 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 72/100, ranked #118 of 941 in New York against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 159.8:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 34.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.5% White, 7.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American across the district's schools.

Dryden Elementary School accounts for 38.3% of all DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 6.3× across entities

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 80 students (lowest) to 500 students (highest), a spread of 420 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 160:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 34.6% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.6%
Federal
49.2%
State
40.2%
Local

Funding Equity

72
Equity Score
118 / 941
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Tompkins County county, where this district is located.

$1,263
Studio/mo
$1,466
1 BR/mo
$1,753
2 BR/mo
$2,102
3 BR/mo
$2,624
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$194,686
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 81.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%
African American 1.4%
Asian 1.4%
Multiracial 7.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
159.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
34.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Dryden Elementary School
500
Dryden High School
356
Dryden Middle School
283
Cassavant Elementary School
85
Freeville Elementary School
80

Nearby Districts in New York

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT?

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT has 5 schools, including 1 other, 1 high, 1 middle, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,345 students.

How much does DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $32,126 per student. The district has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #118 in New York.

What is the average teacher salary in DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT is $194,686 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Tompkins County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT?

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 81.5% White, 7.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American, 1.4% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT?

DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 72/100, ranking #118 out of 941 districts in New York. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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